Page 561 - Handbook of Thermal Analysis of Construction Materials

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Introduction to Organic

Construction Materials

1.0 INTRODUCTION

There are many types of organic-based materials used in construc-
tion, such as adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings, asphalts, and roof
covering materials. Different types of polymers constitute such materials.
The behavior of these materials during fabrication and exposure to natural
elements may be investigated by various physico-chemical techniques. In
recent years, thermoanalytical techniques have been used with some
success for such studies. In this chapter, various types of organic-based
materials and polymers that are used in the construction industry are
discussed. Subsequent chapters present information on the application of
thermal techniques for the investigation of these materials.
Macromolecules are very large molecules with atoms linked to-
gether by covalent bonds. They may be linear chains, branched, or three-
[1]
dimensional networks. Some natural macromolecules, such as those
present in biological construction materials, have a very complex structure.

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