SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS OF TAR AND ITS DERIVATIVES

This paper was presented to the conference on bituminous binders and materials, Paris, 3 March 1977. Among the applications of coal tar can be cited its use as a combustible material. Pitch for electrodes in the fabrication of aluminium represents an important outlet. Whilst in regression since the second world war, tar constitutes a non-negligible proportion of road applications. Mixed with bitumen, it produces good quality surface dressings. With added vinyl chloride or polystyrene in the proportion 4-5%, it produces hot coated bituminous mixtures resistant to the solving action of oils and fuels. With the addition of epoxy resins, surface dressings are obtained having excellent skid resistance properties. Tar oils mixed with bitumen produce good quality binders for surface dressings. The use of tars for protecting steel furnace linings, the prevention against corrosion of metal surfaces exposed to the action of air or water, for the impregnation of wood as well as in the manufacture of carbon black, should be emphasised. For the covering abstract see IRRD abstrast no 107599. (TRRL)