PLASTICS

Is a manmade polymers that contain carbon

atom covalently bonded with other
elements.
Is obtained by breaking down materials
found in nature, such as petroleum, coal,
and natural gas
Are synthetic materials, resulting from
chemical manipulations of natural materials.

PLASTIC PRODUCTION AND PRODUCT

Materials are composed of long chain like

molecules that are unattached to each
other.
Normal temperatures, 70F (21C), the
material retains its shape because the
movement of molecules is slight.

Thermosetting Plastics
-

Also called thermosets, are plastics that

cannot be reheated and reformed once they
have been softened, constituted, and cured.
Formed with a chemical process that
produces a strong bond between molecules
and prevents their sliding by each other.

Bioplastics

Or organic plastics, are a form derived from

renewable biomass sources, such as
vegetable oil or cornstarch, rather than from
petroleum, as are fossil fuel plastics.

ADDITIVES
Plasticizers - are added to plastic resin to reduce
brittleness; increase flexibility, resiliency, and
moldability; and, in some cases, to improve impact
resistance.
Fillers - used to increase bulk or ease of molding
include finely ground hardwood and nutshells.
Stabilizers - or lead compounds, are used to
stabilize plastic by helping it resist heat, loss of
strength, and the effects of radiation on bonds
between chains.

MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF
PLASTICS
Covalent bonding - is a process in which small
numbers of atoms are bound into molecules.

Colorants - added to the resin include organic

dyes and inorganic pigments (metal-based).
Inorganic pigments disperse throughout the resin,
rather than dissolve, as do the dyes, so they reduce
the transparency of the materials.

Monomer a single molecule

Polymer - monomers link together to form a chain.
Polymerization chain formation monomer.

CLASSIFICATIONS
Thermoplastics
-

Are plastic materials that can be softened

or re-melted by the application of heat and
reformed.

PROPERTIES
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength
Stiffness is measured by the modulus elasticity (E).
Impact strength (toughness) is the ability of a
material to resist impact from an object striking.
Hardness is measure of abrasion resistance.

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Creep is the term used to describe the tendency of

a material to flow in normal temperatures and to
have a permanent change in size and shape when
under continued stress.

Comparison of the Thermal Conductivity of Plastics with Other

Commonly Used Construction Materials

Electrical Properties

A Comparison of the Tensile strengths of Plastics with Other

Commonly Used Construction Materials

Plastics have excellent electrical insulating

properties and have enabled the development of
greatly improved electrical equipment.
Plastics have excellent dielectric strength. Since
electrical components are subject to damage by
arcing, arc resistance is important.
Arc resistance is measured by the total elapsed
time in seconds an electric current must arc to
cause a part to fail.
Thermal Properties

A Comparison of the Modulus of Elasticity of Plastics with Other

Commonly Used Construction Materials

Two major factors to consider when examining

thermal properties are the influence of temperature
on strength and expansion and contraction of the
material.
The service temperature of plastics, the maximum
temperature at which a plastic can be used without
affecting its properties, is low when compared with
other construction materials.

A Comparison of the Service Temperature of Plastics with Other

Commonly Used Construction Materials

Plastics are poor conductors of heat. Foamed

plastics have the lowest thermal conductivity and
are therefore excellent insulators.
Although plastics are no more combustible than
wood, they can produce toxic fumes, which are
more likely than flames to cause death in fire.
Chemical Properties

A Comparison of the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Plastics

with Other Commonly Used Construction Materials

Weather ability of a plastic involves consideration of

moisture, ultraviolet light, heat, and chemicals
found in the air as ozone and hydrochloric acid.
Deteriorated plastics gains weight because of
attacking chemicals combine with plastics
Density

The density of plastic material is in general lower

than other commonly used construction materials.
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Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of a volume
of material to the mass of an equal volume of water
at a standard temperature. The specific gravity of
plastics varies considerably, ranging from 0.06 for
foams to 2.0 for fluorocarbons.
Optical Properties
Acrylics are as transparent as fine optical glass and
have a light transmission of 92 percent.
Polystyrene, polypropylene, and polycarbonates
also exhibit transmission qualities of 90 percent or
better.

high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide

temperature range.
Polyamides (PA), also known as nylon, are tough,
high in strength, and have good chemical
resistance.
Polycarbonates (PC) have high impact strength and
good resistance.
Polypropylene (PP) is much like polyethylene but is
more heat resistant and stiffer.

