Name: Yr.

/Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Laboratory No. 2
Polymers in Construction Materials

Introduction

Polymers in Construction Materials Introduction Polymers have grown in significance as

engineering components. Their assortment of attributes and at least as many applications as
other big types of materials, and frequently ease of manufacture enables the production of
very finished products economically. Certain significant industries, including those when it
comes to fibers, rubber, plastic, adhesives, sealants, etc. Compounds used for caulking are
made of polymers. In addition to metals and ceramics, polymers include the crucial
engineering components used in construction of structures, machines, engines, and
furniture diverse, etc. Given these emerging industries' quick the development of
engineering materials over the past 40 years is because of the following primary causes:

• The availability of basic raw materials for their production, e.g., coal, oil, wood,
agriculture and forestry wastes

• The ensemble of technical properties specific for polymers such as light weight,
chemical stability, elasticity.

• Easy, efficient and flexible processing methods such as extrusion, thermal forming,
injection molding, calendering, casting.

Building and Industry

The building industry is particularly wary about modifying tried-and-true procedures,

and it is reasonable to demand that materials have a lengthy history of success. It is also
heavily regulated, but the extent of regulation varies from nation to nation, making it difficult
to convince it to transition to new materials. But there are occasions when the advantages of
polymers are too great to be ignored, and in an increasing number of fields, they are having
a significant impact. The construction and building industry will face major challenges in the
next millennium, and polymeric materials provide cost effective solutions to many of these
including:

• Resolve the common defects in construction such as seepage, chemical and environmental
erosion and corrosion, floor pits, sagging, blistering, warpage, etc.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Building and Industry

• Production of energy efficient materials and components

• Minimize the cost of construction • Make the building structure portable

• Improve the thermal and sound insulation of the building structure

• Use environmentally friendly building materials

• Reinforce historical structures and monuments.

Modern technology requires a high strength to weight ratio. living arrangements and
architecturally impressive homes features are other essential justifications for replacing

Polymeric materials have replaced conventional materials.

Today, a wide range of polymers are produced in large quantities. Foams for coffee
cups and refrigerator insulation, fibers for clothing and carpets, adhesives for attaching
anything to anything, rubber for tires and tubing, paints and other coatings to beautify and
extend the life of other materials, as well as a plethora of other uses, are just a few of the
many applications for polymers. Without the pervasive use of polymeric materials, our
modern world would be inconceivable. Polymers are now a crucial component of the
construction sector.

Discussions of Polymers and Structure

There are many different types of synthetic and natural polymers that make up the
well-known material categories known as plastics, fibers, rubbers, and adhesives. Given that
at least a portion of these materials' functions is influenced by macroscopic mechanical
behavior. In comparison to traditional structural materials like metals, the term's current
usage has significantly expanded.

Production of Polymers Fig. 1

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Thermo-Plastics

Thermoplastics are polymers that soften and flow upon heating and become hard
again when cooled. This cycle can be repeated many times, which makes reprocessing during
manufacturing or recycling after consumer use possible using heat fabrication techniques
such as extrusion or molding.

Categories: Figure 2

Figure 3.2 shows the major categories of use for thermoplastics. Approximately one-third are
used in packaging, primarily containers and film. The data in Figure 3.2 are dominated by the
huge volume of the five or so commodity thermoplastics; hence, the products with greater
value based on engineering or advanced thermoplastics do not emerge in true proportion to
their contribution to the national economy.

Thermosets

Thermoset materials, sometimes known as gels, vulcanizates, or "cured" materials in

different technologies, are usually referred to be three-dimensional, chemically resistant
networks. One can identify uses for coatings, contact lenses, and epoxy adhesives, among
others. Thermosets are characterized as stiff network materials in this context, that is, as
substances with glass transition temperatures or lower. The sequence of linear growth,
branching, gelation, and pos- gelation reactions result in the formation of thermosets, which
are three-dimensional network structures created by polyfunctional reactants.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Elastomers

Elastomers, sometimes known as rubbers, are soft, flexible polymers with a vast
range of reversible deformation. The only polymers with this kind of elasticity are those with
long chains. Unlike thermoset plastics, elastomers typically include fewer cross-links and are
amorphous, network polymers. Above their glass transition temperatures, most thermosets
can be made to act as elastomers.

