BUILDING MATERIALS – II

MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS
ASBESTOS - PROPERTIES
 ASBESTOS: Naturally occurring fibrous mineral substance

 Composed of hydrous silicates of calcium & magnesium (CaSiO3, 3MgSiO3)

 Also contains small amounts of iron oxide & alumina

 Natural asbestos - two types – acid resistant and non acid resistant
PROPERTIES
 Can be cut into pieces
 Holes can be drilled and screws can be fitted
 Acid and fire proof
 Smooth surface
 Good adsorption capacity. When mixed with cement and cured with water, it retains firmly at the
surface
 Color-brown, grey, white
 Melting point – 1200 – 1500 deg. C
 Sp. Gravity = 3.10
 High tensile strength along fibers
 Quality affected by length of fibres – so this property used for classifying asbestos into different
grades
ASBESTOS - USES
USES
 Asbestos cement products – very popular for sheets & pipes. Prepared by mixing asbestos fibres
with cement
 Asbestos felt can be prepared by coating asbestos fibres with bitumen – used as DPC
 Used as covering materials for magnetic coils
 Lining material for fuse box and switch box
 Insulation for boilers & furnaces
 Preparing fire proof clothes and ropes
 Preparing asbestos paint

ASBESTOS SHEETS ASBESTOS PIPES ASBESTOS INSULATION

CORK
 Obtained from bark of oak trees
 Bark is ground, cleaned and baked
 During baking, natural resin in cork comes out and binds the material into a homogenous mass
PROPERTIES
 Can be cut & sawn without difficulty
 Good insulator of electricity & sound
 Light in weight
 Not attached by heat & moisture
 Porous
 Resilient and reasonably elastic
USES
 Preparing cork sheets, boards, bottle stoppers, packing gaskets, etc.
 Cork carpet available in 6mm thick & 1.8 m wide rolls in variety of colors – suitable for floor
covering in churches, theatres, etc. where noiselessness covering is required
 Cork tiles of about 12 mm thickness - obtained by compressing cork shavings in moulds.
Moulded tiles – then baked – fairly noiseless and durable – used as covering for walls & floors
CORK

CORK ROLLS CORK BOARDS

CORK PACKING GASKETS CORK TILES

FELT
 Felt - a textile produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibres together
 Can be made of natural fibres such as wool or synthetic fibres such as acrylic
 Many different types of felts for industrial, technical, designer and craft applications
 Some types of felt are very soft, some are tough enough to form construction materials
 Vary in terms of fibre content, colour, size, thickness, density and more factors depending on the
use of the felt
PROPERTIES
 A pliable material
 Relatively elastic
 Has a remarkable ability to maintain its shape - if deformed it can easily return to its original
shape
 Breathes well, holds water, dyes readily, and has good fluid permeability
 Felt can be thick, thin, pliable, or rigid
 Has heat & sound nsulating properties
FELT
USES
 Felt - used everywhere from the automotive industry, to musical instruments and home
construction as felt paper
 Lubricant wicks (deliver lubricants from a reservoir to a bearing surface)
 Shock dampers
 Oil & dust seals & gaskets
 Grease seals
 Wipers
 Anti-rattle & anti-drum pads
 Seals for washing machines & dryers
 Protective padding for knee & shoulder pads

FELT LUBRICANT WICKS FELT GASKETS FELT WIPERS FELT KNEE PADS
MICA
 A natural occurring mineral based on a collection of silicate minerals and composed of varying
amounts of potassium, iron, aluminum, magnesium and water
 shiny, flaky substance which has basal (one-directional) layers & splits into thin paper-like layers
when broken in the direction of its layers
 Very brittle
 flexible, absorbs water easily
 Ranges from completely transparent (clear) to completely opaque. Various colors such as clear,
green, red, black, etc.
 High electrical and heat insulation properties
 Can resist nearly all mediums like chemicals, acids, gasses, alkalis, oils, etc.
USES
 Used in paints as a pigment extender and also helps to brighten the tone of colored pigments
 Wet-ground mica used primarily in pearlescent paints by the automotive industry
 As thermal insulation, and electrical insulators in electronic equipment
 Dry-ground mica is used in the production of rolled roofing and asphalt shingles, where it serves
as a surface coating to prevent sticking of adjacent surfaces
 Mica added to grease used for axles to increase durability
ADHESIVES
ADHESIVES: Substance used to join 2 or more parts to form single units