ASTM Abbreviation for Plastics

PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Thermoplastics
The majority of products used in construction are
made from thermoplastic materials rather than
thermosets.
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastics are a
combination of high-impact polystyrene, which is
very tough, and acrylonitrile, which improves
rigidity, tensile strength, and chemical resistance.
ABS plastics are widely used for pipe and pipe
fittings for water lines with water up to 180F (83C)
(non-pressure), gas supply lines, waste, drain, and
sewage vent systems. They are also used for
hardware, such as handles and knobs.
Acrylics The most widely used acrylic is polymethyl
methacrylate (PMMA). It has excellent optical
clarity and is used for glazing. Typical uses include
door and window lights and roof domes and
skylights. It is also used to make lighting fixtures,
but it will soften at 200F (94C). Acrylics are also
dispersed as fine particles in a liquid producing a
latex used to make latex paints.
Cellulosic Two common plastics based on the
cellulose molecule are cellulose acetate (CA) and
cellulose acetate-butyrate (CAB). Cellulose acetate
is not used for construction purposes, but CAB can
be made resistant to weathering and is used in
piping for gas and Chemicals.
Fluorocarbons The most widely used fluorocarbon
is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Ethylene
tetrafluoroethylene
(ETFE)
is
fluorocarbon-based polymer designed to have a

Polyethylene (PE) is light, strong, and flexible, even

at low temperatures. Its major use in construction is
as a vapor barrier on walls, floors and ceilings.
Polystyrene (PS) is a water-resistant, dimensionally
stable, transparent plastics that maintains its
properties at low temperatures but begins so soften
around 200F (94C).
Vinyls The term vinyl describes a large group of
plastics developed from the ethylene molecule.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is the most widely used

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vinyl in the manufacture of products used in

construction. A wide variety of products are made
from PVC, including siding gutters, floor tile, pipe,
and window frames Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) is used
as an inner layer in safety glass and as a protective
coating on fabrics. Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) is used
in mortars, paints, and adhesive.

Silicones (SI) are very water repellent, they are

applied in liquid form to exterior wall and masonry
materials to provide a water-resistant coating.

Thermosets

Calendaring - involves moving a plastics material

in a liquid state through a series of rollers, which
creates a thin plastic film as a material solidifies.

Thermosets materials are used for products

requiring greater heat resistance and stiffness than
that afforded by thermoplastics.
Epoxies have good chemical and moisture
resistance but are mainly used because of their
excellent adhesive qualities.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehydes
plastics
are
incapable of deformation and are hard, strong, heat
resistant, and brittle.
Phenol-formaldehyde (PF), generally referred to a
phenolic, has fillers, such as glass fibers, added to
improve impact resistance and strength. Phenolic
plastics are the most widely used of the
thermosets.
Melamine-formaldehyde
(MF),
generally referred to as melamine, are hard,
scratch-resistant plastics that withstand chemical
attack. They are used in the production of highpressure plastic laminates, such as those used for
countertops. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) enjoys the
same uses as melamine-formaldehyde. It is not as
hard and does not have the same heat-resisting
properties as melamine-formaldehyde.
Polyesters A large number of plastics fall under the
generic name polyester. They are available in small
and very large, complex-profile single pieces, which
makes installation easy. Major uses include molded
bathtubs, showers, sheets for roofing and
partitions, curtain wall exterior laminates, and
window frames and sashes.
Polyurethanes (UP) are used to produce lowdensity foams that can be varied from soft, open
cell types that are flexible to a tough, closed-cell,
and rigid material. Polyurethane foams are used to
fill wall, ceiling, and floor spaces by spraying them
on surfaces or in cavities, after which they solidify.

MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Blow Molding - involves placing a heated,
preformed plastic tube called a paison in a forming
die.

