Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying Materials & Construction Technology-4

Plastic as construction materials

Plastics are strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mould, and recyclable therefore
which is consisting many key properties for construction materials.

There are two types of plastics used as a construction material,

01. Thermo plastics

02. Thermoset plastic

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics are two separate classes of polymers, which are
differentiated based on their behavior in the presence of heat.

The material difference between the two is that thermoplastics can be re-melted, while thermoset
plastics remain in a permanent solid state once hardened. As a result of these physical qualities,
thermoplastic materials have low melting points while thermoset plastic products can withstand
high temperatures without losing austerity.

UPVC

UPVC, also known as Un-plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride.

Rain water goods normally made by uPVC.

Advantages of using UPVC

It has excellent physical and mechanical properties, excellent acid resistance, alkali resistance, and
is suitable for the chemical industry.

1. Corrosion resistant

2. High strength
It has high impact strength, high water pressure resistance and external pressure
resistance, and is suitable for piping engineering under various conditions.

3. Long life
It is resistant to aging and has a long service life; the service life is 30-50 years.
UPVC pipe price is an ideal material for building drainage and sewage.

4. Low flow resistance

The wall surface is smooth and the fluid resistance is small.

5. Good Electrical insulation

It has excellent electrical insulation properties and is suitable for protective sleeves for
wires and cables.

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Advanced Diploma in Quantity Surveying Materials & Construction Technology-4

6. Light weight and simple construction

Light weight, durable, easy to carry, easy to install, easy to connect. Speed up the
project, save labor and reduce construction costs.

Long term exposure of Plastic to sunlight

Plastic, long term exposure to sunlight cause degradation

Long term exposure to sunlight leads to the degradation of surface materials resulting in a
deterioration of physical properties, changes in colour or chalking.

how carbon black prevent degradation?

The carbon black functions as UV stabilizer in plastics. They limit or postpone the degradation,
carbon black particles added in to the plastic polymers, they can absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation
in polymers.

Carbon Black converting light energy into heat energy; protecting plastic surface from radiation.
Ultraviolet radiation is especially harmful to polyolefin. The protective effect of carbon black on
ultraviolet aging of plastics depends on the particle size, structure of carbon black. When the
particle size of carbon black is small, its ability of absorbing light or shading is increased due to
the increase of surface area, so the ultraviolet protection effect is enhanced.

The carbon black is the reason why most of rainwater structure is black or gray in colour.

Because of its high light absorption, carbon black can effectively prevent the degradation of
plastics by sunlight.

UV radiation is not damaging to carbon black, and carbon black’s presence slows or prevents the
destructive absorption of radiation. The radiation can impact flexibility, mechanical strength and
opacity of the polymer.