UNIT 9

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS
 GLASS
• Glass may be defined as a hard, brittle and transparent or
translucent material.
• Technically glass is any substance or combination of substances
which has solidified from the liquid state without crystallization.
• Glass is created through a process called glass formation or
vitrification, where raw materials such as silica sand, soda ash, and
limestone are heated to high temperatures until they melt and form
a molten liquid.
• This liquid is then rapidly cooled, which prevents the formation of a
crystalline structure and results in the formation of an amorphous
 CONSTITUENTS OF GLASS
• Silica
• Silica is the principal constituent of glass.
• Silica alone when fused at a very high temperature would give a good
glass on cooling.
• However, it is essential to add some quantity of alkaline materials
along with lime to make the molten silica glass sufficiently viscous so
as to get good workability and resistance against weathering
agencies.
 CONSTITUENTS OF GLASS
• Sodium or Potassium Carbonate
• It is an alkaline material which is also an essential component of
glass.
• This is being added in certain proportion so as to reduce the melting
point of silica and to impart viscosity to the molten glass.
• Lime
• This is added in the form of chalk so as to impart durability to glass.
• In order to make the glass bright and shining, lead oxide is added in
place of lime.
 CONSTITUENTS OF GLASS
• Manganese Oxide
• This is added in certain proportion so as to correct the colour of the
glass due to the presence of iron in raw materials of glass.
• Cullet
• Cullet is the old broken glass of the same type as that is intended to
be manufactured.
• It is added in small quantities to provide a body to the glass.
• Colouring Substances
• At the time of manufacturing a coloured glass, a suitable colouring
substance is added at the fusion stage to provide the desired colour
to the glass.
 PROPERTIES OF GLASS
• It has no sharp melting point and no definite crystalline structure.
• It is capable to absorb, refract or transmit light.
• At elevated temperatures it acts as an excellent electrical insulator.
• It can take up high polish and can be used as a substitute for any
costly gem.
• It is not affected by air or water.
• It can not be attacked by ordinary chemical agents.
• It can be altered to meet certain requirements by changing fusibility,
hardness, refractive power, etc.
 PROPERTIES OF GLASS
• It is transparent and translucent.
• It is possible to weld pieces of glass by fusion.
• It is affected by alkalis.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Conventional Types
• Based on composition and properties, the conventional glass may be
classified as soda lime or crown glass, flint glass, and Pyrex or heat-
resistant glass.
• Soda Lime or Crown Glass:
• The composition by weight, in general, is sand 75 parts, lime 12.5
parts, soda 12.5 parts, alumina 1 part and waste glass 50 parts.
• It can be easily fused at comparatively low temperatures.
• It is quite cheap and available in clean and clear state.
• It is principally used for window glass, plate glass and container
glass.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Flint Glass:
• The composition of flint glass is sand 100 parts, lead 70 parts, potash
32 parts and waste glass 10 parts.
• It liquefies at a lower temperature compared to soda lime glass and
has better lustre.
• As the lead compounds are reduced easily, the glass must be melted
in oxidizing atmosphere, etc.
• It is used for tableware and for optical works.
• It has also wide range of use as electric lamps, thermometers,
electron tubes, laboratory apparatuses, container for foods, etc.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Pyrex or Heat-resistant Glass:
• Both the above two glasses when subjected to sudden temperatures
are not able to sustain because of large coefficients of thermal
expansion.
• Only the basic oxides make them susceptible to chemical attack by
water and acids.
• Elimination of the basic oxides and inclusion of boron oxide produce a
glass that is very resistant to thermal shock and to attack by water and
acids.
• The composition of material for such a glass by weight are silica 80
parts, boron oxide 14 parts, sodium oxide 4 parts, alumina 2 parts, with
traces of potassium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Pyrex or Heat-resistant Glass:
• In order to melt such as mixture, a very high temperature is required.
• These glasses are called borosilicate glasses which are extensively
used for cooking utensils and laboratory wares.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Special Types of Glasses
• Special types of glasses are sheet glass, plate glass, float glass,
wired glass, translucent glass, glass blocks, safety glass, bullet-proof
glass, tinted glass, structural glass, etc.
• Sheet Glass:
• This is mainly used for small panels of doors and windows.
• These glasses are to be free from blisters, scratches, waves,
bubbles, etc.
• It is manufactured in thickness varying from 1.5–5 mm and sizes up
to 1.5 m × 1 m.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Plate Glass:
• It is available in thickness varying from 3–32 mm.
• This type of glass is stronger and more transparent with very less
waviness.
• It is generally used for large size panels such as waiting halls,
shopping complexes, etc.
• There are three varieties of this type of glass, namely rough cast,
rolled (or patterned) and polished glass.
• Generally the polished variety is denoted as plate glass.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Flutted Glass:
• These are the glasses which have corrugations on one side of the
plate glass.
• The other side is wavy but smooth.
• In this type, the light is admitted without the glare of the sun.
• It is used in situations where privacy without obstruction of light is
needed.
FLUTTED GLASS
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Float Glass:
• This type of glass is prepared by passing the molten glass through a
molten tin bath (float bath).
• Because of the free-standing surface of the tin bath is very smooth,
the float glass is of uniform thickness.
• It possesses excellent optical clarity and aesthetic appearance.
• This is mainly used for large-sized shop windows and facade of tall
buildings.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Wired Glass:
• In this type of glass, wire-netting material is embedded during the
time of manufacture.
• It has high resisting power compared to ordinary plate glass.
• Because of wire-netting, it does not fall into pieces when broken.
