Asphalt is a composite material widely used in construction, especially for road surfacing. It consists primarily of two main ingredients: aggregates (such as crushed stone, sand, and gravel) and bitumen, a viscous and waterproof substance derived from petroleum. The mixture is heated and combined to create a hard surface upon cooling. Asphalt is versatile and durable, used not only for roads and highways but also for airport runways, parking lots, sidewalks, playgrounds, sports tracks, and even agricultural flooring. It is favored for its cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance and repair, ability to withstand weight and temperature changes, smooth surface quality, and noise reduction properties. There are various types of asphalt mixtures used depending on the application, including Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), and Cold Mix Asphalt (CMA). Asphalt production increasingly incorporates recycled materials and greener technologies to reduce environmental impact. In short, asphalt is the black or dark brown composite material that forms the durable surface you see on most paved roads and many other surfaces worldwide.