Fibers

High-performance fibers are frequently used in composite reinforcement, ropes and cables,
and antiballistic apparel. These fibers represent successful technical advancements as a
whole, but for a variety of reasons, they have proven to be less appealing commercially than
initially thought.

The spinning procedure can be explained in the manner below. To create filaments, a
polymer is first melted or dissolved into a liquid, and the liquid is then constantly driven
through a spinneret (a plate with several tiny holes). Semicrystalline polymeric fibers
represent the majority. Melt spinning is the term for the procedure if the polymer forms a
stable melt.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Adhesives

An adhesive is a substance that can bind solid things together by adhering to their surfaces.
Throughout the beginning of time, adhesives have been employed. The forces of adhesion
play a role in the physical strength of an assembly created with adhesives, known as an
adhesive joint, but the cohesive strength of the polymeric materials used to create the
adhesive has a larger role. Consequently, the range of strengths that can be used in adhesive
connections is constrained by the strengths of the polymers that can be used to create
adhesives.

Polymer Foams

Cellular polymers, commonly referred to as polymer foams, are Expanded polymers and
plastics are multiphase materials. systems that include a fluid and a polymer matrix

frequently a gas phase. Expanding most polymers is possible. cellular products, but only a
few have proven successful. The most frequently used commercially exploited materials are
polyurethane, polystyrene, PVC, and phenol formaldehyde used.

Steel pipes are insulated using rigid polyurethane foam allowing them to transport
district hot water supplies effective heating systems while utilizing contemporary methods
likewise permit rusted underground pipes made of Without having to dig up the road, clay or
concrete can be restored or repaired using polymer-based resins.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Polystyrene Foams

Extruded foam has a straightforward, more symmetrical structure, better strength than
foam that has been molded into beads enhanced qualities and greater water resistance. PS
foams tolerate outside weathering poorly, however withstand moisture well, but degrade
under direct sunlight prolonged exposure to sunlight - this causes fading of the polymer's
color.

Using PS foams in insulation from construction, with a focus on perimeter brick wall
insulation, roof insulation, and insulation. Application of the perimeter insulation standards
beneath ground level around a concrete's borders relatively high thermal resistance for a
foundation in respect to thickness, moisture resistance, and efficiency

compression resistance.

PVC

The greatest use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam is where low flammability is a key
requirement. It has almost completely closed cell structure and therefore low water
absorption. PVC foams are produced in rigid or flexible forms. Rigid PVC foam is generally
used in sandwich panel structures, whereas flexible PVC foam is used widely as the foam
layer in coated fabric flooring. Some of the most important properties of PVC foam are:

• High tensile, shear and compressive strength

• Does not crumble under impact or vibration

• Low thermal conductivity

• Low water vapor permeability

• Resistance to termites and bacterial growth

• Good chemical resistance.

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Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Polyurethane

Chemically, rigid PU foams are the most complex of all foams – this is because a considerable
number of additives are used, such as blowing agents, catalysts, surfactants, etc. The main
advantages of PU over other foams lie in its:

The most commonly used techniques for producing rigid PU foams include:

• Foam-in-place

• Spraying

• Continuous slabbing

• Low thermal conductivity (0.02 W/m°C)

• Good thermal resistance (up to 120 °C)

• Low vapor permeability

• Light weight and strength

Epoxy

Epoxy foams offer excellent chemical stability, moisture resistance, and thermal insulating
qualities, but their employment in building construction is constrained due to their expensive
cost. It is necessary to obtain some degree of flame retardance for structural applications.
Typically, fire retardants are either included into the resin itself or applied as a gel coat.
Moreover, resins contain fillers and pigments for a range of functions, the former primarily to
enhance mechanical characteristics and the latter for aesthetics and protective activity.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Fibre Reinforced Polymeric Materials (FRPs)

Materials made with FRP are made of two or more different one of the physical phases,
the fibrous, is in a continuous matrix phase, scattered. FRPs provide the creator a mix of
unrelated qualities accessible in conventional forms. It's doable to firmly incorporate the
fibers into the polymer matrix regions that are stressed in a specific location, direction, or

volume to get optimum effectiveness then, inside the same, starting with the reinforcement

member to drastically scale back the reinforcing the amount at low-stress areas.