• It is used for fire resisting doors and windows and for skylights and
roofs.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Translucent Glass:
• This glass is also called as obscured glass or frosted glass.
• In such glasses, a pattern or texture is imprinted on one or both
faces.
• This prevents the image being seen through.
• The textured side should face the inside of a place (to be made
obscure) and the plane glass side should face the other side.
• This type of glasses are used for doors and windows of bedroom,
bath room, lavatories, etc.
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Bullet-proof Glass:
• This type of glass is prepared by following special techniques.
• Here, the glass is made of several layers of plate glass with alternate
layers of vinyl resin plastics.
• Further the inner layers are thicker than outer layers.
• At the time of manufacturing, special care is taken for heating and
cooling of layers.
• Thickness of this type of glasses vary from 15–75 mm.
• Special quality of the glass is that it will not allow bullet to pierce
through it.
• It is used in special type of cars, bank counters, jewellery stores, etc.
BULLET-PROOF GLASS
 TYPES OF GLASS
• Glass Blocks:
• These are glass units that consist of two halves fused together so as
to form a hallow inside.
• These blocks provide insulator against heat, cold and noise.
• These blocks are used for constructing wall panels.
 PLASTER OF PARIS
• Plaster of Paris is also known as Gypsum Plaster.
• When finely ground gypsum is heated to a temperature of 170°C
about two-thirds of its water of crystallization is lost and the resulting
product is known as hemihydrate of calcium sulphate (Plaster of
Paris).
• Plaster of Paris sets almost immediately if water is added to this
product and hence requires the addition of retarders to gain time to
carry out mixing, placing, finishing, etc. Clay, gum, starch, sugar,
and glue are the usual retarders.
• Hemihydrate gypsum plaster means Paris plaster with retarders
 PLASTER OF PARIS
• When gypsum is further heated to about 200°C, the entire water of
crystallization is driven out. Such a resulting product is known as
gypsum anhydrite.
• However its setting time is quite large and in order to reduce it, alum,
raw gypsum or potassium sulphates are added as accelerators.
PLASTER OF PARIS
 PROPERTIES OF PLASTER OF PARIS
• It has good adhesion on fibrous materials.
• Its setting takes place by the process of crystallization.
• It suffers very little shrinkage after drying.
• It is fire resistant.
• By adding sawdust or granulated cork, it is made more insulated against
sound and heat.
• It is slightly soluble in water.
• It is light weight.
 USES OF PLASTER OF PARIS
• It is used for ornamental castings.
• Boards of gypsum are used for ceilings and internal linings of
partition walls.
• It is used in pottery, artwork, etc.
• It is used as heat insulating material to protect wood or metal
columns and beams.
 INSULATION BOARDS
• A board with insulating properties; specially a structure or finish
material that consists of sheets of lightly compressed vegetable pulp
variously finished and is used specially for its thermal insulating effect
resulting from great numbers of minute included air spaces.
• Vegetable pulp, such as from sources like straw, sugarcane bagasse,
hemp, or other plant fibers, is collected, processed and compressed.
• These boards can be made from any material which has heat and
electrical insulation properties.
• Well known products are gypsum boards, fiber boards, asbestos
cement boards, chip boards, cork boards, etc.
 PREFABRICATED MATERIALS
• Prefabricated materials are used for buildings that are
manufactured off-site and shipped later to assemble at the final
location.
• Some of the commonly used prefabricated building materials are
aluminium, steel, wood, fiberglass and concrete.
• Prefabricated metal buildings use galvanized steel and galvalume
as the chief materials for building.
• Galvalume is a form of steel coated with aluminum zinc.
• This is to protect the building against corrosion, rust and fire.
• It also provides a protective covering to the prefabricated building.
 PREFABRICATED MATERIALS
• Almost all the components of a metal building such as beams, frames,
columns, walls and roofs are made of steel.
• Most prefabricated military buildings use steel or aluminium frames.
• Prefabricated building materials used for small prefabricated buildings
are steel, wood, fiberglass, plastic and concrete buildings.
• These materials are cheaper than regular brick and concrete buildings.
• Materials like steel, fiberglass, wood and aluminium are used as
prefabricated building materials for sports buildings.
• These materials provide flexibility and are preferred for making
structures and accessories like stands and seats for stadium and
 GYPSUM BOARD
• Gypsum board is an ideal substitute for conventional building boards in
all types of buildings.
• It can be used in several applications such as paneling, wall-coverings,
partitions and false ceiling.
• It can also provide the effect of brickwork or a smooth finish like plaster
of Paris.
• Gypsum board is fire-proof.
• Its weight lies in the range of 6 to 15 kg/m2 depending upon its
thickness.
• Gypsum boards are easy to use as they can be nailed, cut and
GYPSUM BOARD
 SANDWICH PANEL
• Sandwich panel is a product used to clad the walls and roofs of buildings.
• Each panel comprises a core of thermo-insulating material, skinned on
both side with sheet metal.
• Sandwich panels are not structural materials but curtain materials.
• The structural forces are carried by the steel framework or other carrier
frame to which the sandwich panels are attached.
• The types of sandwich panel are generally grouped by the thermo-
insulating material used as the core.
• Sandwich panels with cores of EPS ( expanded polystyrene), mineral
wool and polyurethane (PIR, or polyisocyanurate) are all readily available.
 SANDWICH PANEL
• The materials mainly vary in their thermal insulating performance,
sound insulating performances, reaction to fire and weight.
• A sandwich panel is any structure made of three layers: a low-
density core and a thin skin layer bonded to each side.
• Sandwich panels are used in applications where a combination of
high structural rigidity and low weight is required.
SANDWICH PANEL