What is Asphalt Made of

Asphalt is a hydrocarbon mixture that is heated until it has the typical consistency of tar.

Depending on how much you heat the mixture, the mix may take a relatively solid state.

In road building, this semi-solid asphalt is further mixed with other elements including crushed stone, sand, or gravel to make up the compound that is used on driveways and streets.

The hydrocarbon material itself is derived from the waste material left over after the manufacture of gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuels.

Of these by-products, bitumen is often referred to as asphalt oil.

Asphalt is also made via recycling, that, using asphalt along with rubber chips made from old tires, create materials for paving similar to concrete.


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