Why is bitumen used instead of coal tar?


            Bitumen and coal tar are both used as binding agents in the construction of roads and roofs, but they differ in their composition and properties.

Bitumen is a naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons that is obtained from crude oil or natural deposits. It is a highly viscous, black, or dark brown substance that is used for its waterproofing, adhesive, and insulation properties. Bitumen is also a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option compared to coal tar, as it is derived from a renewable source.

Coal tar, on the other hand, is a by-product of the distillation of coal and is known for its high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic and harmful to the environment. In addition, coal tar is also more difficult to process and produce compared to bitumen, which makes it less economically viable as a construction material.

Therefore, bitumen is preferred over coal tar in modern construction due to its superior performance, lower environmental impact, and ease of production and processing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Bitumen? A Complete Guide for Beginners

Image
  What is Bitumen? A Complete Guide for Beginners   If you've ever driven on a road, walked on a pavement, or wondered at the smooth surface of an airport runway, you've likely encountered bitumen. But what exactly is bitumen, and why is it so crucial in the construction industry? In this blog post, we'll dive into the world of bitumen, exploring its types and the diverse range of applications that make it an essential component in infrastructure development. What is Bitumen? Bitumen is a black and thick material that is a byproduct of crude oil. It can either be naturally found in fossil fuel deposits under the sea or obtained by the process of fractional distillation from crude oil. Bitumen has unique properties such as waterproofing, adhesion, viscosity, etc. making it a versatile material for various applications. Interestingly, bitumen has been in use since ancient times. It was used in the mummification process by Eqyptians and as a building material before 50
Read more

Exploring 4 Common Methods for Grading Bitumen You Need to Know

Image
  Exploring 4 Common Methods for Grading Bitumen You Need to Know Do you know why it is important to grade Bitumen? you may think to know the types or find the best bitumen. The answer is, to find suitable bitumen for specific applications. Finding suitable bitumen is essential to build strong and durable infrastructure. Based on the stiffness of the bitumen at a predetermined temperature, it is classified.  The hardness of the bitumen varies with the temperature. As the temperature changes hardness of the bitumen also changes. Hence, classifying the bitumen depending on the stiffness is essential to building structures that withstand thermal cracking, rutting and deformations.   There are four common ways used for grading bitumen. In this blog, you're going to explore the four different methods used for grading bitumen and their advantages and limitations.        Chewing Grading System        Penetration Grading System        Viscosity Grading System        Superpave Perform
Read more

7 Fascinating Facts about Bitumen You Probably Didn't Know

Image
  7 Fascinating Facts about Bitumen You Probably Didn't Know            We all live in a world where Bitumen plays an immense role in many applications. Around 70 % of the bitumen that we consume all around the world, is involved in road construction and infrastructure.  But do we know some of the interesting facts about Bitumen? No worries. Just go ahead to read, here we’ll explore the 7 fascinating facts of Bitumen you probably didn't know. Let’s dive into this blog. 1.     Bitumen's Role in Mummification Do you believe bitumen was used in ancient times? Our ancients used bitumen as an enamelling material due to its preservative properties. One of the significant usages of bitumen is used in the mummification process by Egyptians. Later archaeologists discovered that there was black residue on the mummies and found that they were bitumen. Astonishing, right? Our ancestors were brilliant. They knew bitumen properties very well. Because of that, they used bitumen to p
Read more