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Bitumen versus tar
Short answer
Bitumen, a petroleum residue, has low temperature susceptibility and good durability, used as road binder and waterproofing. Tar, from coal/wood destructive distillation, is more brittle in cold, weathers faster, and is cheaper, used for priming, surface dressing and wood preservation.
Compare between bitumen and tar.
Bitumen is a black, sticky, hydrocarbon binder obtained from refining petroleum or from natural deposits. Tar is a dark viscous liquid obtained from destructive distillation of coal, wood or similar organic matter.
| Point | Bitumen | Tar |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Petroleum refining residue or natural | Coal, wood or peat by destructive distillation |
| Chemical nature | Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons | Mainly aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols |
| Solubility | Soluble in carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride | Soluble in toluene, benzene (not fully in petroleum) |
| Temperature susceptibility | Low | High; becomes brittle in cold |
| Durability | Longer | Shorter; weathers faster |
| Adhesion | Good | Good, but weaker with ageing |
| Smell and health | Mild | Pungent and harmful |
| Setting and cost | Slower setting, costlier | Quick, cheaper |
| Uses | Highway surfacing, waterproofing, felt | Priming, surface dressing, wood and pipe preservative |
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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