Polymers in building and construction

Polymers have become increasingly important as engineering materials in the past decade, and applications in the construction industry are expanding.

Polymers have become increasingly important as engineering materials in the past decade, and applications in the construction industry are expanding.

In Europe, around 20% of plastic consumption is in this industry, ie around 5Mt per year.

The latest Rapra Review Report, "Polymers in building and construction", outlines the nature, culture and trends in the building and construction industry.

Polymers now represent essential engineering materials in the construction of buildings, vehicles, engines and household articles of all kinds.

Polymers possess a collection of useful technical properties.

In general the important property requirements are mechanical, weathering, permeability, flammability and thermal conductivity properties.

The environmental impact is also important as global concerns are increasing about pollution, depletion of energy sources and re-use or recycling of waste products.

Polymers also can be processed in a variety of efficient and flexible processing methods including extrusion, thermal forming, injection moulding, calendering, casting etc.

"Polymers in building and construction" discusses the main types of polymers used in building and construction and highlights the properties which make them a suitable choice of materials.

Examples of applications for each polymer are provided.

The current building and construction market place and potential for the wide range of polymer materials available is described.

The report also introduces the main regulatory constraints on the industry.

The author, Dr Sue Halliwell, is Principal Consultant at the Centre for Composites in Construction of the Building Research Establishment (BRE).

The BRE provides research and advice to government, industry and building users, from the new product design stage to fitness for purpose, durability and installation.

Halliwell has published extensively on application and performance in service of polymer and fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) construction materials.

She is President of the Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC), the first UK group to bring the FRP and construction industries together to encourage the safe and effective application of these materials.

Rapra Review Reports contain a state-of-the-art review, written by an acknowledged expert in the field, together with several hundred of the most relevant references and abstracts identified from the Rapra Polymer Library.

Thus they provide both a concise, readable introduction to the subject and the means of investigating key points in greater depth.

The report retails at GBP 80, US $128 or Eur 128 (plus postage and packaging).

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