April 2020

Building Materials

Constrofacilitator
eMag - Lounge
Digitized knowledge for Construction www.constrofacilitator.com
 Building Materials

It is not just the structural importance and constructional behaviour, but also the visual impact along with the
historical value of certain materials that form the essence of the built environment The increasing scope of
civil engineering has brought many types of research and advancement in materials and knowledge of
molecular structure. These materials have shown better quality with much safety and economy. Also,
improvements have been made to existing materials by changing their molecular structures or including
additives to improve quality, economy, and performance.

In this edition of eMag-Lounge, we have focused on topics that keep a balance on aesthetics and structural
strength. We have covered topics such as energy-saving products, use of bamboo in building design, use
of ceramic tiles and different types of paints. The use of building material(s)while designing a structure is
symbolic of its existence in the eld of architectural visualization. It helps establish a relationship between
visual quality and structural stability.

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 2

 Energy saving products for your building
04
structure

Different types of ceramic tiles for

11
functional and aesthetic performance

Innovative Applications of Bamboo

16
in Modern Designs

Different types of paints used in

21
construction

4 16
11 21

3 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

Energy saving products for your building

structure

E
nergy efficient products Infrared heating act as conductors of heat. Whether out-
are designed to utilize doors or indoors, infrared heating should
minimum energy to com- Infrared heating is a heating system that always be installed in this way for optimal
plete the required task. works by infrared waves (radiant heat). operation.
Others use renewable These heat people and / or objects directly
sources of energy such without heating the air. This thermal emis- As for the connection to the mains, the only
as solar energy and sion technology is one of the least known thing we have to take into account when
water. These appliances and popular. Its operation is very curious. installing it is that there is a power outlet
are capable of maximizing a small amount The main difference of infrared heating with nearby.
of energy into the required one to complete respect to conventional heating systems is
a task. These products are the need of time that it heats the air from the bottom up. Most Betting on an infrared heating system will
both economically and sustainably. These heaters heat the space using air as a heat allow us to save energy and, therefore,
products spend the minimum amount of transition. This causes the heat to rise to the money. Other factors, such as the facade s
energy to complete their tasks. Thus, they ceiling and away from the area where we own insulation, influence this saving, but in
enhance energy conservation. The con- are, losing part of its effectiveness. As a con- general they are equipment that consider-
served energy can be used for a different sequence, we have to reheat the air and con- ably reduces consumption. Many argue
purpose at home, workplace, or even in sume more energy. You only need an elec- that infrared heating is slower and less pow-
industries. trical connection socket and place the erful than traditional, hence its lower con-
equipment if it is fixed installation. In the sumption. However, it is an ideal option to
Given below are few of the products avail- case of operating with infrared panels, heat small spaces and maintain the temper-
able for you for your energy conservation. these are placed on the walls or ceiling to ature, since it directly heats the materials

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 04

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

(and not the air).

Smart thermostat

Smart thermostats are thermostats that can

be used with home automation and are
responsible for controlling a home's heating
and/or air conditioning. They perform simi-
lar functions as a Programmable thermostat
as they allow the user to control the temper-
ature of their home throughout the day
using a schedule, but also contain addi-
tional features, such as sensors and WiFi
connectivity, that improve upon the issues
with programmable thermostats. Like a con-
nected thermostat, they are connected to
the Internet. They allow users to adjust heat-
ing settings from other internet-connected
devices, such as a laptop or smartphones.

This allows users to control the thermostat

remotely. This ease of use is essential for
ensuring energy savings: studies have Smart thermostat
shown that households with programmable have a scheduling feature that allows users saving users energy and money.
thermostats actually have higher energy to set different temperatures for different
consumption than those with simple ther- times of the day. In addition to this feature, HVAC
mostats because residents program them smart thermostats implement other tech-
incorrectly or disable them completely. nologies to reduce the amount of human An HVAC system is designed to control the
Smart thermostats also record inter- error involved with using programmable environment in which it works. It achieves
nal/external temperatures, time the HVAC thermostats. Smart thermostats incorpo- this by controlling the temperature of a
system has been running and can even rate the use of sensors that determine room through heating and cooling. It also
notify you if your air filter needs to be whether or not the home is occupied and controls the humidity level in that environ-
replaced. This information is typically dis- can suspend heating or cooling until the ment by controlling the movement and dis-
played later on an internet-connected occupant returns. Additionally, smart ther- tribution of air inside the room. The system
device. mostats utilize Wi-Fi connectivity to give the also ensures cleanliness of air inside the
user access to the thermostat at all times. said environment. HVAC (Heating, Ventila-
Smart thermostats are similar to program- These additional technologies have proven tion and Air Conditioning) equipment needs
mable thermostats in the sense that they to make smart thermostats successful in a control system to regulate the operation of
a heating and/or air conditioning system.
Usually a sensing device is used to com-
pare the actual state with a target state.
Then the control system draws a conclusion
on what action has to be taken .

Central controllers and most terminal unit

controllers are programmable, meaning the
direct digital control program code may be
customized for the intended use. The pro-
gram features include time schedules,
setpoints, controllers, logic, timers, trend
logs, and alarms. The unit controllers typi-
cally have analog and digital inputs that
allow measurement of the variable (temper-
ature, humidity, or pressure) and analog
and digital outputs for control of the trans-
port medium (hot/cold water and/or steam).
Digital inputs are typically (dry) contacts
from a control device, and analog inputs are
typically a voltage or current measurement
from a variable (temperature, humidity,
Infrared heating
velocity, or pressure) sensing device. Digital

05 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

outputs are typically relay contacts used to

start and stop equipment, and analog out-
puts are typically voltage or current signals
to control the movement of the medium
(air/water/steam) control devices such as
valves, dampers, and motors.

Solar panels

The term solar panel is used colloquially for

a photo-voltaic (PV) module. A PV module is
an assembly of photo-voltaic cells mounted
in a framework for installation. Photo-voltaic
cells use sunlight as a source of energy and
generate direct current electricity. A collec-
tion of PV modules is called a PV Panel, and
a system of Panels is an Array. Arrays of a
photovoltaic system supply solar electricity
to electrical equipment. The most common Solar panels
application of solar energy collection out-
side agriculture is solar water heating sys- flexible ones based on thin-film cells are to facilitate easy weatherproof connections
tems. also available. The cells are connected elec- to the rest of the system. A USB power inter-
trically in series, one to another to a desired face can also be used. Module electrical
Photovoltaic modules use light energy (pho- voltage, and then in parallel to increase connections are made in series to achieve a
tons) from the Sun to generate electricity amperage. The wattage of the module is the desired output voltage or in parallel to pro-
through the photovoltaic effect. Most mod- mathematical product of the voltage and vide a desired current capability (amperes)
ules use wafer-based crystalline silicon the amperage of the module. of the solar panel or the PV system. The con-
cells or thin-film cells. The structural (load ducting wires that take the current off the
carrying) member of a module can be either A PV junction box is attached to the back of modules are sized according to the
the top layer or the back layer. Cells must be the solar panel and functions as its output ampacity and may contain silver, copper or
protected from mechanical damage and interface. External connections for most other non-magnetic conductive transition
moisture. Most modules are rigid, but semi- photovoltaic modules use MC4 connectors metals. Bypass diodes may be incorpo-
rated or used externally, in case of partial
module shading, to maximize the output of
module sections still illuminated. Some spe-
cial solar PV modules include concentrators
in which light is focused by lenses or mirrors
onto smaller cells. This enables the use of
cells with a high cost per unit area (such as
gallium arsenide) in a cost-effective way.

