What is tar? Tar is a dark, thick, viscous material produced from the destructive distillation or heating of organic materials such as coal, wood, peat, or other carbon-rich substances.
The word tar is often used very broadly, which creates confusion in construction, road paving, roofing, coatings, and industrial markets.
Many people use the words tar, bitumen, and asphalt as though they mean exactly the same thing. Technically, however, they are different materials with different origins, compositions, and applications.
Coal tar, for example, is obtained mainly as a by-product of coal carbonization during coke production. Bitumen, by contrast, is primarily derived from petroleum refining and is now the dominant binder used in modern asphalt road construction.
Understanding these differences is important for contractors, infrastructure companies, industrial buyers, engineering firms, and anyone selecting materials for paving, waterproofing, coatings, or industrial applications.
Quick Answer: What Is Tar?
Tar is a dark, viscous material produced by heating carbon-rich materials such as coal or wood in the absence of sufficient oxygen.
Different types of tar have different compositions and uses. Coal tar is associated with coke and chemical industries, while wood tar is produced from wood. Tar should not automatically be confused with petroleum bitumen.
Table of Contents
- What Is Tar?
- How Is Tar Made?
- Main Types of Tar
- What Is Coal Tar?
- What Is Wood Tar?
- What Is Road Tar?
- Common Uses of Tar
- Tar in Road Construction
- Tar in Waterproofing and Coatings
- Tar vs Bitumen
- Tar vs Asphalt
- Is Tar Still Used Today?
- How to Select Tar or Bitumen
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Tar?
Tar is generally a dark brown to black, viscous organic material formed when carbon-based materials are heated under conditions where complete combustion does not occur.
Depending on the original material and production process, tar can contain a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds.
The physical characteristics of tar can vary significantly.
Some types may be:
- Thick and sticky
- Semi-liquid
- Highly viscous
- Strong-smelling
- Dark brown or black
- Water-resistant
- Adhesive
Because different sources produce chemically different tars, the word “tar” by itself is not enough to identify a material for engineering or industrial use.
The exact type should always be specified.
How Is Tar Made?
Tar is produced through a process generally involving the heating of organic materials without allowing complete combustion.
This process is often called destructive distillation or carbonization, depending on the material and industrial process involved.
During heating, the original material breaks down and releases gases, vapors, liquids, and solid residues.
When some of the vapors cool and condense, tar-like materials can form.
The exact composition depends on:
- Raw material
- Temperature
- Heating method
- Processing time
- Industrial equipment
- Further refining or distillation
For example, tar produced from coal is chemically different from tar produced from wood.
Main Types of Tar
Tar can be divided into several categories according to its source.
Coal Tar
Coal tar is produced mainly during the carbonization of coal in coke ovens.
It has historically been used in industrial coatings, chemical production, carbon materials, paving-related applications, and specialized industrial processes.
Wood Tar
Wood tar is produced by heating wood under controlled conditions.
Historically, it has been used for:
- Wood preservation
- Rope treatment
- Marine applications
- Traditional coatings
- Specialized preservation work
Peat Tar
Tar can also be produced from peat, although it is less commonly discussed in modern commercial construction markets.
Other Biomass Tars
Various organic and biomass materials can generate tar-like products during thermal processing.
Their properties depend heavily on the feedstock and production method.
What Is Coal Tar?
Coal tar is a dark liquid obtained as a by-product during the production of coke from coal.
In coke ovens, coal is heated at high temperatures under restricted oxygen conditions.
This produces:
- Coke
- Gas
- Chemical vapors
- Coal tar
Coal tar contains a complex mixture of organic compounds and can be further processed into chemical fractions and products such as coal tar pitch.
It has been used historically in:
- Industrial coatings
- Carbon products
- Chemical manufacturing
- Specialized waterproofing systems
- Paving and sealing applications
- Protective materials
However, coal tar should not be treated as interchangeable with petroleum bitumen.
What Is Wood Tar?
Wood tar is produced through the controlled heating or destructive distillation of wood.
The exact properties vary depending on the type of wood and production process.
Historically, wood tar was particularly important in maritime and preservation applications.
It was used to protect:
- Wooden structures
- Boats
- Ropes
- Timber
- Outdoor wooden surfaces
Today, wood tar remains relevant mainly in specialized, traditional, or preservation-related applications rather than mainstream modern highway construction.
What Is Road Tar?
The phrase road tar is commonly used in everyday language to describe any black road-binding material.
Technically, this can be misleading.
Historically, coal-tar-based binders were used in some road construction and surface treatments.
Modern asphalt roads, however, are predominantly constructed using petroleum bitumen as the binder.
Therefore, when someone today refers to:
“road tar”
they may actually mean:
- Road Bitumen
- Asphalt Binder
- Paving Bitumen
- Asphalt pavement
For technical procurement, contractors should always confirm the actual material rather than relying on the general word “tar.”
Common Uses of Tar
Tar and tar-derived materials have historically been used in multiple industries.
Common applications include:
Industrial Coatings
Certain tar-based products have been used as protective coatings for industrial structures.
Carbon Products
Coal tar derivatives can be used in carbon-related industries and processing.
Chemical Manufacturing
Coal tar can be separated or processed into various chemical fractions.
Wood Preservation
Wood tar has historically been used to protect timber from environmental exposure.
Sealing Applications
Some tar-based materials have been used for sealing and moisture protection.
