The terms bitumen and asphalt are sometimes misused to describe the same thing. Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates, clay, and bitumen; where bitumen serves as a liquid linking agent keeping together asphalt. To clarify matters, we can fairly claim that asphalt is concrete (mixture), while bitumen is cement (binder) for paving. Nonetheless, a pavement surface coated only with bitumen is often popular and is achieved by building up a bitumen sheet and applying aggregates to cover it. This cycle is then replicated to create a bond with two coatings.
For More Details: Civil engineering
Differences Between Bitumen and Asphalt
| Bitumen | Asphalt |
|---|---|
| Bitumen pavements are less durable; 10- mm in sheet depth and 5- years of lifetime. | Asphalt pavements are durable; with 25-40 mm layer depth and 20 + year life cycle. |
| The loose bits on pavements with bitumen render the driving environment noisier and will break down tyres, thereby creating safety concerns. | Asphalt surface is cleaner and more skid-resistant, providing protection and low noise for the car. |
| Higher frictional resistance of a surface with bitumen implies less energy efficiency. | Reduced friction between tyre and car; indicating greater fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide pollution minimization. |
| Exposure to the leaching of bitumen can cause soil and groundwater quality degradation. | Asphalt is an impermeable substance and there is no leaching of the pavements. Therefore they are less prone to penetrate and pollute the groundwater. |
| Pavements are prone to extreme temperatures, which can make them brittle and sticky. | Less temperature prone when opposed to pavements of bitumen. Bad impacts are often observed while the temperature is incredibly high or low. |
| Compared to asphalt it is inexpensive to build. | It is comparatively costlier to build. |
| We need routine maintenance, particularly when a pavement with greater amount of traffic is resurfaced. But in the long run not cost-effective. | Efficient Expense. An asphalt surface does not need daily maintenance like bitumen surface, but a periodic routine test is appropriate. |
