Quick Answer: No. Asphalt is not the same as traditional Portland cement concrete. However, asphalt concrete is a recognized paving material made from asphalt binder and aggregate.
Is asphalt a type of concrete? Not in the usual sense of the word “concrete.” Asphalt and Portland cement concrete use different binders, but the term asphalt concrete can make the distinction confusing. Asphalt concrete uses asphalt binder to hold aggregate together, while traditional concrete uses Portland cement and water.
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Is Asphalt a Type of Concrete?
Asphalt and Portland cement concrete are different pavement materials because they use different binders.
Traditional concrete, often called Portland cement concrete (PCC), uses Portland cement, water, and aggregate such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone. The cement reacts with water and hardens, binding the aggregate into a solid material.
Asphalt pavement uses a different binder: asphalt binder. It coats and binds the aggregate particles together to form asphalt concrete. FHWA defines asphalt concrete (AC) as a controlled mixture of asphalt cement and graded aggregate that is compacted into a dense mass.
So why do engineers call it asphalt concrete?
Asphalt concrete is the name of the composite paving mixture made from asphalt binder and aggregate; it does not mean the mixture uses Portland cement.
Why the terminology seems confusing
In everyday American English, most people use “concrete” to mean the familiar gray material used for sidewalks, patios, foundations, and some roads.
In pavement engineering, however, you will also see asphalt concrete (AC) used as the technical name for asphalt-based pavement. FHWA lists asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete as separate pavement materials and also uses AC and PCC as their common abbreviations.
That means both statements can be correct depending on what someone means:
- “Asphalt is not concrete.” Correct when “concrete” means Portland cement concrete.
- “Asphalt concrete is concrete.” Correct as an engineering material name.
What Is Asphalt Concrete?
Asphalt concrete is a paving mixture made mainly from mineral aggregate and asphalt binder. The aggregate provides most of the mixture, while the asphalt binder coats the particles and holds them together.
What Is Asphalt Concrete Made Of?
The main ingredients are:
- Aggregate: Crushed stone, gravel, sand, and other mineral materials.
- Asphalt binder: The sticky binder that coats and holds the aggregate together.
- Mineral filler: Very fine mineral material may also be included to improve the mixture’s density and strength.
The exact mix depends on the pavement’s intended use, traffic, climate, and design requirements. For example, a busy highway needs a different mix design than a residential driveway.
If you’re planning an asphalt project and want to estimate the material needed, you can use our Asphalt Calculator.
If you’re also comparing asphalt material quantities and pricing, see our guide on how much a yard of asphalt costs.
Is Asphalt Concrete the Same as Asphalt?
In everyday American speech, “asphalt” often means asphalt pavement or asphalt concrete. Technically, though, asphalt binder is only one part of the complete mixture.
Think of it this way:
Asphalt binder + aggregate → asphalt concrete → asphalt pavement
That is why calling a paved driveway simply “asphalt” is normal, even though the finished pavement contains much more than asphalt binder.
When estimating how much asphalt material a project needs, accounting for waste is also important. See our guide to the asphalt waste factor for recommended percentages and the calculation method.
Quick Tip: On paving specifications, AC usually refers to the asphalt-and-aggregate mixture, not just the asphalt binder.
How Is Asphalt Different From Concrete?
If you’re wondering whether asphalt is a type of concrete, the easiest way to understand the difference is to look at what holds the aggregate together.
Asphalt pavement uses an asphalt binder, while traditional Portland cement concrete uses Portland cement and water. Both contain aggregate, but their binders and how they behave are different.
| Feature | Asphalt Concrete | Portland Cement Concrete |
| Main binder | Asphalt binder | Portland cement |
| Aggregate | Stone, gravel, sand | Stone, gravel, sand |
| Common term | Asphalt or blacktop | Concrete |
| Pavement type | Generally flexible | Generally rigid |
| How the binder works | Asphalt binder holds the aggregate together | Cement reacts with water and hardens |
FHWA classifies asphalt concrete as a flexible pavement material and Portland cement concrete (PCC) as a rigid pavement material.