TYPES OF ADHESIVES/ GLUES

1. ALBUMIN GLUES: Glue of better quality. Not attacked by water. Used to make furniture

2. ANIMALPROTEIN GLUES: Obtained by boiling waste pieces of skins, bones, etc. of animals with
hot water. Gives strong and tough joints. Affected by damp and moist conditions. Available as
cakes, flakes, sheets, etc. used to manufacture plywood, laminated timber, etc.

3. GLUES FROM NATURAL RESINS: Prepared from natural resins. Used for labelling, building
paper, etc.

4. GLUES FROM SYNTHETIC RESINS: Can be either thermosetting (permanent once set) or
thermoplastic (can be made plastic if heated). All synthetic glues – fire proof, strong and water
proof, resist fungi attack, heat & moisture.

5. NITROCELLULOSE GLUES: Derived by treating cellulose with nitric acid. It produces films which
strongly adhere to glass
ADHESIVES
6. RUBBER GLUES: Prepared by dissolving rubber in benzene. Used for joining rubber, plastic,
glass, etc.

7. SPECIAL GLUES: Specially prepared to join metals. CYCLEWELD – a modified form of rubber –
used to join aluminium sheets. ARALDITE – another variety of special glue – used to join light
metals

8. STARCH GLUES: Prepared from vegetable starch. Good strength in dry condition, but not
moisture resistant. Cheap – used for inferior quality of plywood

9. VEGETABLE GLUES: Prepared from natural gums & starches. Used for preparing paper board
articles, labelling, etc.
BAKELITE
 Bakelite - a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin
 One of the first plastics made from synthetic components
PROPERTIES
 Bakelite - produced in dozens of commercial grades and with various additives to meet diverse
mechanical, electrical and thermal requirements
 Lightweight and can be molded
 High resistance not only to electricity, but to heat and chemical action as well
 Pure Bakelite resin can take several colors, but is brittle, and so has to be strengthened by filler
substances – which give Bakelite an opaque look
 Can take high polish and is reasonably durable
 USES
 Wire insulation, brake pads and related automotive components
 Handles, etc. for cooking utensils
 Game boards and elements such as billiards balls, chess pieces, dice, etc.
 The use of this material declined after World War II, when lighter and more colorful plastics were
developed.
CHINA CLAY
 China clay or Kaolin – commercially produced soft white clay composed of hydrated clay mineral
called Kaolinite
 In its natural state kaolin is a white, soft powder
 When kaolin is mixed with water in the range of 20 to 35 %, it becomes plastic (i.e., it can be
molded under pressure), and the shape is retained after the pressure is removed.
USES
 Highest demand in paper industry – where it is used as filler – reducing production costs and
improving printing characteristics
 Very high usage in ceramic industry – used in the manufacture of white ceramic wares – its
function – to confer brightness and strength to ceramic products
 Major uses are vitreous china sanitary wear, containers and utensils (of earthenware, bone china
and porcelain), wall tiles, electrical porcelain equipments, etc.
 China clay is also used as fillers in paint, manufacture of rubber, plastic, adhesives, sealants,
white cement, glass fibres and pharmaceuticals
LEATHER
 Leather - durable and flexible material created by the tanning of animal rawhide and skin, often
cattle hide
PROPERTIES
 High tensile strength
 Resistance to tear
 High resistance to flexing
 High resistance to puncture
 Good heat insulation
 Leather contains a great deal of air,
which is a poor conductor of heat
 Permeability to water vapour
 Can be moulded into shapes
 Resistant to heat and fire
USES
 Manufacture of footwear, bags, garments,
accessories, etc.
 Show pieces and pieces of art as leather
carvings
 Wall papers & furniture covering
 Pulley belts and other belts for machinery
 Leather seals & gaskets
 Gaiters and straps
CANVAS
 Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric
 Usually made of cotton or linen
USES
 Used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is
required
 Used by artists as a painting surface
 Garments, footwear, other accessories
 Art works
 Manufacture of concrete cloth (fabric impregnated with concrete, life span 10 – 25 years, used
for temporary and defense shelters, pipeline protection, ditch lining, sandbag reinforcement for
flood & military defenses, etc.)
 JUTE
 Jute - long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber produced from jute plants that can be spun into coarse, strong
threads
 one of the most affordable natural fibers and is second only to cotton in amount produced and variety
of uses of vegetable fibers
PROPERTIES
 High tensile strength, low extensibility, and ensures better breathability of fabrics
 Good insulating (heat & sound) and antistatic properties, as well as having low thermal
conductivity and a moderate moisture regain
 Can be blended with other fibres and can be dyed easily
 Strength reduces with moisture absorption and becomes brittle over time
USES
 Manufacture of garments, bags and accessories, home furnishings, furniture coverings, etc.
 Gunny bags & sacks, yarn, twine & rope, packaging, etc.
 Used to manufacture fabrics such as hessian cloth, carpet backing cloth, canvas, etc.
 Used to prevent flood erosion while natural vegetation becomes established
 Used as wet layers to cure concrete surfaces
 Used as geo-textiles - permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to
separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain
 ASPHALT - CLASSIFICATION
 ASPHALT – Mechanical mixture of inert mineral matter like alumina, lime, silica, etc. and asphaltic
bitumen

