The process of asphalt sealcoating is becoming a trend in recent years. However, not many people know what this is, and if you want to know the basics of asphalt seal coat, we will elaborate on it further.
1. There are two different types of sealers: either asphalt sealcoating or coal tar-based sealers, and the difference between the two is where they extract the materials.
Asphalt is removed from the petroleum refining process, and the coal tar is through the steel refining process. The end product results in a resin or a pitch getting dried up and creating a malleable film.
2. Coal tar is studied to possess high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, making them a carcinogenic substance. In contrast, asphalt extracted through the same process doesn’t contain any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and is often considered the better choice of the two.
3. Asphalt-based sealers are considered 100% reusable, and the liquid asphalt is extracted from the same asphalt material you would see on your driveway. They get this material, heat it to temperatures over 300 degrees, bring the liquid asphalt, extract the liquid asphalt, and get the resin. Once the resin is harvested, they combine it with emulsifiers and water to stabilize it in its liquid form and is then applied onto the driveway. Once applied, it dries up, and it cures. Silica sand and water are then added to stabilize the liquid asphalt and ensure it doesn’t clump too much.
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