Radiator reflector

A radiator reflector is a thin sheet or foil

applied to the wall behind, and closely
spaced from, a domestic heating radiator.
The intention is to reduce heat losses into
the wall by reflecting radiant heat away from
the wall. It is a form of radiant barrier [cita-

HVAC Radiator reflector

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 06

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

tion needed] and is intended to reduce

energy losses and hence decrease fuel
expenditure. Studies based both on model-
ling and experiments have demonstrated
modest improvements in energy losses
through the walls of houses through this
method. Radiator reflectors work on a very
simple principle. Your radiator radiates heat
both into the room, and into the wall behind
it. That heat can simply be lost to the out-
side, especially if you have thin single skin
walls. Reflectors are installed behind the
radiator and help prevent that heat from
being lost by reflecting the heat back into
the room.

Wind turbine

A wind turbine, or alternatively referred to as

a wind energy converter, is a device that con-
verts the wind's kinetic energy into electrical
energy. Wind turbines are manufactured in
a wide range of vertical and horizontal axis.
The smallest turbines are used for applica-
tions such as battery charging for auxiliary Geothermal heat pump
power for boats or caravans or to power traf- fossil fuels. Turbines catch the wind's energy with their
fic warning signs. Larger turbines can be propeller-like blades, which act much like
used for making contributions to a domes- The majority of wind turbines consist of an airplane wing. When the wind blows, a
tic power supply while selling unused power three blades mounted to a tower made from pocket of low-pressure air forms on one
back to the utility supplier via the electrical tubular steel. There are less common variet- side of the blade. The low-pressure air
grid. Arrays of large turbines, known as ies with two blades, or with concrete or steel pocket then pulls the blade toward it, caus-
wind farms, are becoming an increasingly lattice towers. At 100 feet or more above the ing the rotor to turn. This is called lift. The
important source of intermittent renewable ground, the tower allows the turbine to take force of the lift is much stronger than the
energy and are used by many countries as advantage of faster wind speeds found at wind's force against the front side of the
part of a strategy to reduce their reliance on higher altitudes. blade, which is called drag. The combina-
tion of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin
like a propeller. Wind Turbines are used in a
variety of applications from harnessing off-
shore wind resources to generating elec-
tricity.

Geothermal heat pump

A geothermal heat pump (GHP) or ground

source heat pump (GSHP) is a central heat-
ing and/or cooling system that transfers
heat to or from the ground. It uses the earth
all the time, without any intermittency, as a
heat source (in the winter) or a heat sink (in
the summer). This design takes advantage
of the moderate temperatures in the ground
to boost efficiency and reduce the opera-
tional costs of heating and cooling systems,
and may be combined with solar heating to
form a geosolar system with even greater
efficiency. They are also known by other
names, including geoexchange, earth-
coupled, earth energy systems. The engi-
neering and scientific communities prefer
the terms "geoexchange" or "ground source
Wind turbine heat pumps" to avoid confusion with tradi-

07 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

tional geothermal power, which uses a high

temperature heat source to generate elec-
tricity. Ground source heat pumps harvest
heat absorbed at the Earth's surface from
solar energy. The temperature in the ground
below 6 metres (20 ft) is roughly equal to the
mean annual air temperature at that latitude
at the surface.

Geothermal heat pumps are technologies

that leverage the nearly constant tempera-
ture below the earth (regardless of the sea-
son) to heat and cool buildings. Just a few
feet under the ground, the earth has a con-
stant temperature of between 50 to 60
degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature
below the earth is warmer than the air circu-
lating above it during winter and cooler dur-
ing summer. Geothermal heat pumps are
sometimes combined with solar heating to
develop geosolar, a system with much
greater efficiency. Geothermal heat pumps Vinyl window
are known by different names such as earth advantages of vinyl windows. When it
skylights built with Tuflite polycarbonate
energy systems, ground source heat comes to vinyl windows, your options are
sheet to achieve awesome lighting effects
pumps, geoexchange and earth-coupled. not limited. They are available in many dif-
within your rooms. They can be used in com-
These names depend on the region you ferent colors, styles and sizes. You don’t
bination with steel roofing or with other
stay and field of study. Scientific and engi- have to worry about whether or not they will
polycarbonate sheets of higher density or
neering communities prefer to call them match your home. With customization
darker colours. Polycarbonates will not only
ground source heat pumps and options, they can be made to fit your home
bring maximum light inside, but will also pro-
geoexchange to alleviate confusion with perfectly. If you choose vinyl windows you
tect the harmful UV radiations. They will also
conventional geothermal power, which are well on the way toward the home you
act as light diffusers to soften the incoming
extracts hot water several feet deep into the have always dreamt of. Vinyl windows offer
sunlight and create interesting light effects.
earth for the purpose of electricity produc- many advantages, but the most attractive
tion. one might be the fact that they are so inex-
Vinyl window
pensive compared to other options. In most
Polycarbonate skylight cases, they are more affordable than wood
Vinyl is a good alternative to other types of
window materials because of its price and and aluminum windows, and they outper-
Polycarbonate has been replacing glass form those materials in key areas. Vinyl win-
energy efficiency. It’s made from a plastic
considerably because of its variety of bene- dows offer more insulation than aluminum
material called polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
fits as compared to glass. These include and are more durable than wood.
PVC has a high R-value, which means it pro-
durability, strength, impact resistance, light
vides a significant amount of insulation.
weight, fire resistance, ease of installation, Cross-linked polyethylene
Price and energy efficiency are just a few
ease of handling, etc. You too can have your
Cross-linked polyethylene, is a form of poly-
ethylene with cross-links. It is used predom-
inantly in building services pipework sys-
tems, hydronic radiant heating and cooling
systems, domestic water piping, and insu-
lation for high tension (high voltage) electri-
cal cables. It is also used for natural gas and
offshore oil applications, chemical trans-
portation, and transportation of sewage
and slurries. PEX is an alternative to polyvi-
nyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl
chloride (CPVC) or copper tubing for use as
residential water pipes.

Low-temperature impact strength, abrasion

resistance and environmental stress crack-
ing resistance can be increased signifi-
Polycarbonate skylight cantly by crosslinking, whereas hardness

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 08

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

Cross-linked polyethylene

and rigidity are somewhat reduced. PEX

does not melt any more (analogous to elas-
tomers) and is thermally resistant (over lon-
ger periods of up to 120 °C, for short periods
without electrical or mechanical load up to
250 °C). With increasing crosslinking den-
sity also the maximum shear modulus
increases (even at higher temperatures).
PEX has significantly enhanced properties
compared with ordinary PE.Crosslinking
enhances the temperature properties of the Polyisocyanurate foam board insulation
base polymer. Adequate strength to
120–150 °C is maintained and chemical sta- sionals. and a polyester-derived polyol is used in the
bility enhanced by resisting dissolution. reaction instead of a polyether polyol. The
Low temperature properties are improved. SPF seals and protects the building from resulting chemical structure is significantly
Impact and tensile strength, scratch resis- infiltration of hot air, cold air, moisture and different, with the isocyanate groups on the
tance, and resistance to brittle fracture are sound. Its R-value reduces conductive heat MDI trimmerising to form isocyanurate
enhanced. transfer and its air barrier properties help groups which the polyols link together, giv-
reduce convective heat transfer. SPF is an ing a complex polymeric structure.
Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation ideal insulation product for residential, com-
mercial, institutional, military and industrial Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) is a closed-cell,
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is an insula- buildings. Utility cost savings of 30 to 50 per- rigid foam board insulation that is bonded
tion that also functions as an air barrier and cent can be realized with SPF insulation. to facers on both sides, which are com-
depending on type, as a bulk water barrier posed of various organic and inorganic
and moisture vapor retarder. SPF is made Polyisocyanurate foam board insulation materials. Polyiso is used in roof, wall, ceil-
by reacting MDI (A-side or iso) with a polyol ing and specialty applications within com-
blend (B-side or resin). The two liquid com- Polyisocyanurate, also referred to as PIR, mercial and residential buildings of all
ponents are joined under pressure in a polyiso, or ISO, is a thermoset plastic[1] typi- types. Because of its high thermal perfor-
spray nozzle where they are applied directly cally produced as a foam and used as rigid mance, it is the product of choice for
onto wall, roof or building assembly. Once thermal insulation. The starting materials energy-aware architects, specifiers, build-
the reacting liquid hits a surface, it expands are similar to those used in polyurethane ers, building owners, contractors and con-
30 to 120X and solidifies into a foam matrix. (PUR) except that the proportion of methy- sumers.
SPF is typically applied by certified profes- lene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) is higher
House Wrap