The benefits of FRPs are:

• Lightweight

• Good specific mechanical properties

• Good durability in most environments

• Readily formed into complex shapes

• Modularization

• Low thermal conductivity

• Ability to tailor the mechanical properties by fiber choice and direction

• Aesthetics

Polymer Concrete

Large-scale filler-containing polymers, such as Polymer concretes and mortars are

becoming more prevalent in buildings and other structures. Most commonly, polymer
mortars are used as concrete and reinforced concrete surfaces with protective coating on

steel, and infrequently on, whereas polymer concretes represent a brand-new class of
building material enduring extremely caustic conditions.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Polymer Impregnated Concrete

PIC is generally prepared by impregnating dry precast concrete with a liquid monomer, and
polymerizing the monomer in situ by thermal, catalytic or radiation methods. Some of the
most widely used monomers for polymer concrete systems include:

• Methyl methacrylate

• Styrene

• Butyl acrylate

• Vinyl acetate

• Acrylonitrile

• Methyl acrylate

The most important applications of PIC are:

• The bridge deck

• Systems to support tunnel linings

• Pipes - roughly twice as much PIC support

as pipe impregnated by hydrostatic pressure

• Desalting facilities

• Beams, including posttensioned beams and regular reinforced beams.

• Aquatic habitats

• Oil in the ocean, offshore buildings, and dam outflows storage facilities and ocean thermal
energy facilities. PIC must be regarded as a novel complicated substance with particular
qualities that give it an advantage. Considering both quality and price, between conventional
engineering techniques, such as concrete, materials include ceramics and metals.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Adhesives and Sealants

Nearly all phases involve the use of adhesives and sealants of the construction sector.
Using adhesives in finishing trades like flooring were done first in the construction.

The earliest materials were wallpaper and roofing cements. Quantity applications comparing
the expansion of specific w all structures have grown as a whole. higher-performance
specialty sealing family substances: sealants.

The word "sealant" first appeared to distinguish these novel chemicals based on
polymers from the earlier caulks made of oil. current usage, however, has expanded the
word's definition, so that the phrase is now used to refer to all varieties of currently used
joint weatherproofing materials. Polymer sealants are made to stop the flow of air. of heat,
air, and moisture through all the seams and joints of a building.

Liquid Crystalline Polymers

These polymers combine high thermal and mechanical qualities that are inherent with
production simplicity and adaptability. The very high mechanical qualities result from the
"extended chain" morphology present in the solid state, the thermal stability comes from the
highly aromatic chain chemistry, and the processing ease is due to the ease with which
molecular rods can slide past one another.

This structure has a significant degree of structural

anisotropy, and as a result, anisotropy in its properties (for
example, the axial modulus is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than the transverse
modulus)

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Environmental Impacts

There is still a persistent belief that items created from raw resources that are
renewable typically have lower compared to the effects of industrialized made-up
substances. The relevance of to the environment Eco balances are used to evaluate goods
and services. These

According to research, the environmental consequences for the identical in terms of

production, usage, and disposal for the specified polymeric building materials cause are for
traditional materials-based products.

Comparing alternative floor coverings in an eco-balance industry: was able to

determine that, from an environmental viewpoint, synthetic rubber, polyolefins, and PVC-P is
equivalent to both one another and to Linoleum and parquet flooring comprised primarily of
renewable sources.

