Thanks to an extensive freeze/thaw cycle, road work in Western New York is seemingly endless. Asphalt roadways and parking lots are resurfaced to eliminate imperfections such as cracks and potholes that wreak havoc on vehicles and create unsafe tripping hazards. You already know that asphalt is the environmentally friendly choice, but did you know that asphalt pavement is one of the most recycled materials in the United States?
What Is Asphalt?
Asphalt pavement consists of 2 main ingredients: asphalt cement and aggregate. Asphalt cement is a high viscosity liquid petroleum product. When used in conjunction with stone aggregate, asphalt cement is heated until it acts as a bonding agent. Different sized aggregates are used for different surface types and different additives are used throughout the process to achieve different results, such as a tighter bond or a smoother surface. The finished product is a malleable material that once cooled, holds a durable form that makes up the majority of our roadways and parking lots.
How Is Asphalt Recycled?
Asphalt pavement first goes through a process called milling, where the top, fine layer is removed from the sub-base. Once this layer is milled, it can then be taken to an asphalt plant where the material is screened, resized, and treated to make a new surfacing product. In some cases, machinery can be used on the job site for a process called Asphalt Pulverization. Pulverization is a process that grinds up the existing surface layer and blends the asphalt with any sub-layers, essentially creating a new surface without ever having to leave the jobsite.
What Are The Benefits of Recycling Asphalt?
The benefits of recycling can have long term impacts, both environmentally and financially. Aside from the obvious factors of saving space in our nation’s landfills, saving on overall construction waste, recycling also reduces the amount of new oil needed in the construction process. Recycling asphalt can be done multiple times, saving money on the cost by reducing energy and transportation costs involved in the manufacturing of a new product.
Buffalo Blacktop Repair
Have a parking lot or commercial driveway in need of an update or repair? Servicing the Western New York community for over 25 years, your satisfaction is always our top priority. Call Supreme Sealing, Inc at (716) 681-5262 today to get started!
