Hot Mix Asphalt: The Compressed Natural Gas variant for hot mix asphalt. The HNG used in these hot mixes has an octane level of 87 and 86 at the test refinery. Synthetic crude oil has an average octane of 88. The cost to run this asphalt is about $1.41/gal, whereas the Cold Mix asphalt is $1.66/gal, with the higher price due to the difference in fuel consumption.
Cold Mix Asphalt: The Portland Cement derived variant of hot mix asphalt. When hot mix asphalt is made with Portland cement, it has an octane level of 76 and 80 at the test refinery. Synthetic crude oil has an average octane of 77. The cost to run this asphalt is about $1.17/gal, whereas the Hot Mix Asphalt is $1.45/gal, with the higher price due to the higher fuel consumption.
Generally speaking, you are getting a better deal on asphalt purchased from a local oil company than from the national asphalt supplier. Make sure you talk to the company you are buying from before you take delivery of the asphalt and ensure that it has experienced asphalt plants that will be able to provide the amount of asphalt you require and pricing as close as possible to your typical oil company.
One last note on HMT vs. CTMH as delivered to your site. Many people buy hot mix asphalt from a supplier, work it into a load, then drive it to the worksite. This means you have to pay a charge each time the bag needs to be mixed up, and if there is any hitch in mixing up the mix, you may find your shipment clogs up, and you cannot get it on to the road. This is not a very reliable or an excellent idea.
The first thing to note is the fuel consumption of the asphalt. One great thing about the Hot Mix Asphalt is the higher octane rating at the factory. However, if you use this asphalt with a vehicle with poor or no fuel economy or do not like to burn it, you are in for some costly repairs.
The test refinery also confirmed that the Hot Mix Asphalt produces minimal pollution. The main problem that this asphalt cause is in clogging up the air cleaner, and as a result, it tends to require more frequent and more expensive oil changes. If you have any engine issues, you should make sure you speak to your mechanic about using this asphalt.
The HMT can be bought from local brick factories that provide a mix to the public. A product is called "Zinc Price," a good choice. In addition to this, specific heat treatment processes can be employed to increase the life of this material.
Most new homes require hot mix asphalt to be used for their foundations. This may be one way to save some money. While many newer homes use CTMH, there is no standard on how this is made, and even if they are more expensive, the quality is good, and the material can last indefinitely.
The producers of Hot Mix Asphalt claim the product can also be used to create asphalt parking surfaces. This does not mean that you can use it for driveways or parking areas in residential areas. The asphalt is usually far too hot for these applications. On top of that, unless the asphalt is made specifically for this use, it could not be used at all.
Once the asphalt has started to deteriorate, it can't be recycled. Driving on it may be OK, but consider the damaging effects to the ground over time. While these old trucks usually wear out at around 50,000 miles, many new trucks have them work to at least 100,000 miles. Once these trucks have reached their end of life, the ground will be worn out and unable to be reused.
Conclusion: If you want to drive on asphalt, ensure it's been adequately treated before it's sold or used. These materials are not meant for moving on and can pose a danger to your vehicle, drivers, and pedestrians.
