Sealcoat Ingredients

Identification

• As you peruse the market for sealcoats, you will find that there are two primary forms that it tends to come in. It will usually either be an asphalt-based mixture, or one based in coal tar. Each of these different products has different ingredients as well as different overall effects. These pros or cons can be weighed not only in relation to the effectiveness with which they serve their purpose, but in regard to ease of use and environmental factors as well.

Tar

• Products based in tar will be specifically made from coal tar. Coal tar is chiefly formed as a byproduct that emerges from coking coal. Due to the chemical or molecular makeup of coal tar, it is highly resistant to seasonal threats such as precipitation. They can also protect the asphalt from the introduction of harmful chemicals. Coal tar sealcoats can generally be described as water-based coats. Thus, their two principal secondary ingredients are water and clay.

Asphalt

• Asphalt-based sealcoats are also referred to as liquid asphalts. There are a variety of different products on the markets with varying ingredients specified for their specific applications. However, the consistency between all liquid asphalts is that they are derived from thermoplastics, materials that aid in the negotiation of temperature extremes. Some forms of liquid asphalt claim to be composed partly of organic materials such as plants that serve as part of the aggregate. Additionally, some liquid asphalts will have chemical additives like Ecosorb 606A, a chemical favored in the paving industry for its ability to diminish harmful and unwanted odors.

Considerations

• Water-based tar sealcoats have been around since the 1950s, while asphalt sealants have been used for a much shorter period. While liquid asphalt sealcoats may still experience problems associated with exposure to gas, oil and other chemicals, their proponents argue for their ease of use and lack of odor due to added components. Additionally, advocates for liquid asphalt state that the product is absorbed into the pavement's imperfections better than are water based coal tar sealcoats.