Compression Molding - involves placing plastic

resin in powder form in a heated mold to which heat
and pressure are applied.
Casting - involves pouring plastic in a liquid state
into a cavity in a mold.
Extrusion - is a process in which a semi-liquid is
forces under pressure through an opening in a die.
Expandable Bead Molding - is a process in which
small granules of resin, such as polystyrene, are
mixed with an expanding agent and placed in a
steam-heated rolling drum.
Form Molding - requires that an expanding agent
be mixed with plastic granules or powder and
injected into a mold, where it is heated, melting the
resin and forming a gas that expands the resin to fill
the mold cavity.
Injection Molding - uses granules or powder resin.
Laminating is a process in which several layers of
material are bonded together to form a single
sheet.
Laminating - is a process in which several layers
of material are bonded together to form a single
sheet.
Rotational Molding - forms hollow one-piece items
from polyethylene powders.
Transfer Molding - is a combination
compression and injection molding.

of

Thermoforming - involves two commonly used

procedure: vacuum forming and pressure forming.

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PLASTIC TESTING

Plastic Pipe Deflection Testing

ASTM D638 is one of the most common plastic

strength specifications and covers the tensile
properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics.
This test method uses standard dogbone shaped
specimens under 14mm of thickness.

ASTM D2412 is a testing standard used to

determine the stiffness and load deflection of
plastic pipe. This summary is intended to help you
understand the basic procedure and equipment
required to complete this test with accuracy. For a
complete description of the test, please refer to
ASTM D2412.

Test Procedure

Test Procedure

Plastic Tensile Strength Testing

To perform ASTM D638, begin by injection molding

your material into a dogbone sample. Load the
sample into a pair of tensile grips and attach your
extensometer (if you have one). The speed at
which you separate your tensile grips depends on
the shape of the specimen and can range from
0.05-20 inches per minute. End the test at sample
break (rupture).
Plastic Compression Testing
ASTM D1621 is similar to ISO 844 and describes a
procedure for determining the compressive
properties of rigid cellular materials.
Test Procedure
Apply a compressive force to a rigid cellular sample
of round or square cross section at the specified
crosshead rate until the sample is compressed by
13% of its height. Record force and deformation
data.
Plastic Bend Testing
ASTM D790 is one of the most commonly used
specifications in the plastics industry. This test
measures the flexural strength and flexural
modulus of reinforced and unreinforced plastics.
Test Procedure
To run the test, begin by die cutting, sawing, or
injection molding your samples to a shape specified
in the ASTM specification.
Adjust the support span length that you find
in the standard determined by your sample
size
Place the test bar on the 3 point bend fixture
and begin the test
End the test after bending to 5% strain or
until the sample breaks

1. Depending on the type of plastic pipe being

tested, cut the specimen to the lengths
specified. Be sure to cut the pipe cleanly.
Condition the specimens to the temperature
detailed in the specification. Prepare and
test at least three specimens for each pipe.
2. Measure the length, average diameter, and
average wall thickness of the specimen.
3. Load the specimen by centering it on the
bottom plate and apply just enough force to
keep the sample in place with the upper
platen.
4. Begin compressing the specimen at the
specified rate.
5. Be aware of line cracking, wall cracking,
wall delamination, and break. Record the
load and deflection when these events are
observed.
6. Stop the test at break, when the load no
longer increases with deflection or when the
specimen reaches the required maximum
deflection.
Tear Strength Testing
ASTM D624 is a testing standard for measuring the
tear strength of thermoset rubbers, thermoplastic
elastomers, and silicones. This standard describes
multiple different types of sample shapes that can
be tested in a standard universal testing machine
(tensile testing machine).
Test Procedure
To begin, cut your material into one of the tear
shapes shown in the specification. Specimen B
and C are the most common. Measure the width of
the specimen and load it into your tensile grips.
Begin grip separation at a rate defined in the
standard and end the test after sample break
(rupture).

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BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BITUMEN is a mixture of organic liquid that are
highly viscous, black, sticky, complex hydrocarbon
that occur naturally or are heat produced from
materials such as coal and wood.

