Plastics in Building

Polymers have been used in construction since as long ago as the fourth millennium BC, when the clay brick walls of Babylonia were built using the natural polymer asphalt in the mortar. The temple of Ur-Nina (King of Lagash), at the site of Kish, had masonry foundations built with mortar made from 25-35% bitumen (a natural polymer), loam, and chipped straw or reeds. The walls of Jericho were built using bituminous earth in about 2500-2100 BC. Other historic applications of bituminous mortars in construction 

The diversity of their properties and the possibility of adapting these properties to the job at hand, have enabled plastics to gain a real advantage over other building materials. Whilst as early as 1959 the value of plastic materials was a considerable 5 % of all building materials, by 1971 it had surpassed 12% and has reached 20% in 1995 [17]. Contemporary construction industry makes used of a wide variety of plastic materials and composites. 

Heavy-duty, lightweight PP duck boarding provides a versatile, easily cleaned work platform, increasing operator comfort and safety. PP flooring is non-corroding and resistant to bacteriological attack [19]. 

The epoxy polymer (EP) normally used as an adhesive and coating is applied as covering on a sub-floor, providing a durability of over 25 years. 

The growth of seamless floors has had an exciting and profound effect on both the PU and flooring industries [18]. 

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The present and growing large market for plastics in building construction is principally due to its suitability in different environ-... 

Shutov, F. A. Inter. Symp. Plastics in Building, Liege Belgium, 1984... 

Wood burns. Most of the fires throughout history, causing death and destruction, have been caused by wood. It is rare that anyone will say Ban wood. Plastics are also carbon compounds, and they also burn. When plastics are involved in a fire, even to the slightest degree, there is often an outcry, Ban plastics. Thus the use of plastics in building and transportation is seriously restricted by this prejudice. 

Liege, Belgium International Symposium, Future for Plastics in Building and in Civil Engineering... 

Nutt, W. O., Plastics in Building Structures, (Proceeding of a Conference Held in London, June 14-16,1965), pp. 83-88, Pergamon Press, Oxford (Oct. 1966)... 

FIGURE 5.4 Main uses of plastics in building applications. Source Drawn from data in Cousins (2012). 

Cousins K. Plastics in building construction. Technology Engineering. Shropshire Smithers Rapra Pubhshing. 124pp 2012. 

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