All asphalts used in the United States are products of the distillation of crude petroleum. Asphalt is produced in a variety of types and grades ranging from hard and brittle solids to almost water-thin liquids. Asphalt cement is the basis of all of these products. It can be made fluid for spraying from an asphalt distributor by heating, by adding a solvent, or by emulsifying it. When a petroleum solvent, such as naphtha or kerosene, is added to the base asphalt to make it fluid, the product is called a cutback asphalt. When asphalt is broken into minute particles and dispersed in water with an emulsifier, it becomes an emulsified asphalt. The tiny droplets of asphalt remain dispersed until the emulsified asphalt breaks. All three of these forms (asphalt cement, cutbacks, and emulsions) may be used for seal coat and surface treatment work. However, the use of cutback asphalts has declined rapidly over the years due to concerns over air pollution and potential health risks as the solvents evaporate into the atmosphere.

According to the Asphalt Institute, asphalts for seal coats and surface treatments should have the following characteristics:

The bituminous binders used for seal coats and surface treatments should conform to TxDOT Standard Specification 300, Asphalts, Oils, and Emulsions. Table 3-1 from Item 300 shows typical uses for different types of bituminous binders.

Table 3-1. Typical Material Use. (from Table 18 of Item 300 of TxDOT Standard Specifications)