Faculty of Technology Management and Business

Department of Construction Management

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia

BPD30903 BUILDING MATERIALS AND TESTING
5. PLASTICS
Plastics are a subspecies of a class of materials known as polymers. Plastic is any synthetic or
semi-synthetic organic polymer (but polymers are not necessarily plastics). Plastics are
organic materials of high molecular weight which can be moulded to any desired form when
subjected to heat and pressure in the presence of a catalyst. They are natural (shellac and
resin) or synthetic in origin. Plastics are replacing glass, ceramics and other building
materials for their low cost and easy availability. Plastics are classified as thermoplastic, and
thermosetting.
Plastics are made from resin with or without fillers, plasticisers and pigments. They are
derived from petroleum, natural gas, coal, wood, or vegetable fiber. The basic chemicals
derived from these products are known as monomers. Monomers are capable of reacting to
or being combined with one another to build up materials called polymers. The process of
linking together simple molecules to form larger ones is called polymerization. The process
is accompanied by a gradual change from the liquid state to the solid state.
The use of plastic materials in civil engineering constructions has gained in popularity
within the last few decades. These materials can either be aesthetic parts or the structure, or
play an active, sometime essential function in it. Typical examples are geomembranes, used
for groundwater protection, or geogrids, used as single reinforcement elements of retaining
walls. These materials are gaining interest because of their versatility and several advantages
they offer compared to traditional materials: reduction in weight, higher resistance to
corrosion, lower cost, etc.
Polymers make ideal materials as they can be processed easily, possess lightweight, and desirable
mechanical properties. It follows, therefore, that high temperature resins are extensively used in
aeronautical applications.
Plastics can be divided into two main kinds of polymers: thermoset plastics and thermoplastics.

THERMOPLASTICS:
Thermoplastics have one- or two-dimensional molecular structure and they tend to soften at
an elevated temperature and show exaggerated melting point. Another advantage is that the
process of softening at elevated temperatures can reversed to regain its properties during
cooling, facilitating applications of conventional compress techniques to mould the
compounds.
Resins reinforced with thermoplastics now comprised an emerging group of composites. The
theme of most experiments in this area to improve the base properties of the resins and
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extract the greatest functional advantages from them in new avenues, including attempts to
replace metals in die-casting processes.
Thermoplastics can be softened by heating after they have been cured, and can be remoulded,
if desired, as many times as required. However, there are practical limits to the number of
times that thermoplastics can be subjected to the heat-cool cycle. Too many cycles may
result in the loss of color or plasticizer, which, in turn, affects the appearance or the
properties of the product. The heat-cool cycle is possible because thermoplastics have linear
molecular chains, which move in relation to one another when heated or cooled and solidify
into new shapes without any significant chain breakage occurring. Examples of
thermoplastics are: acrylics, cellulosics, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene,
nylons etc. The principal uses are as substitutes for glass doors and windows, kitchenware,
drainage pipes, floor finishes.

Difference between Thermoplastic and Thermosetting polymers:

1. Thermoplastic polymers get soften and melt on heating whereas thermosetting
polymers dont soften on heating but rather become hard.
2. The Thermoplastic polymers can be reshaped while the thermosetting cant be
reshaped.
3. Thermoplastic polymers are less brittle and soluble in organic solvents.
Thermosetting polymers are brittle and insoluble in organic solvents.
4. Thermoplastic polymers are usually linear structures while thermosetting polymers
have three dimensional cross linked structures.
Thermoplastics are generally cheaper than Thermosetting plastics and are more widely used
in the construction industry. Thermoplastics can be formed by:

Injection Moulding

This process is one of the most common of all plastics manufacturing processes. The
polymer, in granule form, is heated until fused and forced into a closed mould. Because of
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the viscous (thick, syrupy) nature of the fused polymer, very high pressures are needed to
make it flow, which means that the machine and mould have to be very strong to withstand
the forces involved. The softened polymer is injected under pressure into a heated mould.
This process would be used to form articles of irregular shape such as gutter brackets.

Extrusion
The softened material is forced through a die to give long lengths of constant section.
Such sections can be quite complex, producing the maximum possible rigidity for a given
polymer type.

