The microstructure of asphalt is investigated by atomic force microscopy （AFM）. In order to analyze the impacts of asphalt types on microstructures, two neat asphalts with different penetration grades （50# and 70#） and one styrene-butadiene-styrene （SBS） modified asphalt are chosen. The influence of short-term aging is also studied. Based on the knowledge of asphalt＇s microproperties, the relationship between microstructures and healing property is analyzed. The results indicate that the microstructures of three asphalts are quite different and the effects of aging on the surface characteristics for different asphalts are also different. It is proposed that the bee structure is a type of wax crystal and it has a close relationship with the ＂bridge-healing＂ mechanism. The findings may reveal the formation mechanism of microstructure and the healing property for asphalts.
