During the early years, there were some high-end asphalt coatings that were fortified with specialty chemicals, polymers, etc. and designed to perform like coal tar, but they were also significantly more expensive than the traditional asphalt emulsion coating made from pre-emulsified asphalt. They are no longer available for the cost competitiveness reasons. The void was filled by STAR’s Micro-Pave line of performance-driven asphalt-based sealcoatings where none of the traditional ways in formulating and processing asphalt sealers was used. STAR has taken the advantage of the state-of-the-art technologies of raw materials and processing methods to formulate asphalt based sealcoatings under its Micro-Pave line which rival coal tar sealers in most of the critical aspects of performance; color retention, flexibility, longevity, fuel resistance, etc. Performance has its price and from the very onset, we realized that the cost of Micro-pave will be at about the same price level as coal tar- based sealers. We did not get lured into creating an inferior coating simply due to the cheaper price of the asphalt binder (AC). Micro-Pave has a solid track record, spanning over several years. Star Micro-Pave Supreme and Micro-Pave Aviator are designed to last as long as the best coal tar sealers and remain color-fast as well. They are also resistant to chemical attack. They are premium asphalt pavement coatings and therefore have a higher price, but one well worth paying when one calculates the long term cost of not maintaining, or ineffectively maintaining asphalt pavement. In the absence of high quality coal tar sealants Micro-Pave Supreme and Aviator fill the bill. We have jobs down over 5 years showing no fade and very little wear with minimal damage from fuel, the references of which are available, upon request.

The following tabulation (Table-I) lists major characteristics of both asphalt and refined coal tar based sealcoatings, in very general terms. A typical asphalt based sealer usually does not have the same level of resistance to chemicals and weathering, as compared to refined coal tar based sealers. This statement is generally true and has been the experience of many sealcoaters as well.

Table-I major characteristics of both asphalt & refined coal tar based sealcoatings

TABLE 1

Test	Refined Coal Tar Emulsion Sealer	Typical Asphalt Emulsion Sealer
Binder Component	Refined Coal Tar, mostly aromatic, closed ring compounds (stable)	Asphalt Cement (AC), mostly aliphatic, open chain compounds (unstable)
Origin of the binder	Coal-Decay of vegetation	Petroleum-Marine life decay
Ultraviolet Resistance	Excellent	Fair-Color Fades
Gas Resistance	Excellent-No Effect	Poor-Dissolves
Motor Oil Resistance	Excellent-No Effect	Poor-Dissolves
Kerosene Resistance	Excellent-No Effect	Poor-Dissolves
Oil, Fat, Grease	Excellent-No Effect	Poor-Dissolves
Scrub Resistance - (Durability test)	4000 cycles	2400 cycles
Water re-absorption	1.00%	3.2%

(The Water re-absorption test is an indicator for durability since water attacks seal coatings causing re-emulsification, which can lead to tracking sealer into your place of business. Low numbers are better.)

Odor	Some - Characteristic coal tar	Milder - Asphalt odor
Skin Irritant	yes	yes
Photosensitive	yes	no

(This is what causes burning to some contractors but in no way affects the consumer)

Flexibility	pass	pass
Drying time	pass	pass

OSHA Emission testing

pass

pass

(Both showed no detectable amounts or less than 2% of the permissible limits by OSHA of carcinogenic compounds including Benzene, CTPV’s, PNAH’s, or any other compounds of concern.)

Environmental	Non-Hazardous, industrial waste in both Dry and Wet state	Non-Hazardous, industrial waste in both Dry and Wet state
Handling Precautions	Similar per MSDS	Similar per MSDS