Marlon Roy M Bautista BSCE 2 A

Physical Properties
For a material to be considered as building material, it should have required engineering properties
suitable for construction works. These properties of building materials are responsible for its quality and
capacity and helps to decide applications of these material.

Density
Density is defined as mass per unit volume for
a material. The derived unit usually used by
engineers is the kg/m^3. Relative density is the
density of the material compared with the density of
the water at 4˚C.

Electrical conductivity
The degree to which a specified material
conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the
current density in the material the electric field that
causes the flow of current.

Melting temperature of material

The melting temperatures and the
recrystallisation temperatures have a great effect on
the materials and the alloys of the materials
properties and as a result on its applications.

Semiconductors
These can be good or bad conductors
depending upon their temperatures. The conductivity
of semiconductor materials increases rapidly for
relatively small temperature increases. This enable
them to be used as temperature sensors in electronic
thermometers. Semiconductor materials are capable
of having their conductor’s properties changed during
manufacture.
Thermal conductivity
This is the ability of the material to transmit
heat energy by conduction.
Fusibility
This is the ease with which materials will melt

Reluctance (as magnetic properties)

Just as some materials are good or bad
conductors of electricity, some materials can be good
or bad conductors of magnetism. The resistance of
magnetic circuit is referred to as reluctance.

Temperature stability
Any changes in temperature can have very
significant effects on the structure and properties of
materials. However, there are several effects can
appear with changes in temperature such as creep.
Creep is defined as the gradual extension of a
material over a long period of time whilst the applied
load is kept constant. It is also an important factor
when considering plastic materials, and it must be
considered when metals work continuously at high
temperatures.

Porosity
Porosity gives the volume of the material
occupied by pores. It is the ratio of volume of pores
to the volume of material.

Frost Resistance
The ability of a material to resist freezing or
thawing is called frost resistance. It is depending
upon the density and bulk density of material. Denser
materials will have more frost resistance. Moist
material have low frost resistance and they lose their
strength in freezing and become brittle.

Weathering Resistance
The property of a material to withstand against
all atmospheric actions without losing its strength and
shape. Weathering effects the durability of material.
 For example, corrosion occurs in iron due to
weathering. To resist this paint layer is provided.

Water Absorption
The capacity of a material to absorb and retain
water in it is known as water absorption. It is
expressed in % of weight of dry material. It depends
up on the size, shape and number of pores of
material.

Water Permeability
The ability of a material to permit water
through it is called water permeability. Dense
materials like glass metals etc. are called impervious
materials which cannot allow water through it.

Mechanical Properties
Mechanical properties of the materials are found out by applying external forces on them. These are
very important properties which are responsible for behavior of a material in its job. 

Tensile strength TS
It is the ability of a material to withstand
tensile (stretching) loads without breaking.

Toughness
It is the ability of the materials to withstand
bending or it is the application of shear stresses
without fracture, so the rubbers and most plastic
materials do not shatter, therefore they are tough.

Malleability
It is the capacity of substance to withstand
deformation under compression without rupture or
the malleable material allows a useful amount of
plastic deformation to occur under compressive
loading before fracture occurs.
Hardness
It is the ability of a material to withstand
scratching (abrasion) or indentation by another hard
body, it is an indication of the wear resistance of the
material.

Ductility
It refers to the capacity of substance to undergo
deformation under tension without rupture

Stiffness
It is the measure of a material's ability not to
deflect under an applied load.

Brittleness
It is the property of a material that shows little
or no plastic deformation before fracture when a
force is applied.

Elasticity
It is the ability of a material to deform under
load and return to its original size and shape when the
load is removed. If it is made
from an elastic material it will be the same length
before and after the load is applied, despite the fact
that it will be longer whilst the load is being applied.
All materials possess elasticity to some degree and
each has its own elastic limits.
Plasticity
This property is the exact opposite to elasticity,
while the ductility and malleability are particular
cases of the property of the plasticity. It is the state of
a material which has been loaded beyond its elastic
limit so as to cause the material to deform
permanently. Under such conditions the material
takes a permanent set and will not return to its
original size and shape when the load is removed.
 Hygroscopicity
Hygroscopicity is the property of a material to
absorb water vapor from the air. It depends on the
relative humidity, porosity, air temperature etc.

Chemical Properties
The properties of materials against the chemical actions or chemical combinations are termed as
chemical properties.
Chemical Resistance of Building Materials
The ability of a construction materials to resist
the effects by chemicals like acids, salts and alkalis is
known as chemical resistance. Underground
installations, constructions near sea etc. should be
built with great chemical resistance.

Corrosion Resistance
Formation of rust (iron oxide) in metals, when
they are subjected to atmosphere is called as
corrosion. So, the metals should be corrosive
resistant. To increase the corrosion resistance proper
measures should be considered. Otherwise it will
damage the whole structure.