POLYMER PROCESSING

As previously mentioned, the volume and number of uses of polymers have

increased, in part due to their simplicity of processing. Contrary to popular belief, plastics are
frequently more expensive per pound than steel while also being significantly lighter than
steel, glass, or aluminum. The key benefit of polymers is how easily they can be processed
into useful products, including coatings for surface protection, films for a variety of
applications, fibers for clothing and carpeting, and a huge range of molded shapes.

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Melt Processing

The most popular and commonly favored processing technique is melting. When polymers
melt at high temperatures, they can be extruded into fibers, films, tubes, or other linear
structures, or molded into intricately shaped components. These procedures affect phase
morphology, molecular conformations, and other variables in addition to the physical
structure of the polymer, and they eventually play a significant impact in the product's
functionality.

Molding

A mold is a hollow form that gives the substance its final shape after the product is finished.
Injection, transfer, compression, and blow molding are among the thermoset and
thermoplastic processes referred to as "molding." The most popular approach for producing
plastic parts is injection molding. In that method, thermoplastic pellets are melted and
pumped toward a melt reservoir by a rotating screw. When there is enough molten plastic
gathered, the screw advances to force the melt into a steel mold. After cooling, the plastic
solidifies, and the mold is opened to release the part.

Extrusions

For the production of film and sheets, melt extrusion technologies are typically the
most practical, affordable, and environmentally friendly. The core of such operations are
screw extruders, in which a moving screw carries material through a heated barrel and a
shape-forming die. Extensive computer-aided modeling is used to create extruder screws,
which can be extremely complex.

Formulations that contain unique additives, such as antioxidants, plasticizers, flame

retardants, lubricants, pigments, fillers, and other polymers, frequently involve mixing,
compounding, and devolatilization as well. Films are created by drawing and tentering cast
films or film blowing thin-walled tubes. Understanding the fundamentals of material
qualities and processing characteristics is necessary for process optimization.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Solid-State Forming

One of the newest techniques for processing polymers, solid-state forming is

particularly beneficial for boosting the strength and modulus of polymeric materials. By
synthesizing rigid rod-like polymers with para-substituted aromatic structures in the chain
backbone or by treating common flexible chain polymers in ways that produce results that
are similar, it is possible to achieve morphologies with well-aligned, extended, and closely
packed chains.

In this processing method, thermoplastics may be solid-state deformed using extrusion

or alternative drawing techniques, such as extrusion of supercooled melts, and by drawing
from gel or diluted flowing solutions. This results in a highly oriented and extended chain
conformation with significantly increased tensile modulus.

Key Properties

There are several key properties to consider when specifying polymers for construction
applications – some of these are unique to the type of use, others are common to all
industries. The following are:

Mechanical Properties

The main factor is the mechanical characteristics of polymers. significance in all

applications involving polymers as building materials. However, the primary an important
factor in defining a polymer's usefulness is its mechanical behavior, specifically its
deformation and properties of flow under stress. Test for strain and stress likely the most
popular mechanical test for hence, engineered materials can be employed to describe the
stress-strain characteristics of polymers:

• Modulus – the resistance to deformation as measured by the initial stress divided by the
elongation/initial length

• Ultimate strength or tensile strength – the stress required to rupture the sample
(maximum stress that a material can withstand)
• Ultimate elongation – the extent of elongation at the point where the sample ruptures
(maximum strain that a material can withstand)

• Elastic elongation – the elasticity as measured by the extent of reversible elongation

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Thermal and Insulating Properties

As polymers' thermal expansion is rather great, when temperatures vary, they incline to
expand or contract more. Unlike metals. This has to be taken into account in the design and

the usage of polymer components, especially when in addition to additional engineering

materials.

If a polymer is warmed up to a high enough temperature change to its structure that are
both reversible and irreversible will occur. These modifications could be unwelcomed or they
possibly helpful. A polymer's capacity to withstand heat is characterized by the temperature
range it retains its beneficial qualities.

