Aggregates are crushed stone, sand and fines, mixed in a predetermined proportion
to provide strong structural skeleton and mechanical strength for the asphalt
mixtures. Aggregates constitute about 92% to 96% by mass of the asphalt mixtures,
and hence play an important part in the quality and performance of the flexible
pavements.
proportion of the bitumen in the asphalt mixtures is much less than that of the
aggregates (i.e. up to a minimum of 4% by mass of the asphalt mixtures), the
quantity and quality of the bitumen both have a marked effect on the performance of
the flexible pavements.
Filler is a fine dust used to harden the bitumen and improve the adhesion of the
bitumen to the aggregates. Although bitumen constitutes the binder part of the
asphalt mixtures, it is the combination of bitumen and filler known as bitumen-filler
mastic that coats the aggregates and can therefore be considered as the true binder.
By weight, aggregates and filler generally account for between 92% and 96% of the
asphalt mixtures, while bitumen accounts for about 4% to 8%. Different ratios of
aggregates, bitumen and filler (as well as the small proportion of air) give rise to
different types of asphalt mixtures of different properties and serve different
purposes.