Nearly everyone knows that asphalt is used to pave roads and driveways. America is a country obsessed with their cars, so we as a country go through a lot of asphalt. Even before the material was a driveway standard, Americans burned through it. Read on to learn all of the uses that the country has found for asphalt in all its forms.

Before We Get Started

Asphalt actually comes in a variety of forms, including a liquid version called bitumen. Bitumen occurs naturally in certain environments, although it can also be refined from petroleum. More often than not, this more pure, liquid version is used in alternative uses. In this article. Many times, the references to asphalt in this article mean bitumen rather than the solid version most people think of.

  1. A Building Tool

In ancient times, a variety of cultures employed asphalt as a building tool, adhesive, and waterproofing substance. Ancient Egyptians even used bitumen to embalm mummies. The use of asphalt actually dates back to five thousand B.C. in Egyptian, Sumerian, Persian, and even Roman cultures.

In eastern Asian cultures, primarily China and Japan, asphalt was used to create things that had to survive outdoors.

Many eastern Asian cultures made use of asphalt while creating art that Statues of deities were an especially popular use.

  1. Car Parts

While paving is mostly for cars to drive on, it also has helped the car industry immensely as a part of vehicles. Bitumen is actually a major component in luxury vehicles. Manufacturers line key components with asphalt pads and bitumen adhesive. This padding actually absorbs the vibrations that make road noise, leading to a quieter ride.

The lining also helps preserve the cars. Asphalt linings prevent buildups of corrosive materials on cars, such as road salt and mud. Additionally, the linings prevent the development of rust on necessary car parts.

  1. Car Paint

Early cars maintained a low price due to standardization. For Henry Ford, Japan Black was the standard color he chose. What made the iconic color so long lasting and iconic? You guessed it! Asphalt! The Japan Black paint kept the cars shiny looking because of how it repelled rust and corrosive buildup.

  1. Tree Band-Aid

Most people do not group asphalt and nature as the best of friends. In fact, for many people, paving has come to represent the destruction of nature. Nowadays instead of open fields, majestic mountains, and towering forests, streets and highways slice through the landscape. However, bitumen is actually a major help to farmers and agricultural scientists.

Bitumen mixed with latex is actually the perfect band-aid for plants and trees. The main use is for when a limb or other part of the tree has been removed. The concoction actually seals the open wound from pests or bacteria.