 Black or brownish in colour

 Remains in solid state in low temperatures, liquid state between 50-100 deg. C

 CLASSIFICATION OF ASPHALT

 NATURAL ASPHALT: Again classified into lake and rock asphalt

 Lake asphalt: Obtained from bottom of lakes at depths of 3-60m. Contains 40-70% pure bitumen,
water about 30%, rest impurities. Refined by boiling in tank and removal of water and impurities.
Used widely in road & pavement construction

 Rock asphalt: Obtained from rocks. Contains 10-15% pure bitumen, rest calcareous materials. Rocks
put on road surface after being crushed and heated. Rock softens on heating and consolidates on
cooling. Road surface is then formed by rolling. Also used as sheets, paving tiles, etc.

 RESIDUAL ASPHALT: Obtained artificially by fractional distillation of crude petroleum oils with an
asphaltic base.
ASPHALT - FORMS
1. ASPHALTIC CEMENT: Prepared by blowing air through melted asphalt at high temperatures.
Asphalt is oxidized and resulting product is plastic in nature and highly resistant to climatic
conditions. Used for flooring, roofing, water proofing, filler in expansion joints in concrete,
etc.

2. ASPHALTIC EMULSION: Produced by mixing asphalt with 50-60% water in presence of 1% of

emulsifying agent. When water evaporates, the emulsion breaks and forms a water proofing
layer which may be applied in cold condition

3. CUT BACK ASPHALT: Liquid asphalt prepared by dissolving asphalt in a volatile solvent. Can
be applied at normal temperature in cold conditions. Used for preparing bituminous paints,
for repairing roofs, etc.

4. MASTIC ASPHALT: Produced by heating natural asphalt with sand and mineral fillers.
Resulting product is a voidless impermeable mass – either in solid or liquid state. Hardness
and melting point of mastic asphalt can be controlled during its manufacture. Used for
damp proofing and water proofing
ASPHALT – PROPERTIES & USES
PROPERTIES ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOFING

 Tough & durable material

 Water proof material, can be easily cleaned

 Good insulator of electricity, heat & sound

 Non-inflammable and non-absorbent

 Not attacked by acid or vermin ASPHALT EMULSION

 Resilient and reasonably elastic

USES

 As DPC
MASTIC ASPHALT
 As water proof layer for tanks, basements,
swimming pools, etc.