Housewrap (or house wrap), also known by

the genericized trademark homewrap (or
home wrap), generally denotes a synthetic
material used to protect buildings.
Housewrap functions as a weather-
resistant barrier, preventing rain from get-
ting into the wall assembly while allowing
water vapor to pass to the exterior. If mois-
ture from either direction is allowed to build
up within stud or cavity walls, mold and rot
can set in and fiberglass or cellulose insula-
tion will lose its R-value due to heat-
conducting moisture. House wrap may also
serve as an air barrier if it is sealed carefully
at seams. Housewrap is a replacement for
Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation the older asphalt-treated paper, or asphalt

09 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ENERGY SAVING BUILDING STRUCTURE

saturated felt.

These materials are all lighter in weight and

usually wider than asphalt designs, so con-
tractors can apply the material much faster
to a house shell.

Cool roofs

A cool roof is one that has been designed to

reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat
than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be
made of a highly reflective type of paint, a
sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or
shingles. Nearly any type of building can
benefit from a cool roof, but consider the cli-
mate and other factors before deciding to
install one.

Just as wearing light-colored clothing can

help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool
roofs material that is designed to reflect
more sunlight and absorb less heat than a
standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a
highly reflective type of paint, a sheet cover-
ing, or highly reflective tiles or shingles.

Conclusion Cool roofs

Energy efficiency is a practice that is under- won't lose energy quality in the process. Try- allowing us to save resources without
taken with the purpose of reducing the con- ing to use alternative energy measures spending more on our electricity bill in the
sumption of energy, looking for a way that which don't harm the environment and day to day running of the household. The
search for efficiency is not just limited to
housing, but also to other types of construc-
tions, items used daily and household
appliances. It's role is essential in houses to
ensure the correct operation of heating sys-
tems and the insulation of the building. In
addition, this energy efficiency has to
ensure that all the intended objectives are
being fulfilled, maintaining the quality, pro-
ductivity and security of the people that use
this method. It has to be safe for the prop-
erty and have correct functioning to reduce
the ecological impact.

Image and info:

energysavingtrust.org.uk
internationalfinance.com
suihvac.com
singularityhub.com
myleapproject.org
wired.com
hannainc.com
tuflite.com
milgard.com
atyapi.com
roofcoatingoftexas.com
nuclear-power.net
gulnarplastics.com
House Wrap earth.com

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 10

 TYPES OF CERAMIC TILES

Different types of ceramic tiles for functional

and aesthetic performance

C
eramic tiles are extremely environment they will be in. They come in materials undergo various mechanical
versatile and they are a wide variety of different sizes and operations such as mixing, drying, and
incredibly popular with shapes, so it really depends on your per- forming to yield the ceramic tile body.
many homeowners, com- sonal liking and the kind of room you are
monly used in both bath- tiling to determine the right kind to Manufacturing of ceramic tiles
rooms and kitchens. choose. Large tiles work great as flooring
Ceramic tiles come in a wide variety of and smaller tiles make beautiful mosaic Ceramic tiles are manufactured from vari-
colours and designs, with a style to fit any designs. Using small tiles in the bathroom ous minerals and clays such as feldspar,
kind of decor. They are also incredibly or kitchen, though, requires more grout zircon, bentonite, kaolin, and clay. Raw
durable and strong, and they are espe- and that could lead to a lot more cleaning. materials undergo various mechanical
cially good floor tiles for high traffic areas operations such as mixing, drying, and
like the kitchen or entrances. Ceramic tiles is a key building material forming to yield the ceramic tile body.
used in the construction industry. They are The tile body is further heated at elevated
The main options include glazed, with an stylish, durable, and versatile. They play temperatures in order to improve the tile
extra coating and several firings, more an integral part in the décor of any space. porosity. Thus, resilient ceramic tiles are
than the other option of unglazed, which Ceramic tiles are manufactured from vari- produced. Ceramic tiles is one of the key
usually only has one firing. Ceramic tiles ous minerals and clays such as feldspar, components used in the construction
usage depends on the situation and the zircon, bentonite, kaolin, and clay. Raw industry for building interior and exterior

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 11

 TYPES OF CERAMIC TILES

floors, footpaths, swimming pools, walls,

partitions, and roofs. Ceramic tiles are
highly durable. They offer protection
from abrasion and stains and they require
less maintenance. Additionally, these tiles
are available in a wide range of sizes as
well as colors. They are available at
affordable prices. Ceramic tiles are exten-
sively employed in various concrete
structures ranging from residential houses
such as flats, apartments, villas, and bun-
galows to commercial complexes such as
hospitals, educational institutions, and air-
ports. Furthermore, these tiles are used in
the construction of industrial concrete
structures such as food processing facto-
ries and warehouses.

Different types of ceramic tiles

Vitrified tile
Porcelain tile
Vitrified tile is a ceramic tile with very quality. They are basically replacing stone Porcelain tile
low porosity. It is an alternative to marble and marble as flooring because of their
and granite flooring. Vitrified tiles are stone-like qualities, for example, consis- Porcelain tiles are commonly used to
often used outdoors due to their water and tent joint and uniform color and texture. cover floors and walls, with a water
frost resistance. There are four types of Vit- They are more durable and scratch resis- absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent.
rified tiles - Soluble salt, Double charge, tant. The clay used to build porcelain tiles is
Full Body, Glazed. Vitrified tile is made generally denser. They can either be
by hydraulic pressing a mixture of clay, Vitrified tiles are consistent in sizes, glazed or unglazed. Porcelain tiles are one
quartz, feldspar and silica, which make vit- shades and thickness. They are easier to type of vitrified tiles, and are sometimes
reous surfaces. Thus creating a single install and need practically no setting time referred to as porcelain vitrified tiles. His-
mass making them hard with low porosity. or polishing after laying. Therefore they torically, porcelain was not the usual mate-
Different clay bodies reach vitrification at can be used within 48 hours after laying. rial for tiles, which were much more often
different temperatures. Due to moisture resistant, vitrified tiles made of earthenware (terracotta) or stone-
prevent bacteria and fungi from growing. ware. The first porcelain tiles were made
These tiles are minimized, scratch and cor- The effect of sunlight neither alters the col- in China, for example in the 15th-century
rosive safe and have better mechanical our of the tiles nor causes them to fade. Porcelain Tower of Nanjing (now largely
destroyed). Here the tiles were used for
walls, which long remained typical. In
Europe, a few rooms were made in pal-
aces of porcelain plaques, often with
forms in high relief. Although porcelain
has now been widely used for making tiles
for many years, modern production meth-
ods and quantities have made porcelain
tiles available for the average householder
in recent years.