PROPERTY OF BITUMEN

Excellent in water resistance.

Bonds well to dry solid surfaces and will not
bond to wet surfaces.
Ignite when heated to their flash points
because they are flammable.
Has softening point- it varies to the
composition of the product.

** Example: roofing asphalts- 200 up to 220

Fahrenheit (95-104 Celsius), while coating grade
asphalts such as used for waterproofing have a
softening point of 50-55 (11- 13 Celsius).

Exhibit cold flow properties- they tend to

flow, spread and lose their shape.

ASPHALT
Dark brown to black cementitious material in
semisolid or solid form consisting of bitumen found
in deposits of natural asphalts.
Petroleum provides the raw materials for the
manufacturing of most asphalt used today.
FOUR TYPES OF ROOFING ASPHALT
Asphalt Cements are binders used to produce
high quality asphalt pavements. These are Graded
from the softest, AR1000, to the hardest, AR16000.
The grade chosen depends in climate and the
quality of the aggregates. Used in paving road
drives and parking lots.
Cutback Asphalt is a broad classification of
residual asphalt left after petroleum has been
processed to produce gasoline, kerosene and
lubricating oils. The residual asphalt is the blended
with various solvents to produce cutback asphalt.
Used to stabilize a roadbed before paving and as a
binder on the surfaces of light duty roads.
Emulsified Asphalt are either anionic emulsions
are those in which the asphalt globules in the mix
are negatively charge, or cationic, emulsion have

positively charge asphaly globules, depending on

the emulsifying agent used. Emulsified asphalt has
the advantage of being applied cold, eliminating the
need to heat the asphalt to bring it to a fluid
condition. Applied cold to damp aggregates.
Plastic Asphalt Cements are made using
asbestos fibers and asphalt with good plasticity and
elastic properties. This black cement is used to
bond flashing and to make roof repairs.
Quick Setting Asphalt Cement is much like
plastic asphalt cement but has greater adhesive
properties and sets up rapidly.
Asphalt Roofing Tape is a porous fabric strip
saturated with asphalt. It is used with plastic
asphalt cements to patch holes in roofs, seams and
seal flashing.
Asphalt cement are used as binders for quality
paving.

Laboratory Tests of asphalt

Viscosity Test determine the flow of asphalts at
application and service temperature.
Flash Point Test determines the temperature to
which asphalt may be heated without the danger of
an instantaneous flash occurring when to exposed
to an open flame. The flash point temperature is
well below the temperature at which the asphalt will
burn. The burn temperature is called the fire point.
Thin Film Oven Test this test subjects a sample
of asphalt to hardening conditions similar to those
that occur in a hot-mix plant operation.
Ductility Test used to determine how much an
asphalt sample will stretch at various temperature
bellow its softening point.
Solubility Test - used to ascertain the purity of
asphalt cement.
Specific Gravity Test the specific gravity of a
material is the ratio of the weight of a given volume
of the materials to the weight of an equal volume of
water. Asphalt with specific gravity of 1.1 are 1.1
times as heavy as water.
Softening Point Test- various grades of asphalt
soften at different temperature. The softening point
is found by the ring and ball test.

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Distillation Test used to find the proportions of

asphalt and diluent present in a sample.

Other Products made with bituminous

materials
Coal Tar Pitch

Waterproof Coating
Is used on masonry walls above and below grade.
Below grade it must resist the pressure of
subsurface water and prevent it from passing
through the foundation. While above grade it resist
passage of water through walls or roof decking.

Is a dark brown to black hydrocarbon obtained

through the distillation of coke-oven tar. It is
available in several grades and is used as the basis
for a number of paints, roofing products, and
waterproofing materials. It has a softening point
near 150F (65C). Coal tar enamel is made from
coal tar pitch with added mineral fillers, used to
protect pipe in pipeline work.

Roll roofing uses either organic felt or fiberglass

mars as a base material. A viscous bituminous
coating is applied to the base, forming the exposed
surface.

