Exploring Miscellaneous Building Materials

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS





Introduction





There are various other materials
used for the construction of buildings. An attempt is made here to introduce
the various miscellaneous materials that are used in building works.





Some of the miscellaneous materials
that are used in building works are:





 





 Glass Plastics





Fiber Sheets





Insulating Material





 





Construction Chemicals





Metal etc.





Plastic is an organic substance made
from resin with or without fillers, plasticizers and pigments.





The resin may be natural or
synthetic. It is being used for making fitting and fixtures to meet the
aesthetic requirement and structural component to withstand wear and tear.





 Classification of Plastics takes up





 





Generally, plastics are classified
as thermoplastic, and thermosetting.





 Thermo-plastics: Thermo-plastics are those
which become soft when heated and hard when cooled, their hardness is a
temporary property subjected to change with rise or fall temperature and can be
changed. It is possible to change their shape or remolded for use as many times
as required, or it can be reuse.





 





Example: Polyethylene, polyvinyl
chloride, polyvinyl acetate, Polystyrene.





Thermo-setting: Thermo-setting
plastics cannot be reused. It is the plastic which become rigid when mould at
suitable temperature and pressure. There plastics are soluble in alcohol and
certain organic solvent, when they are in thermoplastic range. Compare to
thermoplastics, they are hard, strong and more brittle.





Example: Switches, ash trays, knobs,
handles PVC pipes, etc.





 Difference between the Thermoplastics and
Thermosetting Plastics





 





Thermo-plastics





These are formed by polymerization
by addition.





They are usually weak, soft and less
brittle.





Because of weak bonds, they are
soluble in organic solvents.





 





Heat other there shaped and a fluid
material. Hence, can be





They consist of linear structure of
long chains with a negligible number of cross-links.





Thermo-setting Plastics





These are formed by polymerization
by condensation.





They are strong, hard and more
brittle.





Because of strong bonds, they are
insoluble in organic solvents.





They regain their original shape and
structure even heating. So they cannot be re-shaped and re-used.





They are three dimensional networks
of chairs, joined by prominent cross-links.





point.





Low manufacturing cost, hence cheap.





 High resistance to weathering conditions.





 Plastics are available in desired colour and
texture.





Plastics are available in
light-weight.





 Good electrical insulator having low thermal
conductivity.





Properties of Plastics





Following are some of the important
and general properties of plastics are listed below:





 Plastic can be molded to any desired shape and
size.





 





Require a little maintenance.





 Easy to work.





Plastics have high tensile and
compressive strength.





High resistance to weight ratio.





 Absorption coefficient of about 0.67.





 Plastic has low ductility and melting





 Uses of Plastics





Some important uses of plastics are:





Plastics are used for making paints
and varnishes.





 It is also used for flooring are prepared by
heating plasticized PVC, asbestos and various pigments.





It is used for making corrugated and
plain sheets.





 It is used for making overhead water tanks.





 It is used for water proofing and damp
proofing purposes.





 It is used for making safety glass.





 It is used for making roof lights