Porcelain is much harder than ordinary

ceramic tiles and is usually selected,
despite its higher price, for its hard wear-
ing nature. Porcelain can be used in both
wet and dry areas such as bathrooms,
showers and kitchens. The dense, hard sur-
face of porcelain has made polishing a via-
ble alternative to a glazed surface. This
means that a tile can be fired, then a polish
Vitrified tile cut into the surface, creating a shine with-

12 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 TYPES OF CERAMIC TILES

out a glaze. These Versatile tiles accom-

pany a plain, unpleasant, or cleaned com-
plete and can be utilized as a part of
insides and are a superb choice for open
air conditions as they don't wear easily
under heavy traffic.

Mosaic tile

Mosaic tile is any combination of materi-

als such as glass, ceramic, porcelain or
stone, usually set in a small format and set
on a mesh sheet for easy installation.
Mosaics can be used several different
ways to really bring that “wow” factor to
your bathroom. A linear glass mosaic run-
ning vertically floor to ceiling can add a
stunning waterfall effect. Conversely, a
mosaic running horizontally in a shower,
or in the back of a niche, could bring in
that subtle pop of needed color. These are
small tiles, around .75 inches to 1 inch in
estimate mounted on paper sheets or latex
work for simple establishment. These tiles
can be ceramic, porcelain or glass and are
most reasonable on walls, bended sur-
faces as paintings, in water pools, and low
Glazed tiles
activity floors. They don't chip effectively
and because of various grout joints are origin can be traced back to the Roman original appearance to houses. Mosaic
slip safe as well. and Greek times. However, they have tiles are available in various different
evolved with time and are now available types such as ceramic mosaic, organic
Mosaic Tiles are one of the most popular in various different designs and patterns. tiles, creative tiles, glass mosaics etc.
and widely used tiles in the market. Their These tiles are used to give a beautiful and which can be used for different purposes.

Mosaics are perfect to use as a backsplash

in full, or as an accent with ceramic or
stone subway style tile. Small or larger for-
mat mosaic tiles used as an entire back-
splash are a great way to add dimension
and character to a kitchen. It's also a good
way to ground all of the various colors and
finishes in a kitchen and surrounding
rooms. If the countertop wants to be the
main focus of the space, you can either use
a few inches of mosaic at the base of the
backsplash and then transition into a stone
or ceramic tile above, or you can simply
break up a mosaic sheet and add one deco-
rative strip as an elegant design element.

Glazed tiles

The glazed ceramic tiles have a liquid

glass coating on the surface. The liquid
glass coating creates the texture, design,
and color of a glazed tile and protects the
body of the tile from staining. Due to this
extra layer, custom tile designs can be
added to them. This allows the floor tiles
Mosaic tile

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 13

 TYPES OF CERAMIC TILES

designs to be available in multiple colors. Quarry tile porous properties.

Due to their vibrant allure, there are
mostly used as floor tiles for kitchen and Quarry tile is a hard, impervious paving Quarry tile is a building construction mate-
bathroom walls. tile made from the ground minerals rial, usually 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 inch (13 to 19 mm)
formed and fired in much the same way as thick, made by either the extrusion pro-
These non permeable, smooth surface is used to make brick. They are typically cess or more commonly by press forming
tiles are stain proof, most reasonable for harder than ordinary clay bricks, due to and firing natural clay or shales. Quarry
low traffic areas, walls and countertops. the minerals used and the high firing tem- tile is manufactured from clay in a manner
The large configuration glazed tiles with peratures. Unlike clay terracotta, quarry similar to bricks.[3] It is shaped from clay,
satin complete are very mainstream nowa- tiles are not porous and will resist water; and fired at a high temperature, ~2,000 F°.
days. When it comes to the glaze itself, dif- and unlike ceramic tile and porcelain, For floors, quarry tile is usually set in a
ferent options are available and will quarry tile does not have a surface glaze thick bed of cementitious mortar. For wall
impact the degree of durability. Some vari- layer. applications, it can be set in either a thick
eties of glazed tile are fired at higher tem- bed of cementitious mortar or a thin bed of
peratures than others, and therefore are Quarry tile is extensively used for floors mastic. For both floors and walls, the
harder as well. This can often be deter- where a very durable material is required. joints between tiles are usually grouted
mined by how light or dark the glaze is, It can be used either indoors or outdoors, with cementitious grout. Grout joints are
with lighter glazes generally being harder although freeze-resistant grades of tile traditionally about 3⁄8 inch in width.
than darker glazes. should be used outdoors in climates where Matching trim shapes such as coves,
freeze-thaw action occurs. Quarry tile is bases, shoes, and bullnoses are available
Then there is the issue of gloss: matte and used less often as a wall finish and is occa- to turn corners and terminate runs of the
satin finishes are generally harder than sionally used for countertops, although tile.
shiny finishes. As always, it's a good idea the wide grout joints can make cleaning of
to try and strike a balance between practi- countertops difficult. Most commercial Terracotta tile
cality and decorative taste when choosing kitchens require a quarry tile to be used
your glazed ceramic and porcelain tile. because of its slip resistant and non- Terracotta translates from Italian as

Quarry tile

14 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 TYPES OF CERAMIC TILES

Terracotta tile

"baked earth," and as a category of porous, so it is not a good choice for wet In terms of applications, the ceramic tile
ceramic tile, it refers to tiles created from areas or areas prone to stains, such as bath- market has been segmented into a substi-
a particularly porous and easily shaped rooms and kitchen. These handmade tute for housing, commercial, new hous-
clay with a high iron content that gives the assembled or machine made tiles are regu- ing, and industry. Ceramic tiles are very
tiles their characteristic reddish/brown larly used as rooftop tiles, they highlight a used in housing replacement activities
color. Terracotta is fired at a relatively low natural look and remain cool in summers throughout the world. Therefore, the hous-
temperature (600 to 1,000 degrees Fahr- and warm in winters however unglazed ing replacement segment is projected to
enheit), and its surface remains quite Terracotta tiles require a layer of sealer dominate the global ceramic tile market
porous unless it is glazed. Terracotta tile is consistently. during the forecast period. Increased
readily available and less expensive than activity in new housing is expected to
many other forms of ceramic. Its popular- Conclusion drive demand for ceramic tiles in the new
ity stems largely from its attractive natural housing segment in the near future. The
colors, which are the very epitome of Key factors driving the demand for commercial segment (which includes
earth-tones. ceramic tiles in the region include office and sports complexes) is expected
increases in consumer income, popula- to grow significantly during the forecast
Terracotta tiles are sometimes categorized tion growth, increased government initia- period, due to future projects in the global
as high-density or low-density materials, tives for infrastructure development, and building & construction industry.
though it is the "high density" label that is collaboration with foreign investors. The
more often touted by manufacturers. increasing number of new construction Source
High-density terracotta will be more sites and increased renovation activities
resistant to cracking and is a better choice are the main drivers of the ceramic tile property24.com, mytyles.com,
for heavy-use areas. Low-density market in Asia Pacific. Resistant to stains, t h e s p r u c e . c o m , k a a m a r. c o m ,
terracotta is usually a bargain material water and chemicals; Ceramic tiles are medium.com, designingbuildings.co.uk,
that may not hold up well under heavy often used in the construction of residen- doityourself.com
use. Low-density terracotta also is more tial and commercial buildings.

