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BUILDING MATERIALS CHARACTERISTICS

Availability Chemical Cost Density Durability Environmental Elasticity Fire Insulation Moisture Maintenance Strength Thermal Other Uses
Resistance Impact Resistance Resistance Movement Factors

Concrete Readily Resist some Relatively Relatively Excellent Little Fairly low Good Low If air- Low High High thermal Hard Low and
available chemicals, inexpensive high resistance environmental elasticity resistance to resistance entrained, compressive conductivity high rise
but special density to abrasion damage fire, but loss to frost. resistance to strength; low Concrete structures
Ingredients mixes will of strength at water tensile up to
locally have to be high Good improved strength, low about five Various
produced prepared temperature resistance shear strength years uses e.g.
to No concrete (poor) park
absorption is completely furniture
of water impervious
to water

Timber Readily Good Relatively Wide Good. Pollution on Elastic Low ignition Very good Moderately Exposure to High strength Low Housing;
available. resistance to high variation burning point insulator impervious. weather, to weight ratio Furniture
alkali and compared to from low to Could be sunlight, in both tension making.
Most timber weak acids other high further Could be flowing water and
imported materials depending improved improved and abrasion compression.
on by the with surface carried out by
moisture application coatings wind may Strength
content of surface require increases with
and coatings frequent density
species surface
treatment and
painting.

Aluminium Readily Resistant to High capital Low. Strong Little hazard Moderately Affected by Good Good Low Fairly high High thermal Good Buildings
available. corrosion cost. 2700 kg/m3 Elastic temperature insulator resistance to strength-to- conductivity electrical
Fairly moisture weight ratio conductor. Electrical
Imported – May be Relatively 1/3 that of resistant to penetration trade.
with some affected by expensive steel which impact High Furniture,
finishing some acids is 7850 load. coefficient sports
work done and alkalis kg/m3 of linear equipment.
locally. expansion
Conduit for
water, etc.
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BUILDING MATERIALS CHARACTERISTICS

Availability Chemical Cost Density Durability Environmental Elasticity Fire Insulation Moisture Maintenance Strength Thermal Other Uses
Resistance Impact Resistance Resistance Movement Factors

Plastics Readily Good High Low 24-64 Do not Pollution Modulus of All plastics are Good on Impervious Low High High thermal Specific Translucent
available. resistance to compared to kg/m3 corrode or elasticity is combustible impact movement. gravity sheets; roof
chemicals. other building rot. Can be low even and spread of sound High Tensile Ten times similar to lights,
flame over the
Some types materials. environmentally compared resistance to strength-to- that of steel. that of formwork for
surface of
are Ultraviolet hazardous. to some plastics
moisture weight ratios wood. 09 – concrete;
produced High capital light from aluminium is high. penetration. are more 2.2 shower
locally, e.g. investment. sunlight and glass. favourable cubicles;
pipes. degrades Difficult to than those of moulded
plastics. ignite and self metal. chair;
Others extinguish. cladding
imported. panels.

Glass Readily Low High capital Density: Extremely Little Although Non- Good High Has to be Weak in Lower High Windows;
available. resistance to investment to low to durable in environmental elastic right combustible conductor of resistance to cleaned at tension. thermal melting doors.
up to heat.
acids and set up medium. normal effect. moisture regular expansion point
breaking
Imported for strong manufacturing conditions. point it is
Ordinary penetration. intervals to Resistance to than other 15000C as Office and
Good
the alkalis. plant. 2560 completely glass breaks thermal
avoid surface shock load is materials in against domestic
construction kg/m3 as Surface brittle so in fire and insulation. deterioration. twice that to which it is aluminium use.
industry. Relatively against resistance there is no later melts. the static used 6600C and
expensive on aluminium high. permanent Good sound load which it steel The
the retail which is set which in insulation – can stand 19000C furniture
market 2771 ductile increases indefinitely. trade.
kg/m3 and materials with
steel 7850 give warning thickness
of impending
kg/m3 failure.

Mild Steel Readily Chemicals – Fairly high High Strong. Little impact High elastic Fairly high. Good Moisture will Low, but if High High thermal High Construction
available. acids and capital outlay High. unless degraded Affected by conductor corrode exposed has conductivity electrical – residential
alkalis corrode through high of heat. steel. to be painted conductivity and
steel.
Some corrosion or high temperature. with non- commercial.
imported to Protective
temperature Will need corrosive
supplement coating can Must be protection to paint.
local market. help resist encased in resist
corrosion. concrete to moisture.
maintain
integrity.