---
title: "Asphalt (hot-mix) — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Asphalt (hot-mix) has a density of 2,350 kg/m³ (2,200–2,450). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic"
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/asphalt/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Asphalt (hot-mix)

**Density of asphalt (hot-mix): 2,350 kg/m³ (2,200–2,450)**

2.35 g/cm³ · 146.7 lb/ft³

Mostly stone: about 95% mineral aggregate by weight, held together by 4-6% bitumen, and it is the aggregate grading rather than the binder that determines whether a mix is quiet, grippy or long-lasting. Bitumen is viscoelastic, so the material has no single stiffness — it behaves like a stiff solid under a fast wheel and creeps like a thick liquid under a parked truck on a hot day, which is exactly why ruts form at bus stops and traffic lights. It softens rather than melts, with the binder's ring-and-ball softening point typically 45-70 °C.

## Properties

- **Density:** 2,350 kg/m³ (2,200–2,450) — 2.35 g/cm³
- **Thermal conductivity:** 1.4 W/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Road surfacing and carriageways
- Car parks and driveways
- Airport runways and taxiways
- Flat roof waterproofing

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- asphalt (hot-mix): 2,350 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| asphalt (hot-mix) ← | 2,350 kg/m³ | 2.35× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Asphalt (hot-mix) contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Asphalt (hot-mix) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of asphalt (hot-mix)?

2,350 kg/m³ (2,200–2,450), or 2.35 g/cm³.

### Does asphalt (hot-mix) float?

No. At 2,350 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is asphalt (hot-mix) magnetic?

Asphalt (hot-mix) is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does asphalt (hot-mix) float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/asphalt/)
- [Unidirectional carbon fibre composite](https://atoneplace.net/material/carbon-fiber-ud/)
- [Fibreglass (GRP)](https://atoneplace.net/material/fiberglass/)
- [Woven carbon fibre composite](https://atoneplace.net/material/carbon-fiber-woven/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)