April 2020 • Constrofacilitator 15

 BAMBOO IN MODERN DESIGNS

Innovative Applications of
Bamboo in Modern Designs

Shamanth Kumar M
Project Engineer and
Manager of Design Services
Salarpuria Sattva Group

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 16

 ADVANTAGE IN HIGH RISE BUILDING

I
n the traditional economic devel- have developed very rapidly, and bamboo culture itself when developing
opment model, people's produc- formed a bamboo product industry bamboo products, which lead to the
tion and life of material products chain. However, there are still many low added value of bamboo products
are high consumption and high problems in the bamboo products and cannot, form well-known brands.
elimination. For example, the mis- industry.
sion of a product is: the original mining BENEFITS OF BAMBOO
- production processing - consumption Ÿ Fading traditional handicraft
- scrap this model leads to a large There are a lot of benefits of bamboo.
amount of natural resources consump- Bamboo products manufactured by tra- First of all, it is a natural anti-bacterial
tion and waste. Now with the shortage ditional handicrafts have not been able that will help to the children or people
of resources, all countries in the world to meet the aesthetic requirements of who cannot be in contact with bacteria
are aware of the problems in the tradi- modern people. Even if some bamboo because of the fear of sickness. Another
tional economic development model products are very popular, the produc- great feature of bamboo is that it is
and are pursuing the path of sustain- tion efficiency of handicraft manufac- water resistant, which makes it a better
able development. And now the turing is relatively large and cannot choice than many other hardwood
human life situation brought about by meet the market demand. Therefore, floors that can stain or deteriorate
the development of industrialization the market for bamboo products manu- when any kind of moisture gets in con-
has begun to produce ambivalence. factured by traditional handicrafts is tact. It is also an extremely durable
The human lifestyle is very comfortable sluggish, and traditional handicrafts piece of material that is easy to move,
and convenient under the promotion of are also facing a loss. yet still hard enough to provide you
science and technology, but many peo- with great flooring.
ple are eager to return to the original Ÿ Insufficient product innovation
simple life. Luckily, the harvesting of bamboo is
With the development of technical also sustainable for the earth. The bam-
DEVELOPMENT STATUS OF BAMBOO means, large-scale mass production of boo tree (or grass) is grown in abun-
PRODUCTS bamboo products can now be carried dance in many parts of the world. In
out, but the style of bamboo products some cases, it is even problematic for
China's bamboo resources are very rich, in the market is single and the products landowners because they are unable to
and China has a long history of bamboo lack innovation. Moreover, bamboo access all of their land. In any case, the
product processing. We can see more products processing enterprises also bamboo is a material that is perfect for
from books or screens, and our ances- lack the concept of bamboo products sustainable construction. They can
tors invented bamboo slip books dur- innovation. offer great quality hardwood floors,
ing the Yin Shang period. Nowadays, but they do not cost a lot to the envi-
with the change of people's life con- Ÿ Missing product brand ronment at all.
cept, bamboo products have come
back to people's lives, and the develop- Many bamboo product processing The bamboo is also a great anti-
ment and sales of bamboo products enterprises neglect the connotation of bacterial and it is also water resistant.
Both of these features make it a supe-
rior product to many of the other hard-
woods that are used today. Many of the
rare trees that are used for wood floor-
ing are unable to regenerate in the way
that bamboo has. If you want to
change the world and provide yourself
with a sustainable home, then bamboo
flooring is one great way to go.

CHARACTERISTICS AND VALUES OF

BAMBOO MATERIALS

Characteristics of bamboo material

Bamboo is one of the most important

nature's substitute for the endangered
Fig 1: Bamboo floor rainforest hardwoods. It is a quick-

17 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ADVANTAGE IN HIGH RISE BUILDING

growing, versatile, non-timber forest Some of the characteristics of bamboo INNOVATION METHOD OF BAMBOO
product whose rate of biomass genera- are listed below: PRODUCT DESIGN
tion is unsurpassed by any other plants.
With a 10-30 % annual increase in bio- Ø an effective erosion control plant Improve the style of bamboo prod-
mass versus 2-5 % for trees, bamboo and natural control barrier due to ucts with modern styling concept
creates greater yields of raw material its widespread root system and
for use. It is utilized extensively for a large canopy. Nowadays, the style of bamboo prod-
wide range of purposes. The strength Ø reduces runoff, prevents massive ucts can no longer meet the aesthetic
of the columns, their straightness, soil erosion. concept of modern people. Therefore,
smoothness, lightness combined with Ø keeps twice so much water in the based on the preservation of traditional
hardness and greater hollowness; the watershed. handicrafts, combined with the design
facility and regularity with which they Ø sustains riverbanks. concept of modern people, the style of
can be split; the different sizes, various Ø protects surrounding environ- bamboo products is innovative. When
lengths and thickness of their joints ment during typhoons due to its designing bamboo products, you can
make them suitable for numerous end height. add the current fashion styling tech-
products/purposes. The versatility of Ø regenerates and resilient even niques, such as adjusting the overall
bamboo outmatches most tree species. after strong typhoons. proportion of the product, changing
It is known to be a natural and excellent Ø helps mitigate water pollution the gap between the bamboo pieces
raw material for manufacturing strong due to its high nitrogen consump- and the details of the bamboo joints to
and sturdy furniture, handicrafts, and tion. reflect the rhythm and rhythm of mod-
novelty items. Ø minimizes CO2 gases (sequesters ern atmosphere.
up to 12 tons of CO2 from the air
Bamboo is extremely strong whilst per hectare). Figure 2 shows the ponytail bamboo
remaining flexible meaning it is often Ø generates up to 35% more oxygen vase flower room flower decoration
used as a building material and in the then equivalent stand of trees. and the tea ceremony Zen bamboo
making of furniture. As it doesn't soak flower arrangement designed by the
up water, it is an ideal fibre for bath- Bamboo is an important component of "Nature House". In this product, the
room wares. Bamboo is also one of the development wherein all types of peo- designer uses the traditional crafts-
fastest growing plants in the world with ple have adequate access to. It requires manship, but uses modern styling meth-
bamboo stems emerging from the little attention during its grow- ods in the shape of the product to make
ground in reaching their full height in a ing/production cycle and can occupy the product simple and clear, and visu-
single growing season of around three the same ecological niche as that of ally highly ornamental.
to four months. This makes bamboo trees. It is well suited for agroforestry
highly sustainable as once it has been and healthy ecosystems. It requires only Enhance the value of bamboo prod-
cut down it grows back readily. In a modest capital investment to gener- ucts with modern design concepts
recent years, bamboo has also been ate a steady income. Around the globe,
used in the manufacture of textiles with a lot of individuals and communities are In ancient China, bamboo products
cloth, yarn and clothing made of bam- dependent on bamboo for their subsis- were applied to clothing, food, hous-
boo fibers. tence, shelter, and every-day utilities. ing, travel, and musical 888 instru-
ments. However, the development of
society and economy was backward.
Bamboo products at that time could
meet the needs of people's material and
spiritual life. For example, you can
punch the flute and Xiao on the bam-
boo and the sound is very pleasant.
However, with the progress of society,
the human lifestyle has undergone
earth-shaking changes, and the diver-
sity of life has changed. The functions
of traditional bamboo products can no
longer meet the needs of modern peo-
ple. Therefore, when designing bam-
boo products, we should study the
Figure 2: Bamboo products designed by Nature House material needs and spiritual needs of

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 18

 ADVANTAGE IN HIGH RISE BUILDING

modern people based on the needs of

human life, develop bamboo products
that meet the functions of modern peo-
ple, form different types of bamboo
products, and improve bamboo prod-
ucts. For example, under the premise of
retaining the characteristics of bam-
boo, the bamboo spirit's spiritual con-
notation and use function can be fully
utilized to develop household items
with useful value. Figure 4: Bamboo products produced by pressing technology

As shown in Figure 3, the bamboo prod-

ucts designed for “Bamboo Art” are
pen-stands and floating lights pocket
made of bamboo. The design of the
floating lights pocket is very clever. It
makes full use of the bamboo's raised
parts of the bamboo, and retains the
colour and texture of the bamboo itself.
It looks very beautiful and can be used
as a craft ornament for people to enjoy.
The practicality also reflects the Chinese
culture. The other one is a pen-stand of
bamboo. It looks very intuitive and sim-
ple.