 For preparing paints & roofing felts

 For constructing roads & pavements

BITUMEN - FORMS
 BITUMEN – Binding material present in asphalt – also called mineral tar
 Obtained by partial distillation of crude petroleum
 Insoluble in water, but completely soluble in chloroform, benzol, maptha, coal tar, etc.
 Black or brown in color
 Solid or semi-solid state
FORMS OF BITUMEN
 BITUMEN EMULSION: Liquid product containing bitumen to a great extent in an aqueous medium
 BLOWN BITUMEN: Special type of bitumen obtained by passing air under pressure at a higher
temperature. Used for roofing and damp proofing felts, pipe asphalts, joint fillers, heat insulating
materials, etc.
 CUTBACK BITUMEN: Obtained by fluxing bitumen in the presence of suitable liquid distillates of
coal tar or petroleum. Can be applied cold as bitumen paint
 PLASTIC BITUMEN: Consists of bitumen, thinner and a suitable inert filler. Amount of inert filler –
40-45%. Used for filling cracks in masonry structures, stopping leakages, etc.
 STRAIGHT RUN BITUMEN: When bitumen is being distilled to a definitive viscosity without further
treatment – known as straight run bitumen
BITUMEN - FUNCTIONS
Bituminous substances are called binders which can serve several
objectives

1. BINDING EFFECT: Binds surface particles together and loss of

material from surface due to abrasion may be checked

2. CUSHION: Acts as a cushioning material on the surface and

absorbs impact, friction, etc. due to movement of vehicles on
roads, etc.

3. RESISTANCE TO WEATHERING AGENCIES: If properly selected

bituminous material is used, the surface can resist effectively the
actions of weathering agencies like the wind, the sun and thus a
long life of a pavement is ensured

4. SEALING OF SURFACE: When used with dense graded granular

material, it seals the surface of the road against ingress if water,
and thus, the damage of road due to water absorption is
prevented.
 RUBBER - PROPERTIES
 RUBBER – Very important engineering material
 Two types – natural & artificial
 Crude rubber – becomes soft & sticky in summer, hard & brittle in winter. For making rubber fit for use
in all seasons, VULCANIZATION is required – small quantity of sulphur is added to rubber & heated –
rubber becomes hard & resistant to changes in temperature
 Effects of vulcanization: tensile strength increases, becomes more durable, resistive power towards
friction increases, less susceptible to changes in temperature
PROPERTIES
 Can absorb shocks due to impact
 Can contain liquids and gases
 Undergoes slow deformation in length due to applied force or stress
 Bad conductor of heat
 Plastic in nature, and can be moulded into any shape
 Flexible
 Resists friction well
 Natural rubber to be protected from sunlight and oil or organic liquids
 Reasonably elastic – undergoes great deformation without any structural damage
 Synthetic rubber offers good resistance to acids, petroleum products, etc.
RUBBER - USES
USES
 Gasket to make doors and windows air tight (e.g. refrigerators, vehicles, AC rooms, etc. )

 Lining materials for parts of machines subjected to heavy friction and for tanks to be used in
chemical processes

 Tires of vehicles and machines

 Rubber threads used to make wires, ropes, etc.

 Synthetic rubber may be used for hose pipes for carrying petrol, kerosene, gaskets, insulation for
high tension wires, etc.
MATERIALS FOR SPECIAL TREATMENTS
SPECIAL TREATMENTS
1. FIRE PROTECTION

2. WATER PROOFING

3. THERMAL INSULATION

4. ACOUSTICAL TREATMENT

5. ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT

1. FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS
 IDEAL PROPERTIES OF FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS:
 Should not get disintegrated under the effect of great heat
 Expansion of material due to heat should not be excessive so as to endanger stability of
structure
 Contraction due to sudden cooling should not be so rapid so as to break into pieces
 None of the materials possess all these properties. However, some materials protect the
building for sufficient time from fire by being intact under extreme conditions – such materials
should be used
 MATERIALS IN RELATION TO FIRE – TWO TYPES
 NON-COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS: Such materials, under fire, decompose with the absorption
of heat or by negligible evolution of heat (endothermic reactions). Do not contribute to growth
of fire, but get damaged, resulting in loss of strength and may no longer maintain the
integrity of the structure. E.g. Metal, stone, glass, concrete, clay products, gypsum products,
asbestos products, etc.
 COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS: Such materials, under fire, burn with evolution of additional heat
(exothermic reactions). They give rise to flames, and not only burn themselves, but also
increase the intensity & growth of fire. E.g. wood & wood products, animal products,
manufactured products such as fiber board, straw board, etc.
1. FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS-PROPERTIES
 Fire resisting properties of different commonly used materials are as follows:

1 • Unique property of self insulation & slow burning – considerable

resistance to fire
• Under fire, timber gets charred to a certain depth – then charred layer
serves as insulation to check spread of fire to inner portions
TIMBER • Impregnation of timber with additional chemicals – increases fire
resistance – ammonium phosphate & sulphate, borax, boric acid, zinc
chloride, etc.
• Fire resistant paints may also be applied – paints of asbestos,
magnesium sulphate, ferrous oxide, etc.

