Concrete vs Asphalt

There are various types of construction materials that are commonly used around the world, here we will learn the major difference between concrete vs asphalt.

Asphalt is a flexible pavement used primarily for street construction due to its low price, and quick construction time Whereas concrete is an inflexible pavement used primarily for driveways, patios, and other small surface area locations because it is more aesthetically pleasing, smooth, and strong surface.

Difference between asphalt and concrete:

Concrete	Asphalt
Cement concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, pebble or crushed rock and water.	Asphalt is commonly known as bitumen in India, it is a petroleum product obtained by partial distillation of petroleum crude.
Its components include cement, aggregates, and water, and for RCC, steel is also introduced into concrete.	Its components include saturated hydrocarbons, naphthene aromatics, polar aromatics, and esplanade.
Concrete is mostly prepared on site or on plants then brought on site as ready mix concrete.	Asphalt is prepared by fractional distillation of petroleum and melted on-site and then used.
They are economical compared to other construction materials.	The cost of asphalt is much lesser than concrete.
The corrosive and weathering effects of concrete are negligible.	The corrosive and weathering effects of concrete are considerable.
Concrete can be cast into any required shape at construction site.	Asphalt is not required construction joints are required.
It is strong in compression and also has infinite applications when combined with steel reinforcement.	It is weaker in compression than concrete.
Concrete is durable, fire resistant and has little maintenance costs that can be ignored.	Asphalt remains durable for longer period.
Concrete can be pumped and sprayed at various positions.	The asphalt is built in multiple layers with a continuous flow of material.

Asphalt Vs. Concrete:

Asphalt:

Asphalt is widely used as the main raw material as a battery sealing agent because of its good insulation, viscosity and mobility, low melting point, and low cracking resistance at low temperatures.

But in the process of smelting and boiling the asphalt, pouring, transporting, adding and sealing liquid asphalt, a lot of asphalt smoke is produced

Except for concentrated pollution sources and high concentration of smelting and boiling, others are characterized by open pollution sources, low concentration and inconvenient treatment.

Asphalt is a hydrocarbon compound with complex chemical structure.

In particular, benzocaine contained in asphalt is a strong carcinogen that is harmful to workers.

Workers work long-term under the surroundings of asphalt smoke, light cough, dizziness and nausea.

In severe cases, workers are susceptible to occupational diseases such as black and purple skin, visual impairment, boils, eczema, skin allergies and so on.

In addition to transportation and liquid asphalt, little attention will be given to the risk of burns.

Melting point of asphalt:

Asphalt is a mixture, there is no fixed melting temperature so there is no melting point, the general index is the softening point, the composition of different softening points are different.

The softening point of petroleum asphalt by distillation method is more than 100 C and the penetration is about 90-200.

Concrete:

Concrete is a mixture of Portland cement and composite materials containing fine aggregates and coarse aggregates bonded laterally with a fluid cement that hardens over time.

Most often a lime-based cement binder such as Portland cement but sometimes with other hydraulic cement such as a calcium aluminate cement.

Melting point of concrete:

Typical concrete does not melt, it decomposes (often before anyone components melts).

Materials containing more than one ingredient does not possess one melting point in any case.

However, if they heated with a flux such as iron oxide, a glassy mess will form around.

Without the flux, it will take a considerably higher temperature.

Also read: Mortar vs Concrete &  Concrete vs Cement

Conclusion:

Asphalt roads has more layer as compared to concrete road and life span is less, maintenance is more.