Apply modern manufacturing tech-

niques to bamboo products
Figure 5 Laptop with bamboo surface and computer keyboard with bamboo case
The use of modern manufacturing
technology rapid prototyping of the product can the application of pressing technology
effectively improve the production effi- as shown in figure 4. As shown in the
The traditional bamboo products ciency of the product and realize the figure 4, this bamboo product is a
adopt traditional hand-made technol- mass production of the product. shape in which a large bamboo piece is
ogy, the production efficiency is rela- pressed, and the texture inside the bam-
tively low, and the traditional manual Moreover, the pressing and splicing boo material is preserved, and a very
processing techniques are relatively techniques in modern processing tech- beautiful craft ornament.
backward, and the bamboo structure nology can be applied to create the
cannot be made a big breakthrough. If shape and shape of products that are Application of surface treatment
modern production technology is difficult to manufacture by traditional technology
applied in the production process of manual processes, which provides a
bamboo products, the bamboo can be technical basis for the development of The aesthetic design of many modern
quickly cut and processed, and the new bamboo product styles, such as products uses a rich surface treatment
process. Surface treatment processes
include spraying, laser engraving, ther-
mal transfer, wire drawing, sand blast-
ing, water transfer, etc.

Figure 5 shows a laptop computer pro-

duced by Apple. These processes are
applied to the surface treatment of the
product to give the product a wonder-
ful visual effect. For example, the
Figure 3: Bamboo products designed by Bamboo Art release of Xiaomi mobile phone 5, the

19 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 ADVANTAGE IN HIGH RISE BUILDING

frame of this millet phone has experi- TYPICAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE CONSTRUCTED USING BAMBOO
enced 193 processing steps, a steel
plate from the beginning of forging
melding, 8 times control machine pre-
cision machining, to micro-scale sand-
blasting process, vacuum coating
colouring and Nano The level of anti-
fingerprint coating and other pro-
cesses, and finally the current visual
effects, I have to say that the metal
frame of the Xiaomi phone 5 is really
beautiful. Although these surface pre-
treatment processes are mainly applied Figure 7: Bamboo Symphony Project, Manasaram Architects
to the surface treatment of metal prod-
ucts, this technology can also be
applied to the processing of bamboo
products, so that bamboo products can
also display good visual effects.

APPLICATION OF CONNECTION
TECHNOLOGY

If the product is designed with a single

material, the visual effect of the prod-
uct will be greatly 890 reduced, causing
visual fatigue. If the different materials
can be connected to each other to form
a visual difference, the visual apprecia-
tion of the product can be effectively
Figure 8: Dezeen's Top 10 Bamboo Architectural Projects
improved. Nowadays, China's splicing
technology is very perfect, and bamboo Discussion The government should have a policy to
materials can be connected with mod- support bamboo farmers, prioritizing
ern metal, plastic, ceramic, glass and Always cooperate and develop national the development of ecological projects
other materials to highlight the texture and international projects on the appli- in rural areas. In addition, the state
of different materials. Figure 6 shows cation of bamboo in building. Research should also have policies to support
the glasses with a bamboo frame. It can themes should be developed to companies producing and exporting
be seen from the figure that the effec- develop specific standards and regula- furniture and handicrafts.
tive splicing of the bamboo material tions for the sustainable development
and the glass material, the surface of green architecture. Raise awareness Conclusion
treatment of the bamboo material, and and promote the role of contractors,
the natural texture of the bamboo mate- designers, investors in the application This article mainly analyzes the current
rial itself can effectively highlight the of bamboo materials in the design. status of bamboo products and the
unique charm of the bamboo material. innovative methods of bamboo prod-
ucts. It is pointed out that bamboo
products should be designed with mod-
ern aesthetic concepts in mind. On the
basis of retaining traditional techniques
during processing, modern processing
techniques and surface treatment tech-
niques can be used to make bamboo
products in the new era not only meet
the needs of people's lives, but also
have Very good visual effect. This article
provides some references for the inno-
Figure 6: The glasses with bamboo vative design of bamboo products.

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 20

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

Different types
of paints used
in construction

P
aint is the gen- these two. Many types of paint are best Paint is used to protect all sorts of
eral term for liq- if they are put on in several layers. The buildings and structures from the
uid that is used painter must first prepare the surface effects of water and sun. Wooden
to add colour to so it is smooth, clean and dry. The first buildings such as houses are usually
the surface of layer of paint is often an "undercoat" or painted because a coat of paint pre-
an object by "ground" which is smooth and sticks vents water seeping into the wood and
covering it with very well. The coloured paints are put making it rot. The paint also helps to
a pigmented on over the top. A house-painter who is prevent the wood from drying out in the
coating. As a using oil paint on a wooden window hot sun. Metal structures and objects
verb, painting frame might use three layers of paint to of all sorts are painted to stop them
means "applying paint" . Someone who give very good protection from the from rusting. A very large steel struc-
paints is called a painter. Paint must be weather. Other types of modern house ture such as a bridge must have a team
allowed to dry. Some paints such as paint only need one layer, particularly of painters who keep the paint in good
watercolour, dries in a few minutes. on the inside. Artists using oil paint and condition all the time.
Other paints, such as artist's oil paint, tempera often use many layers to get
can take days or even weeks to dry. just the right effect. As paint is exposed to harsh weather, it
Most other types of paints fit between gradually gets thinner, depleting the

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 21

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

gloss within paint Once the gloss is Ÿ Resistance to impact

gone, the paint will not be able to reflect Ÿ Retention of color and gloss
UV rays from the sun, and will deterio- Ÿ Resistance to scrubbing/washing
rate further resulting in peeling and
bare spots. Color changes can also Different types of paints for your struc-
take place with exterior paint as it grad- ture protection
ually loses its gloss, resulting in a pow-
dery finish, known as chalking. Once Oil paint
paint reaches this state, it is visually
unappealing and must be repainted. Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint
that consists of particles of pigment
Interior paints are another story. suspended in a drying oil, commonly
Because they are not exposed to the linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint
same weather conditions as exterior may be modified by the addition of a
paints, high quality interior paints will solvent such as turpentine or white
last for years. If you are concerned spirit, and varnish may be added to
about high traffic areas and an increase the glossiness of the dried oil
increase in durability, talk with us about paint film. Oil paints have been used in
specific finishes that will be helpful. Europe since the 12th century for sim-
ple decoration, but were not widely
So how to judge a painting? adopted as an artistic medium until the
early 15th century. Common modern rate of process can be very slow,
Painting is normally carried out for the applications of oil paint are in finishing depending on the oil. The advantage of
following reasons: and protection of wood in buildings the slow-drying quality of oil paint is
Ÿ Protecting surfaces from insects, and exposed metal structures such as that an artist can develop a painting
rain, solar radiation and other ships and bridges. Its hard-wearing gradually. Earlier media such as egg
external factors properties and luminous colors make it tempera dried quickly, which pre-
Ÿ S i m p l e r m a i n t e n a n c e : We l l desirable for both interior and exterior vented the artist from making changes
painted surfaces are easier to use on wood and metal. Due to its or corrections. With oil-based paints,
keep clean and safe slow-drying properties, it has recently revising was comparatively easy. The
Ÿ Increasing the visual appeal of a been used in paint-on-glass animation. disadvantage is that a painting might
surface Thickness of coat has considerable take months or years to finish, which
Ÿ Waterproofing bearing on time required for drying: thin might disappoint an anxious patron. Oil
Ÿ Increasing surface durability coats of oil paint dry relatively quickly. paints blend well with each other, mak-
Ÿ Resistance to abrasion ing subtle variations of color possible
Ÿ Resistance to fading Traditional oil paints require an oil that as well as creating many details of light
always hardens, forming a stable, and shadow. Oil paints can be diluted
impermeable film. Such oils are called with turpentine or other thinning
siccative, or drying, oils, and are char- agents, which artists take advantage to
acterized by high levels of polyunsatu- paint in layers.
rated fatty acids. One common mea-
sure of the siccative property of oils is Enamel paint
iodine number, the number of grams of
iodine one hundred grams of oil can Enamel paint is paint that air-dries to a
absorb. Oils with an iodine number hard, usually glossy, finish, used for
greater than 130 are considered dry- coating surfaces that are outdoors or
ing, those with an iodine number of otherwise subject to hard wear or varia-
115-130 are semi-drying, and those tions in temperature; it should not be
with an iodine number of less than 115 confused with decorated objects in
are non-drying. Linseed oil, the most "painted enamel", where vitreous
prevalent vehicle for artists' oil paints, is enamel is applied with brushes and
a drying oil. When exposed to air, oils fired in a kiln. The name is something of
do not undergo the same evaporative a misnomer, as in reality, most com-
process that water does. Instead, they mercially available enamel paints are
polymerize into a dry semisolid. This significantly softer than either vitreous

