When asphalt is freshly paved, it has a rich, black color. As it ages, asphalt will progressively become grayer and grayer and the texture will become courser and courser. This is the result of gradual decay to the liquid asphalt (or bitumen) that serves as the binder in asphalt pavement. Sealing asphalt periodically serves two mutually beneficially purposes: it will restore the rich black color which is aesthetically pleasing, and it will restore the binder which promotes structural integrity of the asphalt pavement.