Building and construction market

Pushtrusion is being used to make products such as window components and railing systems for the building and construction market. Initially, it had been used with PP, ABS. PlastiComp is under way to adapt it to PVC and higher performing engineering resins. 

Different forms/profiles of plastic/wood are used. Extruded profiles can contain at least 70 wt%, some up to 90%, wood content and produce wood-like appearance. Proper drying of the wood is required since it is hygroscopic otherwise burning can occur and properties are reduced. These products compete in different markets particularly the building and construction market and where water is located like a boating dock. It is entering the 8 billion USA residential siding market that is now at least half vinyl. 

Rigid, unplasticized PVC is used extensively in the building and construction markets. Pipe, vinyl siding, and window profiles, all manufactured via profile or sheet extrusion, represent the largest building product markets. Examples of some formulations are shown in Tab. 14-4. 

Major markets for polyurethanes are furniture, transportation, and building and construction. Other uses include carpet underlay, textural laminates and coatings, footwear, packaging, toys, and fibers. 

The usually reported second largest market for plastics is building and construction consuming about 20 wt%. However, the amount of plastics is only about 5% of all materials consumed in building and construction so that a large growth area exists for plastics when the price is right since then-properties provide durability, performances, insulation, cosmetics, etc. (Fig. 4-5). Different plastics are used that include PVCs, PEs, PMMA, PSs, phenolics, TS polyesters, and many more. Examples of products are listed in Table 4-1. 

The building and construction plastics account only for 3% of overall collectable plastic waste in Western Europe in 2002, of which about 8% is mechanically recycled within Europe on a regular basis. However, the building and construction sector is an important end market for recycled plastics from many sectors. Some 30% of overall recycled plastics are used in applications such as insulation, fences and flooring. 

The use of plastics in the U.S. building and construction sector increased at a rate of nearly 6% per year from 3,077,000 t in 1980 to 5,389,000 t in 1990 as shown in Table 2 (by resin class) and Table 3 (by market application). This advance is almost two times the overall U.S. GNP growth for the same period and is a testimony of plastics increasing popularity as materials within the building and construction sector. 

ARCILLA Ceramic Technology has centred on the utilisation of coal fly ash to create products for building and construction. New techniques have been developed to make use of many other secondary materials. A brief listing of products and systems ripe for commercialisation or poised to enter the market includes ... 

The transportation and container and packaging industries remained the dominant domestic markets for aluminum products in 1997. The transportation industry accounted for an estimated 34% of domestic consumption containers and packaging, 25% building and construction, 15% electrical and consumer durables, 8% each and other uses (including machinery and equipment), 10% (USGS 1997a). 

Second behind packaging in the United States is the use of polymers in fiber and fiberfill applications that encompass the apparel, sports equipment, building and construction, electronic, furniture and furnishings, and industrial/machinery markets. In 1998, 4.8 million metric t of manufactured fiber was produced for use in traditional consumer products such as apparel, carpets, upholstered furniture, and bedding as well as in high-tech applications such as composite materials, medical devices, and electronic circuit boards (17). Key fiber types include polyester, nylon, olefin,... 

Epoxy adhesives have become the most recognizable structural adhesive type. They have found commercial success in demanding industries such as aerospace, automotive, building and construction, and electrical and electronic. Their ease of use has also encouraged their commercialization in the do-it-yourself markets, which has added to the exemplary reputation of epoxy adhesives. 

Waterborne epoxy coatings and adhesives have established the building and construction industry as their largest market. Commercial systems have been available for many years. The following characteristics propel their use over conventional alternatives ... 

ASA terpolymer is similar to ABS. This blend improves its resistance to oxidative degradation. It provides UV-resistant resulting in an excellent combination of color and property retention after outdoor exposure in both light and dark colors. There are three major markets for ASA building and construction, leisure and recreation, and automotive. 

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