14) OTHER TYPES OF MATERIALS

1. Non-ferrous metal 2. Glass 3. Polymeric materials NON-FERROUS METAL Three groups of non-ferrous metal 1. Those of greatest industrial importance aluminum, copper, lead, magnesium, nikel, tin, and zinc 2. Include antimony, bismuth, cadmium, mercury, and titanium 3. Important in alloy steel chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium Use in construction Structural member Non-structural member (mostly being used) Example : Aluminum In the form of Al2O3 The most common metallic element in the earths crust Bauxite, Al2O2.2H2O is the chief mineral used for extraction of aluminum Properties Resistant to atmospheric corrosion Lightweight Good conductor Very soft and easy to work with Ductile GLASS Made of a pure iron-free quartz sand or crushed quartzite rock which is fused with the carbonate of potassium or sodium to produce a hard transparent glassy substance known as sodium silicate Made up of three ingredients: 1. Silica or sand 96%, primary ingredient 2. Potash to reduce the melting point of silica 3. Lime to make glass more stable Three types: 1. Annealed Glass 2. Tempered Glass 3. Laminated Glass Annealed glass has been subjected to a slow, controlled cooling process during manufacture to control residual stresses so that it can be cut or subjected to other fabrication. When breakage occurs it does so in large pieces with jagged edges Tampered glass is heated and then cooled in a special way that makes it many times stronger than ordinary glass. When broken, it crumbles into small pieces. Applications : Aluminum Window frame Glazing bars Corrugated aluminum roofing sheets Structural members Panels, posts, plate

Laminated glass is made by heating layers of ordinary glass with a resilient plastic material between them to bind them together. If it does break, only a small hole is created Properties of glass Hard weather resistant Brittle material Unaffected by alkalis, salt or most acid Strong Application in building As an infilling for the transmission of light through doors, windows, and partitions In lantern and fan light As wall, windows Glass brick

POLYMERIC MATERIALS Plastic Is a polymeric material (usually organic) of high molecular weight which can be shaped by flow. Most plastics are synthetic organic compounds that derive their coherence and strength from large chain-linked macromolecules formed from one or more single molecules (monomers) to a macromolecule (polymer) by a chemical reaction called polymerization In general, organic plastics can be divided into three general classifications: 1) Thermoplastics 2) Thermosetting plastics 3) Chemically setting plastics Thermoplastics Are organic plastics, either natural or synthetic, which remain permanently soft at elevated temperatures. Upon cooling, they again become hard, can be shaped and reshaped any number of times by repeated heating and cooling.

Thermosetting Plastics Are organic plastics that were originally soft or soften at once upon heating, but upon further heating, they hardened permanently. Remain hardened without cooling and do not soften appreciably when reheated. Example - polyester Chemically Setting Plastics Are those that harden by the addition of a suitable chemical to the composition just before molding or by subsequent chemical treatment following fabrication Outstanding characteristics of Plastic: Lightness in weight Low heat conductivity Extremely resistant toward chemicals Electrical insulation Fibre Reinforced Polymer

FRP =

Fibre
Carbon Aramid Glass

Polymer
Thermoset Thermoplastic

Advantages of FRP Lightweight Corrosion free Durable Non-magnetic High tensile strength Applications Structural Non-structural