22 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

surface. Any paint needs an adhesive

which sticks to the surface. Acrylic
resin in this paint sticks to the surface
and holds the other ingredients in
place after drying. A paint contains Pig-
ments, (which give the colour and pro-
tection from UV light to it), Solvents
(which either dissolve some portion or
improve the flow of paint) and finally var-
ious Additives (like anti skinning agent,
anti-settling agents and surface active
agents.)
enamel or stoved synthetic resins, and industry". Nitro-cellulose enamels are
are totally different in composition; vit- also commonly known as modern lac- An emulsion is a stable suspension of
reous enamel is applied as a powder or quers. an oil phase in a water phase. We know
paste and then fired at high tempera- that oils and water do not mix. So
ture. There is no generally accepted Emulsion paint some surface active agents are added
definition or standard for use of the to improve the stability of the suspen-
term enamel paint, and not all enamel- Emulsion paint consists of tiny polymer sion of oil in water. In the case of acrylic
type paints may use it. Typically the particles within which the pigments are paints, the acrylic resin (Oily Phase),
term "enamel paint" is used to describe trapped. The particles are suspended along with the finely ground pigments
oil-based covering products, usually in water, then as the paint dries the par- embodied in it, are kept in a suspen-
with a significant amount of gloss in ticles fuse together creating a film of sion of water. For this purpose some
them, however recently many latex or paint on the wall. Once this happens special surface active agents are used
water-based paints have adopted the the polymer can't be resuspended in which are called Emulsifiers.
term as well. The term today means water, which is why you can't wash a
"hard surfaced paint" and usually is in water-based emulsion paint back off When this paint is applied on a surface,
reference to paint brands of higher qual- the wall once it has dried. the water evaporates leaving the oily
ity, floor coatings of a high gloss finish, acrylic resin on the surface. The drying
or spray paints. Most enamel paints are An emulsion paint has acrylic resin, of acrylic paint could be either by evap-
alkyd resin based. Some enamel (other resins too like SB-Latex, Poly oration of solvents alone in the case of
paints have been made by adding var- Vinyl Acetate etc) in an emulsion form, a thermoplastic acrylic resin. However
nish to oil-based paint. acting as a binder or adhesive on the the modern technology has introduced

Enamels paints can also refer to nitro-

cellulose based paints, one of the first
modern commercial paints of the 20th
century. They have since been super-
seded by new synthetic coatings like
alkyd, acrylic and vinyl, due to toxicity,
safety, and conservation (tendency to
age yellow) concerns. Art has been
used also by Pollock with the commer-
cial paint named Duco. The artist
experimented and created many types
of commercial or house paints during
his career. Other artists: "after discover-
ing various types of industrial materials
produced in the United States in the
1930s, Siqueiros' produced most of his
easel works with uncommon materials
which include Duco paint, a DuPont
brand name for pyroxylin paint, a tough
and resilient type of nitro-cellulose
paint manufactured for the automotive

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 23

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

self cross linking acrylic polymers and

also cross linking agents to dry the
acrylic resin into a 3D network. This
results in the cross linking of the acrylic
binder, thus leaving a strong and
scratch proof coat of paint. The acrylic
emulsion has more than 50% of water
in it and it is further diluted to give it a
better flow. With so much water in it, it
is imperative that the water should go
out of the system faster, once applied.
If the water remains for a long period,
the paint may not dry, may sag or the
acrylic resin will not be exposed for
cross linking. So the best surface
suited for it is the walls and panels Cement paint is mostly used to cover mineral spirit or naphtha. Bitumen is
which have Cement or Plaster of Paris. those surfaces that are subjected to fre- also known as asphalt which is a sticky,
The cement surface is porous and quent weather changes and heavy black, and highly viscous liquid or
absorbs the water fast. Hence mostly it use. This shows the popularity of this semi-solid form of petroleum. A bitumi-
has been applied on walls or cement product, which comes in different nous coating is a type of coating used
panel boards. types. While epoxy concrete paint is to build a vapor-proof and flexible pro-
preferred for surfaces, like garage tective coat in accordance with its for-
Cement Paint floors; another type named silacote is mulation and polymerization grade. A
recommended for newly constructed bituminous coating's flexibility and pro-
Cement paint is water based paint. It is surfaces that are not painted. Epoxy tection against vapor and water can be
an economical exterior and Interior wall cement paints are useful in preventing influenced by the polymer grade as
finish. Cement Paint is otherwise oil and grease stains, whereas silacote well as reinforcement of fiber.
known as concrete paint, cement paint is claimed to form a special bond with
is durable and water resistant. The concrete. However, silacote is not usu- The most common applications of a
main ingredients of the paint are white ally used for floors. bituminous coating include areas that
Portland cement, lime, and some pig- are beneath screed wet. It is an excel-
ments. Apart from that, this paint con- In case of concrete basement flooring, lent protective coating and waterproof-
tains water repellents, fungicides, fill- another type of cement paint, named ing agent, especially on surfaces such
ers, and accelerators. It comes in the deckote is mostly preferred. This is as concrete foundations.
form of a white powder that is mixed because, deckote is found to be resis-
with water, before application. tant to abrasion, and is ideal as a con- A bituminous coating can be used both
crete floor paint. Cement paint is avail- externally and internally on carbon
It is mainly used to decorate exterior sur- able in different colors. As far as the col- steel pipes. It is usually black, and
faces, but can also be used for interior ors are concerned, it has been when applied properly, the bituminous
decor. Apart from enhancing the looks, observed that shades of dark colors, coating offers outstanding cathodic
this paint is also useful for covering up like gray and brown, are commonly protection needed for almost all struc-
stains. Cement or concrete paint is used. tural steel pipes situated underground.
used extensively for patios, garages,
driveways, sidewalks, and concrete fur- Bituminous paint A bituminous coating is regarded as
niture. Even the exterior surfaces of one of the least expensive ways to pro-
huge industrial buildings are found to Bituminous paints are made of bitu- vide cathodic protection to pipes. It is
be coated with this paint. men or coal tar which is dissolved in also the least complex coating pro-
cess, making it suitable for casing
pipes like in road bore.

Bituminous coatings are mainly com-

posed of hydrocarbon molecules.
Such molecules are elongated, making
movement difficult. Therefore, bitumen
is solid especially at ambient settings.

24 Constrofacilitator • April 2020

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

prevention, water resistance and good

impact resistance. It is a cheap and
long lasting corrosion protection.

