Importance of Chemicals for Construction and Building Materials
Buildings play a central role in all of our lives. In addition to providing safe spaces to work, live and socialize, buildings can help address several challenges – fromreducing climate impacts,to improving occupant health and wellness, to increasing a building’s resilience to natural disasters.
Building block chemicals used in construction and building materials help ensure a number of benefits, including:
- Durability and longevity of building envelops, structures, and materials
- Enhanced building performance and energy efficiency
- Improved safety, disaster resilience and fire resistance
4 Common Building Block Chemicals Used in Construction and Building Materials
使用化学材料成为可能over buildings – from rooftops to wall and floor coverings, to insulation and countertops and surfaces. Here are just a few of the most common construction chemicals used in building materials:
Polyurethane
As an insulation, roofing and sealant product, spraypolyurethanefoams (SPF) can play a major role in insulating and air-sealing homes and buildings – helping to reduce air leakage, which can result inlower utility bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved indoor air quality by helping to eliminate infiltration of dust and allergens.
Phthalates
Phthalatesare a family of chemical compounds primarily used to makepolyvinyl chloride(PVC) or vinyl flexible, pliant and durable. From energy-efficient roofing to flexible adhesives and sealants, to durable flooring and wall coverings, phthalates are used in building and construction products to make materials and surfaces that last longer and are easier to maintain.
Flexible vinyl products made with phthalates can help reduce a building’s environmental footprint. Because it is strong and resistant to moisture and abrasion, vinyl is ideal for cladding, window, roofing, fencing, decking, wallcovering and flooring applications.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonateis a high-performing thermoplastic that is widely used in building and construction products, from windows and skylights to wall panels and roof domes to exterior elements for LED lighting.
Polycarbonate has a number of qualities that make it useful in these applications – it is lightweight and durable, with high optical clarity, high-impact and high-heat resistance, as well as excellent flammability resistance.
Epoxy Resins
Epoxiesare thermoset plastics made by the reaction of two or more industrial chemical compounds. Epoxy resins are used in a wide array of consumer and industrial applications because of their toughness, strong adhesion, chemical resistance and other specialized properties.
Epoxy resins are used in the manufacture of adhesives, plastics, paints, coatings, primers and sealers, flooring and other products and materials that are used in building and construction applications.
Other common chemicals found in building and construction include:flame retardants,formaldehyde,silicone, andplastics. Learn more aboutBuilding Safety Monthand why chemistry matters in building and construction atBuildingWithChemistry.org.
