BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

Definition
Bitumen is a name applied to various flammable mixtures of hydrocarbons (hydrogen & carbon). Solid, semi solid or viscous material, black or dark brown in color & sticky. On the application of heat, it melts and gets softened.

Properties
Strong adhesive (ability to adhere to solid particles e.g. aggregates), durable, highly waterproof, highly resistant to action of salts, alkali & acids. Most common materials : Tar and asphalt. Tar is a by product during the production of coke. Tar is resistant to petroleum based solvent.

PRODUCTION OF COAL TAR

Heater
200F 2000F

Tar Feed Tank gas

Distillation Tower

Coal

Steam

Pitch

Coke Oven

Tar

Asphalt
Most common and most widely used bituminous material. Readily soluble in most petroleum products. Sources: (i) Natural asphalt (ii) Distillation of crude oil

Production flow of petroleum products

Uses of Bitumen
Asphalt pavement - Greatest use in road construction. Asphalt in pavements acts as a binder for the aggregates. - Before it can be mixed with the aggregate, the asphalt must be made liquid by heating and cutting with solvent.

Uses of Bitumen
Waterproof coating membranes (sealant) and

- Used to provide a waterproof coating for walls and to make waterproof membranes in buildings & coating for pipes. - Roofing systems roof shingle) Joint & crack filler (asphalt

Glass
A hard when solid but brittle material, weather resistant and transparent (allow light to pass). Unaffected by alkalis, salts or by most acids. (attacked by hydrofluoric acid) Ordinary glass is made of sand (SiO2 - main component), soda (Na2CO3) and lime - CaO)

Type of glass
Soda lime glass (most common) Borosilicate glass (making laboratory equipment, cooking utensils) Lead glass (for making high class glassware)

Manufacturing
Mixing of raw material: sand, soda & lime Melting in a furnace at 1600 o C Drawing glass is drawn through a series of roller Cooling & cutting

Market form of glass and uses

Sheet glass window panes, partitions. Plate glass (thicker & wider than sheet glass high grade mirror, wind screen. Frosted glass semi transparent; for window, bathroom.

 Fiber glass possess high tensile strength. Use as thermal & sound insulation, reinforcing material Structural glass roof, stairs. Safety glass (laminated glass) a plastic film is sandwiched between pieces of glass.

Plastic
Refer to a group of synthetics (artificially produced materials) formed by synthesis (combination of separate elements) of chemicals coming from coal oil, natural gas, cellulose from wood etc. Properties of Plastics Transparent, light weight Good resistance to discoloration, chemicals and corrosion Low moisture absorption but are softened by organic solvent

Two general classifications of plastic

Thermoplastics
Become soft when heated and hard when cooled. Can be shaped by extrusion; recyclable. Types of plastic: acrylics, polyethylene C2H4, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, polypropylene - C3H6)

Two general classifications of plastic

Thermosetting plastics
Cannot be melted and re-molded after it is cured (formed). Durable and stronger than thermoplastics. Suited to high temperature applications. Types of plastic: melamine, epoxy (use as adhesive), bakelite.

Market form and uses

For use in structural applications, plastics need to be reinforced with glass, asbestos and metallic fibers. e.g. GRP (Glass reinforced plastic) Corrugated plastic sheets roofing Plastic panel - cladding of light weight partition, door, siding

 Plastic foam boards thermal sound insulation Floor tile & frame

&

Pipes, GRP water tanks, sanitary & water supply fittings Material coating (e.g. pipe), water proof barrier Adhesive, paints steel

Rubber
Natural rubber Weak. To improve its properties, sulfur is added. Excess sulfur makes rubber brittle. Synthetic rubber Produce from petroleum and other minerals. e.g. Neoprene, Buna S, Butyl

Properties
Water repellent and resistant to alkalis and weak acids.

Elasticity, toughness, impermeability, adhesiveness and electrical resistance.

 Tires Adhesives Engineering applications - (e.g. bridge bearings, bearings to protect structures from vibration - shock absorber) - Rubberized asphalt - rubber from scrap tires is mixed with asphalt. - Electrical insulator

Asbestos
Fibrous flexible mineral consists mainly of silicate of calcium & magnesium (CaSiO3, 3MgSiO3). Color varies from white, gray, blue, brown. Properties Flexible; can be woven to make fabrics Highly resistant to heat (very high melting point 1520 oC) Low thermal conductivity Excellent thermal & sound insulating properties

Uses
Asbestos cement sheets, pipes Fire proof cloth Sprayed coatings fire protection to structural steelwork Asbestos insulating boards Thermal insulation to boilers, vessels, pipes, valves, pumps

Protective & decorative finishes

Painting implies an application of thin coating material in liquid or plastic condition to the surface, which dries out leaving a protective as well as decorative finishes.

Adhesive
A substance capable of sticking to surfaces of other substances and bonding them to one another. Types: Animal glue; vegetable sources resin, rubber; synthetic resin