Asphalt and Sealcoating Glossary

A

• Aggregate: Rock, gravel, and sand used in asphalt mixtures.
• Asphalt: A mixture of bitumen and aggregate used for paving roads and parking lots.
• Asphalt Cement: The binding agent in asphalt mixtures, derived from petroleum.
• Asphalt Emulsion: A mixture of asphalt binder and water, used in various pavement applications.
• Alligator Cracking: A pattern of interconnected cracks in asphalt resembling an alligator’s scales.

B

• Base Course: The layer of material immediately beneath the surface course.
• Binder Course: An intermediate layer between the base and surface courses in asphalt paving.
• Bitumen: A sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum.
• Bleeding: The upward movement of asphalt binder in a pavement, resulting in a film of binder on the surface.
• Broom and Seal: A surface treatment where the pavement is broomed before applying a seal coat.

C

• Chip Seal: A pavement surface treatment that combines asphalt with aggregate.
• Cold Mix Asphalt: Asphalt mixed and applied at lower temperatures than hot mix.
• Compaction: The process of increasing the density of asphalt by rolling or tamping.
• Crack Filling: The process of filling cracks in asphalt surfaces to prevent water infiltration.
• Curing: The process of hardening and drying of freshly applied sealcoat or asphalt emulsion.

D

• Densification: The process of making asphalt more compact and dense through compaction.
• Distress: Any visible sign of deterioration in a pavement surface.

E

• Emulsion: A mixture of asphalt and water used in some sealcoating applications.
• Edge Cracking: Cracks that occur along the edges of a pavement.

F

• Fog Seal: A light application of diluted asphalt emulsion to seal and protect the pavement surface.
• Filler: Fine material used to fill voids in asphalt mixtures.

G

• Grade: The slope or pitch of a paved surface designed for proper drainage.
• Grading: The process of creating a level base for asphalt paving.

H

• Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Asphalt mixed and applied at high temperatures for better workability and compaction.
• Hydrated Lime: A material sometimes added to asphalt mixtures to improve adhesion and reduce stripping.

I

• Infrared Asphalt Repair: A method of repairing asphalt using infrared heat to soften existing material.

L

• Latex: A polymer sometimes added to sealcoat mixtures for improved durability and flexibility.
• Longitudinal Cracking: Cracks that run parallel to the pavement’s centerline.

M

• Mastic: A mixture of mineral filler and asphalt binder used for crack filling.
• Milling: The process of removing the top layer of asphalt pavement prior to resurfacing.

O

• Overlay: A new layer of asphalt applied over an existing pavement.
• Oxidation: The chemical reaction between asphalt and oxygen that causes hardening and aging.

P

• Pavement Marking: Lines, symbols, or words painted on pavement surfaces for traffic control.
• Potholes: Bowl-shaped holes in the pavement surface caused by water damage and traffic.
• Penetration Grade: A measure of the hardness of asphalt cement.
• Primer: A thin liquid material applied to a surface before the application of asphalt or sealcoat.

R

• Raveling: The loss of aggregate from the pavement surface.
• Rejuvenator: A product applied to aged asphalt to restore its original properties.
• Rutting: Longitudinal surface depressions in the wheel paths of a pavement.

S

• Sealcoat: A protective coating applied to asphalt surfaces to prevent damage from UV rays, water, and chemicals.
• Slurry Seal: A mixture of fine aggregate, asphalt emulsion, and additives used for pavement preservation.
• Striping: The application of painted lines on pavement for traffic control and parking delineation.
• Subgrade: The layer of soil beneath the pavement structure.
• Surface Course: The top layer of the asphalt pavement structure.

T

• Tack Coat: A light application of asphalt emulsion to ensure bonding between pavement layers.
• Thermal Cracking: Cracks caused by contraction of the pavement due to low temperatures.

W

• Warm Mix Asphalt: Asphalt produced and placed at lower temperatures than traditional hot mix asphalt.
• Weathering: The breakdown of pavement surface due to exposure to the elements.