Research on the Production Methods of Asphalt
Asphalt, a naturally occurring material, is the most widely used construction material in the world today. It is used to pave roads and make roof shingles, sealants and adhesives. Asphalt is also used in the production of asphalt based sealers to protect the surface of roadway and parking lot paving, as well as in roofing, roofing tiles and roofing products. Asphalt also finds its use as a material for asphaltic concrete, either to make asphalt roads or as a base for various construction materials.
The production of asphalt involves the blending of various ingredients in specified proportions. Aggregates are the most important components in the production of asphalt, as the unbound granular material forms the major load bearing component of the asphalt pavement structure. The aggregates are blend of various minerals and vegetable materials, with the addition of asphalt cement to form the hot mix in the asphalt manufacturing process.
Asphalt cement is a petroleum based binder that serves to bind the aggregates together and give he asphalt its fowling properties. Asphalt cement also functions as a lubricant to restrict the movement of small stones and particles in the asphalt mix, thus allowing even distribution of the asphalt material.
The production of asphalt involves the distillation of crude oil. Refining the crude oil yields various asphalt fractions, such as elastomeric or straight run asphalt. Naphthenic and paraffinic asphalts are which are produced from petroleum distillates by passing the refinery streams through a series of processing steps to remove impurities and refine certain molecules.
The asphalt is then heated in a process called coating. Coating is an essential process in the asphalt manufacturing process as it makes the asphalt easier to spread and helps to prevent a break down of the asphalt film through ageing. The asphalt is heated to a temperature of 400°F (204°C) and fed into a storage tank. Prior to use in production, the asphalt is heated further to 300F (149°C) and added to the aggregates.
The asphalt and the aggregates are then transferred to the mixing plant, where they are blended in careful proportions. The mixing process is an essential step in the asphalt manufacturing process, as it ensures the proper composition of the binder and the aggregates to produce the desired wearing properties of the asphalt mixture.
Once mixing is complete, the asphalt is transferred to the production plant, where it is placed into a hopper and weighed into molds in the shape of the desired finished product. The asphalt is then subjected to a process called curing, which involves the application of heat and pressure to set the asphalt to the shape of the molds.
After the asphalt is cured, it is then ready for use. As asphalt is a very versatile material, it is used in a variety of projects ranging from road pavements and roofing, to the pouring of foundations and flat surfaces, and in the manufacturing of asphalt based sealers.
At present, there are a number of different production techniques that are used in the manufacture of asphalt. This includes cold-mix asphalt and hot-mix asphalt that is used in the production of road pavements and foundation pour, as well as more sophisticated methods such as the production of asphalt shingle and asphalt based sealer products to protect foundations, roadways and parking lots.
In conclusion, asphalt is a naturally occurring material that is widely used in many different types of construction projects, ranging from pavements and roofs, to various sealants and adhesives. Asphalt is produced in several stages, including refining, blending, and coating. The asphalt is then prepared for use in the production of asphalt based sealers, and the curing of the asphalt is an essential step in the production of asphalt based products.
