What is the Difference Between Asphalt and Concrete?
Asphalt is a pavement structure consisting of aggregates, fines and a binder of liquid asphalt. The material is applied hot and is cured once it cools. Concrete is a pavement structure consisting of cement, aggregates, water and chemical admixtures. The material is applied cold and is cured once the water evaporates out. Generally, concrete is more expensive to install, but it also will have a longer lifespan.
Asphalt and concrete are two construction materials which are commonly used around the world. The primary difference between the two is that asphalt is made by mixing aggregate with bitumen, a sticky black hydrocarbon which is extracted from natural deposits or crude oil. Concrete is made by mixing an aggregate material with a cement binder and then allowing the mixture to harden, forming a rock-like substance. Asphalt and concrete are used for different construction tasks, ranging from roofing to sidewalks. If you want to get really technical, asphalt is actually a form of concrete, since “concrete” really means any mixture of an aggregate and a binder which solidifies after curing. This is why you may have heard engineers refer to “asphalt concrete,” meaning “a type of concrete made with bitumen as a binder.” However, most lay people use “concrete” to refer specifically to a mixture of aggregate with a binding cement, and for the purpose of this article, we will use this difference t
Asphalt and concrete are two construction materials which are commonly used around the world. The primary difference between the two is that asphalt is made by mixing aggregate with bitumen, a sticky black hydrocarbon which is extracted from natural deposits or crude oil. Concrete is made by mixing an aggregate material with a cement binder and then allowing the mixture to harden, forming a rock-like substance. Asphalt and concrete are used for different construction tasks, ranging from roofing to sidewalks. If you want to get really technical, asphalt is actually a form of concrete, since “concrete†really means any mixture of an aggregate and a binder which solidifies after curing. This is why you may have heard engineers refer to “asphalt concrete,†meaning “a type of concrete made with bitumen as a binder.†However, most lay people use “concrete†to refer specifically to a mixture of aggregate with a binding cement, and for the purpose of this article, we will use this
