2007-01-17 01:03:45 · 9 answers · asked by Kelly B 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Tarmac is an abbreviation of Tar Macadam. Tar is made from coal and is no longer permitted in Europe or USA as a binder (or glue) as it is carcinogenic. Macadam is a mixture with particles of stone of various sizes (after the inventor John Loudon Macadam d. 1836)
Since we cannot use tar, everyone now uses bitumen, made from crude oil . In USA 'bitumen' is known as 'asphalt'. In Europe the mixture of bitumen and stone ( aggregate) is known as 'asphalt' or before 2005, when the term 'asphalt' was standardised, Bitumen Macadam or Bitmac
2007-01-17 06:04:26 · answer #1 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only difference is tarmac is more British, asphalt is an American term. I'm pretty sure the words are used indiscriminately to describe the same thing. can't argue with silly Gorbie though, he might be right.
Tarmac is short for Tar Macadam, incidentally- Just another SCOTTISH invention?
2007-01-17 01:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE tarmac is what they call a landing strip, or the area immediately outside the gates of an airport...Most likely very thick layers of steel-reinforced concrete, sometimes covered by asphalt...
Asphalt is the mixed tar/ sand/ rock substance that is used to pave roads and driveways, or possibly be the top coat of the tarmac.
2007-01-17 01:10:25 · answer #3 · answered by juicy13500 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
A tarmac is a "thing" and asphault is a "material".
Tarmac, runway, highway, intertate, roadway, motorway, parkway, patio, walkway... all "things"
Asphault, concrete, interlock stone, flagstone, cobblestone, gravel... all are "materials" that could be used alone or in combination, to build or constuct the aforementioned "things".
2007-01-17 04:39:17 · answer #4 · answered by 6kidsANDalwaysFIXINGsomething 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tarmac is a road surface made from asphalt and stone chippings.
Asphalt is derived from crude oil.
2007-01-17 02:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yep... the difference is geography. Pop/ soda, Hoagie/ sub, Petrol/ gas, potato/ potato
2007-01-17 01:54:48 · answer #6 · answered by nick b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tar is derived from coal asphalt occurs naturally.
2007-01-17 01:07:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I've never had my tarmac....
2007-01-17 01:15:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
None. They are one and the same.
2007-01-17 01:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by the old dog 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