coal-tar pitch
C2Technical / Industrial
Definition
Meaning
A black or dark-brown viscous liquid or semi-solid material produced by the distillation of coal tar, used as a waterproofing agent, adhesive, or binding material.
A specific type of pitch derived from coal tar, often used in industrial applications like road construction (asphalt), roofing, pipe coatings, and as a binder in electrodes.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a highly technical compound term. 'Coal-tar' specifies the source material (distilled from coal), while 'pitch' denotes its physical state and sticky, viscous properties. Not to be confused with 'pitch' meaning a sports field or musical tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in technical contexts in both varieties. Spelling is consistent. In general discourse, AmE may more commonly use 'asphalt' for related road-surfacing contexts, whereas BrE might use 'tarmac' or 'bitumen'.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both. May carry slight historical/industrial connotations due to its use in older manufacturing processes.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language. Almost exclusively found in industrial, chemical engineering, construction, and historical technical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[noun] is made from coal-tar pitch[noun] is coated with coal-tar pitchto apply coal-tar pitch to [surface]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like construction materials or chemical manufacturing supply chains.
Academic
Used in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and industrial history papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only appear in very specific conversations about old industrial sites, specialised DIY, or historical contexts.
Technical
Primary usage context. Refers to a specific material specification in engineering documents, safety data sheets, and industrial process descriptions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The coal-tar pitch roofing felt is very durable.
- They used a coal-tar pitch membrane.
American English
- The coal-tar pitch coating protects the pipes.
- Check the coal-tar pitch specification.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old road was made with coal-tar pitch.
- They used coal-tar pitch to waterproof the roof.
- Coal-tar pitch is a byproduct of coke production and is used as a binding agent.
- The distinctive smell of heated coal-tar pitch was common in old industrial areas.
- The pipeline was externally protected with an enamel coating derived from coal-tar pitch.
- Environmental regulations have reduced the use of coal-tar pitch in construction due to PAH content.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PITCH-black road made from COAL TAR. The sticky TAR PITCHes tents (waterproofs them).
Conceptual Metaphor
STICKINESS IS ADHESION / DURABILITY (e.g., 'The agreement was sealed with something like coal-tar pitch—impossible to break').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'смола' (resin/tar) в общем смысле. 'Coal-tar pitch' – это конкретный продукт перегонки каменноугольной смолы.
- Не переводить 'pitch' как 'подача' или 'поле'. Здесь это 'гудрон' или 'пек'.
- Верный термин: 'каменноугольный пек'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'coal-tar pitch' (with inconsistent hyphenation).
- Confusing it with 'asphalt' or 'bitumen' (which are related but not identical materials).
- Using it as a verb (it is only a noun).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary source material for coal-tar pitch?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are used in road surfacing, asphalt primarily comes from petroleum, whereas coal-tar pitch is distilled from coal tar. They have different chemical compositions.
Environmental and health concerns regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have led to stricter regulations and a shift towards petroleum-based alternatives like asphalt in many applications.
It is not recommended for general DIY use due to its potential health hazards, messy application, and strong odour. Specialised products are available for professionals.
It has a strong, pungent, acrid odour characteristic of coal tar products, often described as medicinal or creosote-like.