Weathering

A polymer's resilience and resistance to whether it is suitable for external use will depend on
weathering. applications for construction and which families of Its formulation has to
integrate additives. Ageing and weathering of polymers are influenced by the following
aspects:

• A possible chemical environment

oxygen in the air, acidic vapors, acid rain, moisture

• Thermal shock and heat

ultraviolet radiation

• Ultraviolet radiation

Permeability

A lot of protective coatings and vapor barriers are made of polymers. Barriers, sealants,
caulk, and evidence in opposition to gases and vapors; thus, they permeability, or the
capacity to let gases and liquids pass travel through them is a crucial characteristic. The type
of the material and the degree of polymer and the gas's composition. diffusion inside the
passage of tiny gas molecules causes polymerization.

Between the polymer molecules' holes and gaps. Hence, a significant portion of the
diffusion rate will depend on the dimensions of the gaps and the tiny molecules.

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

Flammability

All organic polymers are heat- and oxygen-sensitive burn. Every organic polymer
develops harmful byproducts from burning, even if merely producing carbon monoxide.
There is no organic polymer that is completely fireproof. Nonetheless, a huge amount of
natural and manufactured (plastic) Every year without exception, polymers made of (wood
and wool)

posing an impossible fire safety issue.

The majority of synthetic polymers burn differently than natural like that of wood, for
instance. some synthetics burn more quickly, some move more slowly; some emit more
smoke than others; a Some people produce more or fewer poisonous fumes, while others
melt. and flow while others thoroughly char over. However, the level of combustibility is the
same across the board. both synthetic and natural polymers must be in order.

CONCLUSIONS

The production of plastics contributes significantly to the national economy. Even

though the market for commodity polymers is mature, important product and process
innovations are still being launched, and they seem likely to support steady growth rates for
the foreseeable future. Environmental factors are a major driving force behind a lot of the
current research and development on polymeric materials and related technologies.

While there is a need for improvements in polymer recycling, alternative approaches

must also be explored. Source reduction and product design with recycling in mind are
opportunities. It is important to comprehend the potential utility of biodegradable polymers
as a component of the solution to the solid waste and litter problem.
 Compared to the commonly utilized relatively affordable polymers, such materials
are probably significantly more expensive and may not perform as well. The possibility of
things decomposing in landfills is unclear. In any case, there may be more serious worries
about air or water contamination if the low-molecular-weight breakdown products are
released into the environment. Another method of recycling polymers is incinerating them to
produce fuel, which is possibly the best method.

Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

The performance of composites, blends or alloys, lubricants, adhesives, coatings, and

thin films depends on the quality of the polymer interfaces. Improved goods and a
competitive edge will undoubtedly result from improvements in the underlying
understanding of these interfaces and techniques to engineer desired performance of these
surfaces.

In many situations, new engineering plastics, including some blends or alloys, are
being employed for structural applications that have historically been dominated by other
materials, mostly metals, due to their ever-improving performance qualities. One motivating
reason is the simplicity of fabrication into dimensionally accurate pieces with high-quality
surface finish.

There is a need for methods to anticipate lifetimes in complex settings, as well as a

better knowledge of the mechanical, chemical, and environmental aspects that affect the
useful lives of polymer-based materials employed in highly important structural applications.
In comparison to other structural materials, polymers have not yet seen the same level of
application of fracture mechanics approaches.

Real-time determination of chemical and physical structures during processing is

now made possible by new instrumentation, enabling instantaneous comparison with
process simulation and control models as well as quality assurance.
Name: Yr./Course/Section: 2 BSABE A

Instructor: JEAH A. BEJARASCO, ABE Date Submitted: 03/28/2023

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Bird, R. B. (1995). Polymer Science and Engineering. National Academies Press

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Turner, M. K. (1991). Effective Industrial Membrane Processes: Benefits and

Opportunities. Springer EBooks. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3682-2

Raju, P. M. (2017, January 1). Retrofitting of Reinforced Concrete structural elements

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Polymers in Building and Construction. (n.d.). Google Books.

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