Asphalt

The primary use of asphalt is creating pavement for roadbuilding. 

Asphalt pavement consists of a highly controlled mixture of liquid asphalt cement and aggregate that is placed and compacted to create a smooth surface designed to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian transportation. The manufacture of asphalt pavement requires the combination of a number of aggregates, sand, and a filler (such as baghouse fines), in the correct proportions, which is then heated and finally coated with a liquid asphalt binder.  Equipment for the production of asphalt pavement, including aggregate production, asphalt mixing, and paving equipment has been a core industry for ASTEC from the beginning.

Asphalt Applications

Aggregates

There are two main classes of aggregates: natural and manufactured. Deleterious material needs to be removed from both classes. Processing these materials typically requires various steps including reduction and sizing and also may include dewatering and sorting. Producers can use a variety of crushing, screening, dewatering and conveying equipment to meet their desired specifications.

    Asphalt Milling

    Asphalt milling, also known as cold planing, is the removal of top layers of an asphalt surface to provide an improved surface for repaving. It is a cost-effective and sustainable process that can be repeated as needed. 

    Asphalt Mixing

    A thermal mixing process is required to turn aggregates and liquid AC into an asphalt pavement mix for road construction. This makes an asphalt mixing plant necessary for road construction. The complete line of Astec asphalt mixing plants, and its range of capacities and features, gives you the choices and flexibility to create your optimum solution.

    Commercial Paving

    Commercial paving applications need machinery that can scale down the highway paver size without scaling down the power, functionality, performance, or efficacy. These pavers are able to pave hard-to-reach areas such as parking lots, traffic circles, and roundabouts to yield a quality mat without sacrificing productivity.

    Roadtec RP-190 highway class asphalt paver paving at night with a Roadtec Shuttle Buggy Material Transfer Vehicle

    Highway Paving

    Highway class paving requires pavers that are strong, powerful and productive. These large-scale paving projects include interstates, expressways and superhighways. Highway class paving can range from one lane to multi-lane projects. These applications require pavers with large hoppers, wide paving widths and a broad scope of screed compatibility.

    Motor Sports Paving

    Motor sports paving requires nonstop paving, precise mat thickness and consistent paving practices. The hot mix asphalt needs to be uniform in terms of temperature and consistency. The resulting pavement must be able to withstand massive stress.

    Recycled Asphalt Pavement

    Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) is asphalt paving material recovered from old road beds either by milling or excavation.

    Residential Paving

    Residential paving focuses on paving driveways, parking lots, cart paths, bike paths, walking paths and other small areas. 

    Road Reclamation

    Asphalt reclamation, also known as road reclamation or full depth reclamation, is a cost-effective method of pavement rehabilitation.