Large-scale production of asphalt in the Russian Federation has been carried out since 2013. This year, it was decided to launch several state projects, which included laying new road routes, as well as repairing old roads.
general description
Material such as asphalt is used quite often, especially now. With its help, almost any roads are erected, which can be either federal highways between cities or small private paths in the garden. For the arrangement of both options, the same mixture is used. If we talk about the general composition of this solution, then it includes several elements. Bitumen will act as an astringent base for this substance.
In the production of asphalt can not do without such raw materials as sand and some mineral fillers. The third and last element will be additives made also from minerals or obtained synthetically.
Raw materials for asphalt
It is worth noting that this material can be of two types. There is asphalt of natural origin and created artificially. If we talk about the natural form of this substance, then it comes from heavy oil residues. This substance is a refractory material of black color.
In the production of artificial asphalt, materials such as solid and bulk minerals, for example, sand, gravel, limestone, are most often used . Viscous binding elements are added to them, which can be bitumen or tar.
It is important to note that to obtain an asphalt mix it is not enough just to mix all these elements. To make the solution solid enough, it is compacted and rolled out using a roller. After passing through this procedure, the substance becomes as strong as stone, and able to withstand colossal mechanical stress.
General description of types of asphalt
In the production of asphalt, one of the most important tasks posed by the manufacturer is to comply with all proportions with very high accuracy. If it happens that there are too many viscous substances or loose minerals, then the resulting coating will not be able to withstand high loads. It will crack under the influence of factors such as temperature changes, high humidity.
It is also worth mentioning that the variety of asphalt and its components can vary quite a lot depending on where exactly the coating will be laid. In other words, the climatic conditions of the area play an important role.
Today, there are many different types of this raw material. The easiest and cheapest to make is sand. The composition of this material is very simple - sand and bitumen. If you add crushed stone and a little mineral powder to this composition , then the output will be crushed stone type of coating. Everything will change depending on the technology of production of asphalt - from its characteristics and place of application to price.
Kinds
There is a division of asphalt concrete material into three groups. The difference between these categories lies in the exact temperature at which a substance such as bitumen melted. The three main groups include hot, warm and cold asphalt. The difference also lies in the temperature at which the laying of a new road surface is carried out.
- The first type is the hot laying of the material. As part of such a mixture is bitumen, which melted at very high temperatures, and therefore for its laying it is necessary to heat the asphalt to 120 degrees Celsius and above. Most often, the substance is used to build new highways.
- The second type is warm styling. The composition of the solution includes low-viscosity bitumen, which should be heated to an indicator of 40-80 degrees Celsius.
- The last type is cold asphalt, or cold laying. The composition of the mixture includes a special bitumen base, which can be used if the air temperature is not lower than 10 degrees Celsius. This option is implemented most often. The main field of application is repair of tracks, sealing of pits or potholes in an existing coating.
Manufacturing at the enterprise
Naturally, asphalt plants are engaged in manufacturing. There are only two types of these enterprises. The difference between them lies in the process of production of the substance. There are cyclic or continuous factories.
The first category of plants is most often built near large cities where asphalt is constantly required, but at the same time in not too large quantities. A feature of this type of enterprise is that it is possible to change the type of solution produced several times in one shift. It is also important to note that in this case the quality of the manufactured material does not deteriorate.
Cyclic enterprise
An asphalt plant of this type is equipped with the most simple but effective equipment. There are aggregates for the reception of solids, a place to store the finished product, as well as an asphalt mixing plant. In addition to the main units in the production, there may also be some specific additional equipment. It can be a tower, a screen, a crushing and screening vibrating screen, used to sift stone raw materials. In addition, the use of a device such as screening significantly improves the quality of the resulting asphalt due to the fact that all bulk solids are divided into fractions before they even enter the mixture.
Of the minuses of such an enterprise, it can be distinguished that it produces a relatively small amount of road material. In addition, it is declared completely stationary due to the presence of such units as a tower and a roar. The cost of asphalt will be higher than with continuous production.
Continuous production
The main advantage of a continuous-type asphalt plant is that it has only the most necessary equipment to carry out its activities. This allows you to constantly move it.
Naturally, the second plus of this enterprise is the continuous production process, thanks to which it is possible to obtain a large amount of asphalt. All necessary components are constantly supplied to the hopper for heating. There the main process takes place, and at the exit there is already ready asphalt. From the hopper, the substance is transferred to the silo for storage. In such places, you can keep the temperature of the material up to four days.
Among the minuses of this manufacture, the fact that there is no rumble, which means that the ingredients are not sifted, stands out. The absence of this procedure affects the properties of the final product, since quite often purchased raw materials, solid mineral elements do not meet the standards and contain impurities. The ingress of such unnecessary components into the mixture reduces the durability of the coating.
The cost of asphalt depends on the quality of its preparation. The price starts at about 600 rubles per ton and can reach 3,000 rubles for the same amount.