2
• 1st class bricks can stand exposure to fire for a long time
• Most suitable for safeguarding structure against fires
BRICK
• Size of bricks, method of construction, etc. – properties of bricks which
offer fire resistance

3 • Usage of stone in a fire resistive construction – should be minimum

• Hot stones subjected to sudden cooling – develop cracks and may lead to
failure of structure
STONE • Granite, under severe fire, explodes
• Limestone crumbles under ordinary fires
• Only compact sandstone having fine grains may be used as it can stand
the exposure to moderate fire without serious cracks
 1. FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS-PROPERTIES
4 •Although incombustible, has low fire resistance.
•With increase in temperature, coefficient of elasticity falls, rendering members soft
and free to expand
STEEL •When cooled at this stage, tendency to contract, twist or distort, endangering the
stability of the structure
•Hence, in fire resistant construction, structural steel members must be suitably
protected by covering with materials such as brick, terracotta, concrete, etc.

•Influence of fire on concrete varies with nature of its coarse aggregate & density
5
•Aggregates obtained from igneous rocks – crack under fire
•Coarse aggregates such as foamed slag, cinder and brick – best suited for concrete
CONCRETE which has to be fire resistive
•Under fire, concrete surface gets disintegrated for a depth of 25mm due to
dehydration of mortar. Hence, in RCC fire resistant construction, clear cover thickness
should be more
6
•Glass conducts heat faster than metal.
•Low thermal conductivity – hence, change in volume by expansion or contraction –
very small – hence, may be considered to be good fire resisting material
GLASS •However, when subjected to sudden and extreme variations in temperature, glass
cracks.
•Use of reinforcement such as steel wire netting, etc. – reduces this
•Reinforced glass – higher melting point than ordinary glass – used for fire resisting
doors, windows, skylights, etc.
1. FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS-PROPERTIES
7 • Fibrous mineral which is combined with Portland cement to form
asbestos cement – great fire resistive value
ASBESTOS • Largely used in construction of fire resistive partitions, roofs, etc.
CEMENT • Low coefficient of expansion & incombustible – asbestos cement
members offer great resistance to cracking, swelling or disintegrating
when exposed to fire

• Incombustible – walls & ceilings may be made more fire resistant with the
use of suitable mortar
8
• Cement mortar preferred over lime mortar (which is liable to calcine)
PLASTER OR
MORTAR • Resistance of plaster to fire may be increased by using it in thick layers ir
by using metal laths
• Gypsum plaster when applied over structural members, offers additional
fire resistance
9 • Usage of stone in a fire resistive construction – should be minimum
• Hot stones subjected to sudden cooling – develop cracks and may lead to
failure of structure
STONE • Granite, under severe fire, explodes
• Limestone crumbles under ordinary fires
• Only compact sandstone having fine grains may be used as it can stand
the exposure to moderate fire without serious cracks
1. FIRE RESISTING MATERIALS-PROPERTIES
10

• Clay product like bricks

TERRA-COTTA • Possesses better fire resistance than bricks
• Bring costly, used in fire resisting floors only

11
• Wrought iron behaves almost like steel, but lesser elasticity than steel
WROUGHT • Cast iron, on sudden cooling, breaks into pieces – hence, rarely used from
IRON & CAST fire resisting point of view
IRON • For using cast iron in fire resistive construction, it should be protected by a
suitable covering of bricks, concrete, etc.

