Hydrocarbonated binders

A work by Léon Malo, dated June 1866, provides evidence that asphalt and natural bitumens played an important role in public works, without however being the subject of reference articles, with the exception of a few communications in the annals of Ponts et Chaussées or Mines.

The author states that, over the last thirty years, asphalt has taken its rightful place alongside lime and cement. Urban roadways can no longer do without it!

This plea in favor of mastic asphalt is very seductive, but reinforces what every bibliography points out, namely that this hydrocarbon material, known since ancient times, was used in limited quantities and, essentially, for waterproofing high-quality buildings and water reservoirs intended for human consumption.

The chapters that follow are intended to help the reader place hydrocarbon binders in time and space. These organic products have undoubtedly accompanied human development since the dawn of time and, given the current state of knowledge, there are sufficient reserves of "bitumen" for the next hundred years.

To push back this limit, bituminous materials will have to be systematically recycled. Recyclability is one of bitumen's great qualities.