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THERMOSET PLASTICS:
Thermoset, or thermosetting, plastics are synthetic materials that strengthen during being
heated, but cannot be successfully remolded or reheated after their initial heatforming. Thermosets have qualities such as a well-bonded three-dimensional molecular
structure after curing. They decompose instead of melting on hardening when heated. Merely
changing the basic composition of the resin is enough to alter the conditions suitably for
curing and determine its other characteristics. They can be retained in a partially cured
condition too over prolonged periods of time. Thermosets are very flexible. Thus, they are
most suited as matrix bases for advanced conditions fiber reinforced composites. Thermosets
find wide ranging applications in the chopped fiber composites form particularly when a
premixed or moulding compound with fibers of specific quality and aspect ratio happens to
be starting material as in epoxy, polymer and phenolic polyamide resins.
Thermosetting plastics are also chainlike in molecular structure and , before moulding, very
similar to thermoplastics. But the curing and hardening process involves the formation of
cross-links between molecules in adjacent chains, so that the result is a complex,
interconnected network, in which the chains are no longer free to move. Thus the application
of heat to these materials does not result in plastic flow - softening of the material.
Thermosetting plastics include aminos, epoxies, polyesters, silicones etc. Thermosetting
plastics cannot be reused. Once solidified they cannot be softened. They require great
pressure and momentary heat during moulding and finally get hardened on cooling.
Compared to thermoplastics, they are hard, strong and more brittle. The principal uses are in
electrical equipment, plugs, sockets, switches, ash trays, knobs, handles etc. Each type of
thermosetting plastic has a unique set of properties. Epoxies, for example, exhibit elasticity
and exceptional chemical resistance, and are relatively easy to cure.

Properties of Plastics
1. Can be moulded to any desired shape or size and have high tensile and compressive
strengths.
2. Easy to work upon.
3. Light in weight and a few varieties are glossy like glass.
4. Not attacked by insects and fungi.
5. Available in desired colour and texture.

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6. Require little maintenance.

7. Good electrical insulators and have low thermal conductivity.
8. Shock absorbing material.
9. Can be sawn, drilled and punched and welded easily.
10. High strength to weight ratio.
11. High resistance to weathering conditions.
12. Corrosion resistance.
13. Decorative surface effect painting or polishing of the surface is not required.
14. High refractive index.
15. Some varieties are as hard as steel.
16. Withstands moisture, oil and grease well.
17. Inflammable.
18. High coefficient of thermal expansion (about ten times of steel).
19. Deterioration under prolonged exposure to suns ultra-violet rays.
20. Low manufacturing cost, hence cheap.
Since almost all plastics are organic in nature, they decompose readily in fire and,
consequently many of them constitute a hazard, possibly for the following reasons:
They may emit toxic gases usually carbon monoxide.
They often contribute to the development of fires by flaming and/or heat emission.
They may emit dense smoke, thereby making escape more difficult.
Melting of sheet glazing materials may vent the fire, increasing the rate of spread.
Structural Applications of Plastic:
For use in structural applications plastics need to be reinforced
Glass fiber, jute, cotton, sisal, asbestos, and synthetic and metallic fibers are
used
Flat sheets glazing
Thermoformed shapes roof shapes, curtain wall
Glass fiber structural shapes used where corrosion is a problem (like steel
members)
Plastic foam boards decking, roofing
Fabrics balloons over a pool
Foamed insulation insulating materials

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 Non-structural Application of Plastics:

resilient flooring vinyl tile, vinyl-cushioned flooring, linoleum, cork tile, rubber
flooring
Non resilient flooring plastic terrazzo plastic topping
carpets tufted carpet woven carpet - loomed carpet knitted carpet needle
punched carpet
interior finishes wall coverings
moisture control vapor barriers
plastic pipe pvc
caulking and sealing compounds
paints and varnishes
lights and sunscreens
adhesives
material coatings
Plastics and the environment.
There are three possible environmental problems to be considered. Firstly, plastics are mostly
made from oil, natural gas or coal, and these are all limited natural resources that must be
conserved. Secondly, the manufacture of plastics produces a lot of harmful pollutants which
manufacturing companies need to deal with properly. Thirdly, old and unwanted plastics are
not always easy to dispose of. Buried in landfill sites they will take a very long time to rot.
To reduce these problems plastics must be designed (for example as biodegradable),
manufactured, used and disposed of considerately.
The very properties, which have made plastics such a necessity to modern living, may well
present problems once their useful life has finished. Plastics are used as paints, cable
coverings and window frames as they do not rot, and they are therefore very difficult to
degrade when their useful life is over.
Limitations of Plastics in as a building material:
Plastics may be degraded under the action of direct sunlight which reduces their
mechanical strength.
Many plastics are flammable unless treated.
High embodied energy content.
Low modulus of elasticity, makes them unsuitable for load-bearing applications.
Thermoplastics are subject to creep and soften at moderate temperatures.
Thermal expansion for most plastics is high, adequate thermal movement has to be
allowed in detailing.
Recycling Plastics
There are important reasons for recycling plastics wherever possible:
Many types do not readily degrade in the ground and, as such, constitute an additional
environmental hazard when used in land-fill.
Organic polymers are a precious and finite resource.

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Many plastics in construction occur in forms in which separation from other waste is
reasonably simple.

Thermoplastics

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Thermosetting Plastics