Felts

4 types of roll roofing

Is a sheet materials made from the cellulose fibers

of organic materials such as wood, papers, rags,
glass fibers, and asbestos. Saturated felts (tar
paper) are made an organic mat saturated with coal
tar pitch or asphalt and coated with a layer of thin
asphalt. Tar paper is used as an underlayment for
shingles, as sheathing paper, and as laminations in
built-up roof construction and it is also used to
produce roll roofing and shingles.
Ice and water shield
Is a roofing membrane composed of two
waterproofing materials bonded into one layer.
Comprised of a rubberized asphalt adhesive
backed by a layer of polyethylene, it comes in 36in
x 75 roof rolls.
Fiberglass sheet materials
Fiber glass mats can be impregnated with asphalt
but are not saturated because the glass fibers will
not absorb the asphalt. The asphalt forms a coating
on the surface and fills the spaces between fibers.
The fiberglass mats are available in rolls 36 inches
(914mm) wide and 108ft. (11m) long.
Fireproofing paper
Is made using asbestos fibers either in a pressed
mat-like felt or in woven sheets. The various sheets
products are used as underlayment for finished
roofing materials, as vapor barriers in walls and
floors and for other similar applications.

ROOF COVERINGS

Smooth-surfaced

Mineral-surfaced

Mineral-surfaced selvage-edged

Pattern-edged

Smooth-surfaced both sides covered with fine tale

and mica to keep the surfaces from sticking as it is
made into rolls. Weight of smooth-surfaced is from
50 to 65 lbs. per square.
Mineral-surfaced has granules in a wide range of
colors rolled into the surface, producing a surface
that is attractive and protects the bitumen from
suns radiation. The minerals also increases the fire
resistance of the products. Available in 36 in.
(915mm) wide and from 36-72 ft( 8to 22m) long.
Weight of mineral-surfaced is from 90 lbs. per
square and the fiberglass-reinforced mineral fiber in
rolls of 75 lbs. per square.
Mineral-surfaced selvage-edged it is the same as
mineral-surfaced roofing except that only 17-16in of
36in. wide is covered with granules. The side
uncovered with granules is used for lapping an
adjoining layer, forming two-ply covering
Pattern-edged is a mineral-surfaced product that
has 4 in. uncrated band in its center. The roll is
semi cut along this strip to form two 18 in. wide
patterned roofing strips that are thin lapped 2 in.
over the layer below it can be installed in single or
double thickness.

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Conventional hot built-up roof membranes

Consist of alternate plies of organic or fiberglass
roofing felt with a hot bitumen coating mopped over
each layer. The design of the roof varies by
situation. Felts provide the needed reinforcement to
keep bitumen in each layer from alligatoring.
Alligatoring refer to the surface cracking caused by
oxidation and shrinkage stresses, which can result
in a repetitive mounding of asphalt surface similar
to aligators bite.
Conventional built-up roofs can be designed for
slopes up to 3in. (76mm) per 12in. (305mm), slopes
above in (12mm) per 12 in (305mm) usually
require the use of steep asphalt.
Cold-applied asphalt roofing system
Use some form of base sheet, fabric or similar
reinforcement over which the principal of
waterproofing agent, which is liquid, is applied at
ambient temperatures. The coatings and adhesives
are designed to be brushed or sprayed at normal

room temperatures. These include filled and nonfilled asphalt cutbacks, asphalt emulsion, coal tar
coating and aluminum pigmented asphalt. Gravel
and aluminum chips are placed on the top while it is
wet. They block ultraviolet light, can reflect heat
and are decorative.
Asphalt and fiberglass shingles
Asphalt shingles are made using an organic felt
base saturated with asphalt and coated with
mineral stabilize asphalt on both sides. The
exposed top side is coated with mineral granules.
The bottom is relatively smooth and coated with
talc to prevent it from sticking to the shingle below
when bundled for shipping.
Fiberglass shingles are made using a fiberglass
mat as the base. The mat does not have to be
saturated with asphalt before it received the asphalt
top coating. Mineral aggregate are rolled into the
top coating. These shingles are lighter in weight
than asphalt shingles.

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