Historical Road Applications
Coal tar was once more widely associated with road surfacing and paving, although petroleum bitumen has largely replaced it in modern asphalt construction.
Tar in Road Construction
Historically, tar was used as a road-binding and surfacing material.
The term tarmac itself became associated with tar-based road construction methods.
However, modern road construction has changed considerably.
Today, petroleum bitumen is generally the preferred binder in asphalt pavement because standardized bitumen grades can be selected according to:
- Climate
- Traffic load
- Pavement temperature
- Asphalt mix design
- Engineering specifications
Modern road binders can include:
- Penetration Grade Bitumen
- Performance Grade Bitumen
- Viscosity Grade Bitumen
- Modified Bitumen
- Emulsion Bitumen
These materials form part of the approved SHM Trade Global bitumen product structure.
For road and infrastructure projects, engineers should always follow the approved project specification rather than substituting tar and bitumen based on appearance alone.
Tar in Waterproofing and Protective Coatings
Tar-based products have historically been associated with waterproofing and industrial protection because many tar materials form dark, water-resistant coatings.
Applications have included:
- Steel structures
- Pipes
- Timber
- Underground structures
- Industrial surfaces
- Marine applications
- Protective coatings
However, modern waterproofing systems can use many different technologies, including:
- Bituminous coatings
- Bitumen membranes
- Acrylic coatings
- Polyurethane systems
- Cementitious waterproofing
- Synthetic membranes
This means a modern waterproofing buyer should not assume that a black coating is necessarily tar-based.
Product chemistry and technical documentation should always be checked.
Tar vs Bitumen
This is one of the most important distinctions.
Feature | Tar | Bitumen |
Main Origin | Coal, wood or other organic material | Petroleum refining |
Typical Appearance | Dark brown to black | Dark brown to black |
Composition | Depends on source | Petroleum hydrocarbons |
Modern Road Use | Limited/specialized | Very common |
Asphalt Binder | Historically used | Main modern binder |
Waterproofing | Historical/specialized uses | Widely used |
Product Grading | Depends on tar type | Penetration, PG, VG, etc. |
Main Modern Market | Industrial/specialty applications | Roads, infrastructure, waterproofing |
Is Tar the Same as Bitumen?
No.
Although both materials may appear black and sticky, their origins and compositions are different.
Bitumen is primarily petroleum-derived.
Coal tar is coal-derived.
This distinction matters when selecting materials for:
- Roads
- Waterproofing
- Coatings
- Industrial processing
- Roofing
- Pavement maintenance
Tar vs Asphalt
Tar and asphalt are also different terms.
Tar
Tar is a material produced by heating organic materials such as coal or wood.
Bitumen
Bitumen is the petroleum-derived binder widely used in modern road construction.
Asphalt
Asphalt is usually a mixture containing:
- Bitumen
- Coarse aggregate
- Fine aggregate
- Mineral filler
Therefore:
Bitumen is a binder.
Asphalt is the paving mixture.
Tar is a separate material family.
This distinction is useful when communicating with road contractors, asphalt plants, suppliers, and engineering consultants.
Is Tar Still Used Today?
Yes, but its role has changed.
Tar and tar-derived materials remain relevant in certain industrial, chemical, carbon, preservation, and specialized coating applications.
In modern road construction, however, petroleum bitumen is much more widely used than coal tar as an asphalt binder.
This is why road procurement documents normally specify products such as:
- Bitumen 60/70
- Bitumen 80/100
- Performance Grade Bitumen
- Viscosity Grade Bitumen
- Emulsion Bitumen
rather than simply asking for “tar.”
For B2B buyers, correct terminology helps prevent technical and purchasing errors.
Why Is Tar Often Confused With Bitumen?
The confusion mainly exists because both materials share several visible characteristics.
Both can be:
- Black
- Sticky
- Viscous
- Water-resistant
- Used historically in construction
In everyday speech, people may use phrases such as:
- Tar road
- Tar paint
- Road tar
- Tar coating
even when the actual product is petroleum bitumen or a bituminous coating.
For technical SEO content, procurement, and engineering, it is better to use the exact material name.
How to Select Tar or Bitumen for a Project
Material selection should always start with the application.
For Road Construction
Use the binder specified by the pavement engineer or approved project standard.
Modern road construction commonly uses petroleum bitumen.
For Waterproofing
Identify whether the project requires:
- Bituminous coating
- Membrane
- Roof coating
- Foundation waterproofing
- Industrial protective coating
For Industrial Processing
Buyers should request an exact chemical or technical specification.
For Protective Coatings
Consider:
- Surface type
- Chemical exposure
- Moisture
- Temperature
- UV exposure
- Service environment
- Applicable regulations
Never select tar or bitumen simply because both materials look similar.
Tar, Bitumen and SHM Trade Global
SHM Trade Global’s approved product structure focuses on Bitumen Products and Industrial Materials.
Confirmed bitumen categories include:
- Penetration Grade Bitumen
- Performance Grade Bitumen
- Viscosity Grade Bitumen
- Oxidized Bitumen
- Cutback Bitumen
- Coat Bitumen
- Emulsion Bitumen
The company’s established business positioning is:
Global Importer, Supplier & Exporter of Bitumen Products & Industrial Materials.
Because generic Tar is not currently listed as a confirmed product category in the Blueprint, this article should remain educational rather than claiming that SHM Trade Global directly sells tar.
For road-construction buyers searching for “tar,” the article can naturally guide them toward the technically relevant Bitumen Products where appropriate.