Anti corrosive Paints are applied on

metallic surfaces. It is also applied on
ferrous metal, cast iron and steel sur-
faces. Anti corrosive paints are used for
preservation of structural steel work
against acid fumes and adverse
weather conditions. It protects the
metal components against degrada-
However, it flows very slowly and is very helps the paint to flow and gives it dura- tion due to moisture, salt spray, oxida-
viscous. bility and strength. The aluminum tion or exposure to various weather con-
flakes produce a shiny metallic finish. ditions and industrial chemicals. In
Almost all bituminous coatings are houses, they are used for painting steel
ready to use and free from solvent. Most manufacturers only produce one roof trusses or M.S. railings for stair-
These are chemical- and UV-resistant, shade of aluminum-based paint, one cases, door frames, balconies, window
making them reliable protective coat- with a silvery finish. Some also add dif- grills, compound gates and so on.
ings against wear and corrosion. It can ferent pigments to produce other paint
be applied through various methods shades. Oxidation causes the finishes Rubber paint
using a roller, brush or sprayer. to darken over time irrespective of the
colors used. Rubber paints form a flexible coating
It works impressively in waterproofing that provides durability and protection
surfaces, especially on surfaces that This paint is used on a variety of materi- from moisture, extreme temperatures,
are in direct contact with seepage als: metals, wood, and masonry. This chemicals, sunlight, rust and impact. It
water, moisture and non-pressurized paint can be easily brushed, rolled or also offers insulation against vibrations
liquid or water. sprayed onto the surface. It is suitable and reduces noise. Rubber paint is
for both indoor and outdoor painting. used in a variety of applications and
Aluminum paint can be applied to wood, metal, con-
Anti corrosive paint crete, fiberglass and plastic surfaces.
Aluminum paint refers to a paint that is Available in different colors, rubber
solvent-based and filled with aluminum Anti corrosive paint is a composition of paint may be applied by brush, roller or
flake. It is a protective metallic finish corrosion resistant pigments such as spray.
used on well-prepared metal surfaces zinc chromate, lead chromate, zinc
like storage tanks, roofs and pipework. oxide, zinc dust, zinc chromate, or red Specific uses include waterproofing
This paint can withstand temperatures lead. Linseed oil is used as a binder in decks, roof tiles and gutters, lining
up to 302°F (150°C). It is a good heat the anti corrosive paint. swimming pools, fish ponds, wooden
and light reflector as well as it resists or concrete water tanks, protecting
water permeability. Anti corrosive paints should have quick mounting brackets, clutch and brake
drying and hardening properties. It has levers, metal studs, rocker panels and
Aluminum paint produces a genuine good abrasion resistance, good rust plastic fenders, and re-coating tool han-
aluminum finish and it is highly resis-
tant to rust and corrosion. It is very suit-
able for restoring old or rusted alumi-
num or steel objects in industrial areas.
It is often used for coating industrial
equipment and corrugated sheets in
industrial areas.

Aluminum paint is one kind of coating

paint produced from aluminum paste
and a film-forming vehicle (e.g., var-
nish). It consists of both a resin base
and solid flecks of aluminum. The resin

Constrofacilitator • April 2020 25

 PAINTS IN CONSTRUCTION

dles. mers. tor). Mineral silicate paint coats are con-

sidered durable and weather resistant.
Cellulose paint Furthermore, they are highly resistant Lifetimes exceeding a hundred years
to low-temperature, dirt-pick up resis- are possible.
Cellulose paint is produced from cellu- tance, resistant to tear, and low water
loid sheets, amyl acetate and photo- absorption capability. So emulsion Casein paint
graphic films. Adhesion can be paint selection is a tricky task for long
improved by adding castor oil, and sur- lasting protection. Plastic emulsion Casein paint has been used since
faces can be easily cleaned and paint is water-based acrylic wall paint ancient Egyptian times as a form of dis-
washed once the paint has dried. This and well known for its smooth type of temper paint, and is still used today.
type of paint is characterized by its finish which adds high washability prop- One of the qualities that artists value
quick drying, smooth finish and hard- erties in addition to non-objectionable casein paint for is that, unlike gouache,
ness, while offering resistance to water, odor, humidity resistant as well. Plastic it dries to an even consistency, making
smoke and acids. Thanks to its proper- paint is mostly used in high-class areas it ideal for murals. Also, visually it can
ties, cellulose paint is commonly used including auditoriums, showrooms, the- resemble oil painting more than most
in cars and airplanes. aters etc. other water-based paints, and works
well as an underpainting. Casein paint
Cellulose paints with plastic surfaces, Silicate paint loses its solubility with time and expo-
as in larger quantities with longer expo- sure and becomes water-resistant. It is
sure, this paint can actually cause plas- Silicate paints are inorganic zinc-rich suited most to inflexible surfaces,
tic to melt. However when applied as paints that have high content of zinc including furniture. It can be buffed to a
outlined above the paint dries before present in them and are non- soft velvet finish when dry, or varnished
any damage can be done to the under- flammable. The silicate present in for a gloss finish.
lying plastic, enabling the advantages these paints acts as a mineral binding
of Cellulose paints to be enjoyed on agent, imparting these paints with a It generally has a glue-like consistency,
this material. strong long-lasting bond with the sub- but can be thinned with water to the
strate material. Such paints are consid- degree that fits a particular artist's style
Plastic paint ered to be environmentally friendly, and desired result. It can be used on
durable and weather resistant. canvas panels, illustration boards,
In some countries paints based on paper, wood and masonite. Because
water-based emulsion polymers Unlike the usual coating materials, the dried paint film is inflexible and brit-
(mostly acrylates) are named as plastic there is no film formation on the sub- tle, it is not appropriate for heavy
paints or latex paint. This is because strate material because these paints impasto on flexible supports such as
the polymer in the emulsion is thermo- make a bond directly with the substrate canvas. Canvas laminated to board is
plastics (melts with heating), different materials. The result is a highly stable, more suitable. Casein paint is
from paints based on thermosetting light, fast and durable coating, with par- reworkable and can be used for
polymers, such as alkyd resins, polyes- ticularly convincing long-lasting color underpainting. It generally dries to a
ter (unsaturated), and epoxy resins. and natural effect. Silicate paint is also matte finish.
While plastic paints are water based, known as silicate mineral paint or min-
not all water-based paints are in the eral paint. Conclusion
class of plastic paints; for example,
water-based PU paints. Two relevant mineral binders play a role Painting enhances the look of build-
in the field of colors: Lime and silicate. ings, it is a common element of renova-
Plastic paints are quick to cure, wash- Under influence of carbon dioxide, tion projects. However, paints have
able, and more durable. Plastic paints lime-based binders carbonate and additional uses beyond improving
are washed by water for minimal fuss water silicate-based binders solidify. appearance. Knowing the perfor-
and they are applied in a single coat of Together they form calcium silicate mance features of each type of paint is
paint. These are lightweight and easier hydrates. Lime paints are only moder- important to select the best product for
to carry from one place to another.If you ately weather resistant, so people each application.
are trying to brighten up your exteriors apply them primarily in monument pres-
then use plastic paints which contain ervation. Mineral colors are commonly Source
solar reflectivity technology to reduce understood to be silicate paints. These
heat absorption in walls. As a conse- paints use potassium water glass as r e p a i n t n o w. c o m , q u o r a . c o m ,
quence, lower temperatures in walls binder. They are also called water glass nuroil.com, sealxpert.com,
cut down the air conditioner bills in sum- paints or Keimfarben (after the inven- plasticsmakeitpossible.com

14
26 Constrofacilitator
Constrofacilitator• •March
April 2020
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