Why Asphalt and Concrete Behave Differently
Asphalt pavement has some ability to flex under traffic and temperature changes. Its performance depends not only on the asphalt mixture but also on the strength and stiffness of the layers underneath it.
Pavement thickness also plays an important role in how an asphalt surface performs under traffic and changing conditions. For more detail, see our guide to asphalt thickness for driveways, roads, and parking lots.
Portland cement concrete behaves more like a rigid slab. The cement reacts chemically with water to form a hardened paste that binds the aggregate together.
Does Asphalt Contain Cement?
No, asphalt binder is not Portland cement. Asphalt binder coats and binds the aggregate in an asphalt mixture, while Portland cement reacts with water to form the hardened paste used in traditional concrete.
Cement is an ingredient in concrete; concrete is the finished composite material.
Why Is Asphalt Called “Asphalt Concrete”?
The name asphalt concrete can sound strange because most people use “concrete” to mean Portland cement concrete. In pavement engineering, however, asphalt concrete refers to a compacted mixture of aggregate and asphalt binder.
The easiest way to remember it is:
Asphalt binder + aggregate = asphalt concrete
Portland cement + water + aggregate = Portland cement concrete
If you’re comparing costs for a smaller residential driveway, see our guide to 20×20 asphalt driveway cost.
Is Asphalt Considered Concrete in Construction?
It depends on the context.
In everyday conversation, contractors and property owners usually call the black pavement asphalt, blacktop, or an asphalt driveway. In technical documents, you may see terms such as asphalt concrete (AC), hot-mix asphalt (HMA), or asphaltic concrete.
These terms describe an asphalt-based mixture, not Portland cement concrete. FHWA identifies asphalt concrete and Portland cement concrete as separate pavement applications.
A Simple Real-World Example
Think about a typical U.S. road. If its surface is made from aggregate held together with asphalt binder, it can be called asphalt concrete. A pavement made from aggregate bound by hardened Portland cement paste is Portland cement concrete.
For a residential example, if you’re planning a larger paved driveway, our guide to 20×40 asphalt driveway cost breaks down the typical pricing factors and total project cost.
Both are pavement materials, but their binders and structural behavior are different.
FAQ About Asphalt And Concrete
Is asphalt concrete the same as asphalt?
Not exactly. Asphalt binder is one component of an asphalt mixture. When that binder is combined with aggregate and properly mixed and compacted, the resulting material is called asphalt concrete. In everyday speech, though, people commonly use “asphalt” to mean the finished pavement.
Does asphalt contain cement?
Asphalt binder is not Portland cement. Asphalt pavement mixtures primarily contain aggregate and asphalt binder, while Portland cement concrete uses Portland cement and water to create the hardened cement paste that binds its aggregate.
What is asphaltic concrete?
Asphaltic concrete is another term for a compacted mixture of asphalt binder and aggregate. FHWA uses the term in its pavement terminology.
What is the difference between asphalt and concrete?
The main difference is the binder. Asphalt pavement uses asphalt binder, while traditional Portland cement concrete uses Portland cement and water. Asphalt generally forms a flexible pavement system, while Portland cement concrete forms a rigid pavement slab.
Is asphalt or concrete better for a driveway?
Neither is automatically better for every driveway. The right choice depends on factors such as climate, soil conditions, drainage, expected traffic, installation cost, maintenance needs, and local conditions.
Is asphalt pavement flexible or rigid?
Asphalt pavement is generally classified as flexible pavement. Portland cement concrete pavement is generally classified as rigid pavement.
Conclusion
Asphalt is not the same as traditional Portland cement concrete, but asphalt concrete is a recognized pavement material made from asphalt binder and aggregate. The key difference is the binder: asphalt concrete uses asphalt binder, while traditional concrete uses Portland cement.
References
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) — Asphalt Concrete / pavement terminology
- FHWA — Portland Cement Concrete
- FHWA — pavement materials
