In North America, asphalt has become the leading paving material, and people widely use it for city streets, residential driveways, tennis courts, airport runways, parking lots, and many other types of pavements. As you can see, asphalt is a very versatile material that provides a durable, economical, and attractive pavement. To the untrained eye, all asphalt pavements may appear to use the same type of paving material, but there are actually several types that have been developed over the years. These include stone matrix, porous, and cold mix asphalts. However, most paving projects use hot mix asphalt, but there are various types of asphalt mixes within this one category.
Types of Hot Mix Asphalts
The melting point of the specific type, the stiffness of the mix, and the maximum and minimum thicknesses of the individual layers can affect the installation process.
How Does a Pavement’s Intended Use Influence the Type of HMA Chosen?
The choice of a type is often a balancing act between the cost and the properties desired. For example, engineers often choose Type 3 HMA for pavements that will have a high volume of slow-moving traffic. This includes municipal streets, parking lots, and bus stops. Type 3 is an economical choice that offers excellent durability. If the pavement has paramount aesthetics, engineers may choose Type 7 HMA for its ability to provide the smallest aggregates and create an extremely smooth surface for the pavement. Type 6 HMA has slightly larger aggregates than Type 7, so it is stronger and not quite as smooth. Type 6 and Type 7 are both popular choices for residential driveways, asphalt overlays, and surface courses.
Is the Same Type of HMA Used for All Courses?
Many times, builders can use different types to construct an asphalt pavement. For example, builders often consider the surface course, the top layer of the pavement, important for smoothness, quietness, and appearance. On the other hand, the base layer needs to be extremely strong and highly resistant to temperature changes and compressive stress. Builders typically use a type of HMA in the layers between the base and the surface that provides the best combination of strength, cost, stability, and longevity.
Contact Royal Pavement Solutions to Learn More
Royal Pavement Solutions can help you choose the right type of asphalt for your project. We are a leading provider of asphalt paving, repair, milling, and sealcoating, and we also offer concrete services, parking lot striping, and site work. Our remarkable reputation has been built on our exemplary workmanship, customer service, integrity, and professionalism. We would be happy to provide you with a free quote, so complete the online form to submit your request. If you prefer, call our main office at 844-777-7924.
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