12
• Aluminium being used as reinforcement in advanced countries because of
light weight and anti-corrosion properties
ALUMINIUM
• However, very poor fire resistive properties – its use as even alloys, should
be restricted in fire resistive construction
2. WATER PROOFING MATERIALS
 Dampness – main cause of deterioration of building and health of occupants
 Main cause of dampness – absorption of water by materials because of
 high ground water table,
 rain,
 exposed top of parapet walls,
 inadequate slope of roof,
 condensation, etc.
 Damp proofing done by interposing a layer of damp proofing material between the source of
dampness and building – Damp Proofing Course (DPC)
 PRINCIPLE OF DAMP PROOFING: Provide DPC horizontally or vertically without any break and
throughout the thickness of wall, floor slab, etc.
 PROPERTIES: Should be
 Impervious
 Durable,
 Strong enough to take loads
 Able to accommodate some structural movement without fracture
2. WATER PROOFING MATERIALS
 Water proofing materials – classified into 4 categories

1
FLEXIBLE
• E.g. Bitumen felts, plastic sheeting (polythene sheeting)
MATERIALS

2
SEMI-RIGID
• E.g. Mastic asphalt, combination of materials or layers
MATERIALS
3
RIGID
• E.g. First class bricks, stones, slates, cement concrete
MATERIALS

4
GROUT • E.g. cement slurry, acrylic based chemicals/ polymers, etc.

 Choice of material depends on

 Climatic and atmospheric conditions
 Nature of structure
 Nature of soil, etc.
3. MATERIALS FOR THERMAL INSULATION
 Purpose of thermal insulation – to restrict heat transfer from warmer to cooler areas
 PRINCIPLE OF HEAT INSULATING MATERIALS:
1. Formation of air spaces between structural components
2. Surface insulation
3. Internal insulation
 COMMONLY USED MATERIALS
 Aerated concrete  Chip boards  Reflective paints
 Gypsum boards  Cork boards  Expanded blast furnace slag
 Fiber boards  Foam plastic  Vermiculite
 Asbestos cement boards  Aluminum foil.  Fiber glass
 Glass wool, etc

 Cavity walls, though costly, provide good insulation

 PROPERTIES
 Should be impermeable to water, fire proof, resist attack of insects, low thermal conductivity
(0.0228kCal cm/m2 0C
 Since good insulating material is generally porous, its strength is reduced.
3. MATERIALS FOR THERMAL INSULATION
VARIOUS TYPES OF INSULATING MATERIALS
# MATERIALS PARTICULARS
-Made of cork boards, cellular glass blocks, rubber blocks, mineral wood
Slab or block blocks or wood fibers bound together with cement
i.
insulations -Fabricated in size upto 600 X 1200 mm, thickness about 25 mm
-These small units – fixed on walls and roofs for lining purposes
-Made of flexible fibrous materials of mineral wool, wood fibre, cotton,
animal hair, etc.
Blanket
ii. -Available in rolls
insulations
-Thickness – 10cm – 80 cm
-Spread directly on surface of walls & ceilings
-Fibrous materials like rock wool, slag wool, glass wool, cellulose, wood
fibre wool, etc.
iii. Loose fills
-Loosely poured into the studding space & other similar spaces for
insulation
-Soft materials similar to blanket insulations, but smaller in size and
Bats insulating
iv. greater in thickness (50mm – 90mm)
materials
-Spread on surface of walls & ceilings
3. MATERIALS FOR THERMAL INSULATION
VARIOUS TYPES OF INSULATING MATERIALS
# MATERIALS PARTICULARS
-Structural boards prepared from wood, cane or other materials by
Insulating
v. binding fibres with adhesives in different thickness & sizes
boards
-Used for inerior lining of walls & ceilings
-Cement and concrete products have low insulating value
Light weight -But addition of materials such as blast furnace slag, burnt clay
vi.
materials aggregate, porous aggregates with concrete increases its resistance
against heat
-These insulations offer high heat resistance not because of low
conductivity, but due to their high reflectivity and low emissive properties
Reflective
vii. -E.g. gypsum sheets or boards, steel sheets, aluminium foils, etc.
sheet materials
-Used along with air spaces such that their reflective surfaces are more
exposed – so they divide the air space into 2 or more vertical layers
3. MATERIALS FOR THERMAL INSULATION
CORK BOARDS BAT INSULATION

