Types of Asphalt

There are many different types of asphalt. Hot mix asphalt is a mixture of asphalt and aggregate that is heated to the point where it becomes plastic and can be spread in place as a substance on surfaces such as roads. Cold mix asphalt, also known as “pickle,” is mixed at ambient temperature with no need for heating, while porous asphalt is mixed with sand or another permeable aggregate to create a surface that allows water to seep through. These mixtures typically have additives like rubber, bitumen, and polymers added for stability or increased durability and can be used to repair cracks in pavement or coatings on bridges and tunnels.
Types of Asphalt: There are many different types of Asphalt found around the world but generally they are classified into two categories hot mix asphalt and cold mix asphalt.

Hot Mix Asphalt

Hot mix is heated mixture of aggregates (sand) and other additives like bitumen rubber, polymers etc which becomes temporarily plastic at elevated temperatures after mixing it at a lower temperatures so it can be laid down easily in place either by hand or by machine.

What is Cold Mix Asphalt

Cold Mix is mixed at ambient temperature without any need for heating. This type does not include any bitumen like material but just aggregates (sand).

Porous Asphalt

Porous asphalt is a type of asphalt that has a greater surface area and more voids than other types of asphalt. It is created by adding an aggregate to the hot mix or cold mix process. This allows water to seep in and out, preventing the asphalt from hardening too quickly. It also has a larger surface area so it can absorb more oil in case of spills. The porous nature of the material makes it ideal for use on speed humps, road shoulders, parking lots or any other areas where large amounts of water are present. Hot mix and cold mix are two types of porous asphalt that are used in construction projects throughout Australia today.

Repairs using hot mix and cold mix bitumen

The three types of pavement have various repair options that vary in cost depending on the type of problem being fixed. Fixing small potholes can be done using cold patch material which consists of a water-soluble paper product containing an aggregate (sand) and an adhesive binder (asphalt). This type of product can be applied by hand without any special equipment such as a trowel or shovel. A more expensive option would be applying hot patch which has more aggregate content than cold patch making it more sturdy than its cheaper counterpart, but this comes at a higher price point due to its production process requiring heated aggregate material mixed with an adhesive binder and water before being spread out over the hole in need of repair.