Deterioration of construction asphalt pavements is natural as the materials that make up asphalt begin to decompose over time, affected by factors such as rain, sunlight and chemicals that come into contact with the pavement. The liquid asphalt binder, which acts as the "binder" of the pavement, begins to lose its resistance to water, allowing it to penetrate into and under the pavement. Once this happens, the surface can fall to many different types of deterioration.