BLAST FURNACE SLAG

LOOSE FILL INSULATION

INSULATION OF A HOUSE
WITH BUBBLE FOIL
REFLECTIVE INSULATION
4. ACOUSTICAL/SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS
 Sound absorbent materials – incorporated in buildings in following ways:
 COMPRESSED STATE – on walls
 SUSPENDED STATE – as slabs fastened to ceiling
 FREE STATE – in non compressed or loose manner,
USES OF SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS
 Damping sound in ventilation installations
 Providing adequate/ special acoustics in TV, radio and movie studios, theatres, auditoriums,
etc.
 Facing interiors of premises which require low noise levels such as offices, commercial centers,
banks, etc.
CLASSIFICATION OF SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS
 POROUS MATERIALS: Light weight concrete with porous aggregate, foam glass, etc.
 POROUS CUM ELASTIC MATERIALS: Porous materials with elastic backing
 BAFFLE MATERIALS: Thin panels from veneer, rigid wood fiber slabs, solid cardboard, etc.
 PERFORATED MATERIALS: Perforated panels & slabs
4. ACOUSTICAL/SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS
1
HAIRFELT • Avg. coefficient of absorption for 25mm thick felt = 0.6

2
• Also known as fibrous plaster
ACOUSTIC • Consists of granulated insulation material with cement
PLASTER • Thickness=20 mm, density=1kN/m3, coefficient of absorption=0.30
• Plaster boards also available; coefficient = 0.15 – 0.3

3
• Factory made, sold under different trade names
ACOUSTICAL
TILES • Uniform absorption, easy to fix, but relatively costly. Suitable for small
areas

4
• Considerably good sound absorption material
STRAWBOARD
• Thickness=13 mm, density=2.4kN/m3, coefficient of absorption=0.30

5
• Soft boards prepared from compressed pulp
PULP BOARDS • Cheaper, can be fixed by ordinary paneling
• Average coefficient of absorption = 0.17
4. ACOUSTICAL/SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS
6
COMPRESSED • May be perforated or unperforated
FIBERBOARD • Coefficient (perforated) = 0.3, (unperforated) = 0.52
7 COMPRESSED
WOOD • Provided with perforations, can be painted also
PARTICLE • Thickness=13 mm, coefficient of absorption=0.40
BOARD

• Composite panels of mineral wool & cement asbestos or mineral wool

with hardboard
8 PERFORATED
• Generally, suspended from trusses
PLYWOOD
• Coefficient (mineral wool + cement asbestos) = 0.95, (mineral wool +
hardboard) = 0.2

9
WOOD WOOL • Generally used with a thickness of 25 mm, density 4kN/m3
BOARD • Coefficient of absorption = 0.20

10
• Prepared from mineral wool or glass wool; fixed as acoustic blankets
QUILTS &
MATS • Coefficient depends on thickness, density, perforations, mode of fixing,
backing, frequency of sound, etc.
4. ACOUSTICAL/SOUND ABSORBENT MATERIALS

HAIRFELT SLAB COATED WITH ACOUSTIC PLASTER

STRAWBOARD PULPBOARD WOOD WOOL BOARD

 5. ANTI TERMITE TREATMENT
 Should be given to all types of buildings during the construction stage
 During post construction period – very difficult to control growth of termite
 Care to be taken to prevent contact of any building part to untreated soil
TERMITE PROOFING METHODS
1. CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF SOIL:
 Soil insecticides thoroughly mixed and evenly spread in soil
 DDT, BHC, PCP – commonly used
 Aldrin 0.5%, Chlordane 1.0%, Dieldrin 0.5 % and Heptachlor 0.5% - more successful
 All these chemicals – chlorinated hydrocarbons and insoluble in water – hence, not leached by
water – effective chemical barrier between building and soil
 Also used in damaged portions of masonry, woodwork, etc. by injecting them under pressure in
drilled holes
2. PHYSICAL STRUCTURAL BARRIERS:
 Continuous physical barriers such as concrete (50 – 75 mm thick) or metal layer (of non-
corrodable metal sheets of copper of galvanized iron of thickness 0.8 mm) may be provided at
plinth level
 However, metal barriers have been found to have gotten damaged – not as effective as concrete
layer