ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
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Artificial Construction Materials
Bricks�
Brick
Bricks are rectangular blocks made from clay.
The clay should be free from pebbles, gravel, alkalies, organic matter, vegetation and iron pyrites.
20 – 30% | Alumina |
50 – 60 % | Silica |
<5 % | Lime |
0.1% | Magnesia |
5 – 6 % | Iron oxide |
Types of bricks
(1) Conventional / Traditional bricks: Size: 23 cm X 11.4 cm X 7.6 cm
(2) Standard / Modular : Size : 19 cm X 9 cm X 9 cm
(1) Hand moulded (ground or table moulded)
(2) Machine moulded (wire cut)
(1)1st class (grade A)
(2) 2nd class (grade B)
(3) 3rd class (grade C)
(4) 4th class (grade D)
Uses of brick
Properties of Bricks
Physical mechanical thermal Durability
Shape size colour density
porosity
compressive flexural water
strength strength absorption
heat sound
insulation insulation
Tiles �
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TILES
TYPES OF FLOOR FINISHES
HARD FLOOR FINISHES
Natural stone floor finish
Granite
Granite is a form of Igneous rock made up of feldspar quartz and mica.
This is a luxury floor covering as it is an expensive product
It is long lasting, as it is hardwearing and resistant to chemicals and has a timeless look.
If highly polished it is slippery, but a honed finish provides a more manageable finish.
It comes in limited colors - black, red, green, grey, blue, pink.
Marble�
This is a form of metamorphic rock,
·It is made up of calcium carbonate; it comes in numerous colors, white, grey, green, ochre, beige and is usually veined.
·It is a hardwearing beautiful product, expensive to purchase and lay as it is heavy and comes in slab form.
Marble used of floor and walls of a hotel bathroom, very stylish.
Like granite it has a timeless quality.
Slate�
Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock. It occurs as a result of shale rock undergoing metamorphosis.
It is normally grey in colour. However, it can still occur in other colours: Purple, green cyan (This can be found in North Wales).
It can be slippery when used in external locations subject to rain.
Limestone and Sandstone�
These are derived from sedimentary rocks
· Limestone is rarely used for floors today as it becomes slippery when it is worn.
It is grey or beige in color.
·
Sandstone is used more in outdoor paving than indoor, but looks great in an area that flows to the outdoors such as a conservatory.
· Its irregular natural pattern is its best feature and can range from a grainy timber look to stripes and speckles.
· It is beige, brown, reddish brown, in color and some stones are hardwearing.
Mosaic�
This is a superior type of flooring used in bathrooms and kitchens of residential buildings and in hospitals, sanatoriums and temples
Places where extra cleanliness is essential
They are laid in different sizes usually in rectangular and
square shapes.
They are long lasting
They are slippery when polished
CEMENT
Definition: “Cement is a crystalline compound of calcium silicates and other calcium compounds having hydraulic properties” (Macfadyen, 2006).
History
Best know surviving example is the Pantheon in Rome
Cements are considered hydraulic because of their ability to set and harden under or with excess water through the hydration of the cement’s chemical compounds or minerals
There are two types:
Those that activate with the addition of water
And pozzolanic that develop hydraulic properties when the interact with hydrated lime Ca(OH)2
Pozzolanic: any siliceous material that develops hydraulic cementitious properties when interacted with hydrated lime.
HYDRAULIC CEMENTS:
Hydraulic lime: Only used in specialized mortars. Made from calcination of clay-rich limestones.
Natural cements: Misleadingly called Roman. It is made from argillaceous limestones or interbedded limestone and clay or shale, with few raw materials. Because they were found to be inferior to portland, most plants switched.
Types of Cement
Portland cement: Artificial cement. Made by the mixing clinker with gypsum in a 95:5 ratio.
Portland-limestone cements: Large amounts (6% to 35%) of ground limestone have been added as a filler to a portland cement base.
Blended cements: Mix of portland cement with one or more SCM (supplementary cemetitious materials) like pozzolanic additives.
Pozzolan-lime cements: Original Roman cements. Only a small quantity is manufactured in the U.S. Mix of pozzolans with lime.
Masonry cements: Portland cement where other materials have been added primarily to impart plasticity.
Aluminous cements: Limestones and bauxite are the main raw materials. Used for refractory applications (such as cementing furnace bricks) and certain applications where rapid hardening is required. It is more expensive than portland. There is only one producing facility in the U.S.
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1152/2005-1152.pdf)
(Macfadyen, 2006).
PROCESSING�
Uses
Main use is in the fabrication of concrete and mortars
Modern uses
USES
Pre cast concrete products
Benefits
Design Flexibility
Exterior finish materials
Controlled Production
Casting components under factory-controlled conditions benefits a project in many ways:
Safety and Security
A precast structure can increase the safety and security of its occupants:
Glass�
(C) Dept of Applied Chemistry - SVCE
26
General Properties of glass
27
Types of glasses
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