science

• Main types of bricks used in construction

  • Common bricks
  • Engineering bricks
  • Facing bricks
• Engineering bricks


  • Used in civil engineering
  • Suitable for wet conditions as they are non-penetrated by water
  • Have high compressive strength
  • Examples: groundworks, sewers, retaining walls, damp-proof courses
• Facing bricks


  • Used in external walls
  • Aesthetic qualities are most important
  • Resistant to moisture, fire and damage
  • Have high thermal and sound insulation
  • Can be quite expensive
• Common bricks


  • Used for internal shared walls or a secondary layer to an internal wall
  • Usually covered with render as they are not aesthetic and can be an inconsistent colour
  • Manufactured with simple clay mix
• Brick manufacturing process


  1. Extracting raw materials from the ground using machinery

  2. Transporting raw materials to production factory

  3. Grinding and milling raw materials to break down and make consistent

  4. Moulding (compressing) raw materials into a rectangle

  5. Drying bricks

  6. Kiln drying bricks

  7. Stocking bricks for sale
• Raw materials used in brick manufacturing

  • Clay Minerals
  • Shale
  • Kaolin
• Reasons for different concrete mixes

  • Enhance strength
  • Improve workability
  • Reduce rate of setting
  • Increase rate of setting
• Catalyst


  Takes an alternative pathway to increase the speed of a chemical reaction
• Concrete mixes

  Different mixes that are used for concrete
• Why concrete mixes are used

  • To give a specialist quality
  • To help build a sound structure
  • To reduce overall cost by reducing wastage materials
• Fibres in concrete


  Can enhance the strength of the concrete
• Plasticisers in concrete


  Allow better workability
• Retarding agents in concrete

  Reduce the rate of setting, meaning it will take longer to set
• Accelerating chemicals in concrete

  Help increase the rate of setting, meaning it will be done quicker
• Catalyst


  Takes an alternative pathway to increase the speed of the chemical reaction
• Glass finishes

  • Smart
  • Laminated
  • Tempered
  • Float
  • Clear
  • Obstructed
• Laminated glass

  A type of safety glass consisting of alternating layers of glass bonded to a shatterproof polymer. Even when the glass is broken the pieces remain bonded together.
• Float glass

  Basic low strength glass. The name comes from its production as the glass floats on molten metal, usually tin, to create extremely flat smooth glass with uniform thickness.
• Tempered glass


  A type of safety glass which has undergone a process to increase its strength and impact resistance. It forms smaller granule pieces when broken which are less likely to cause injury.
• Clear glass


  Most used in conventional applications principally to allow natural light through or for occupants to look out.
• Obscured glass


  Still allows natural light but obscures vision so that privacy can be maintained. Its uses raised patterns on the surface.
• Smart glass


  Switches between obscure and clear glass or opaque by applying an electrical current to a specifically developed coating on the glass.
• How is glass made?

  1. Glass sand is about ¾ of the entire glass composition, other raw materials include limestone, clarifying agents, dolomite and sodium oxide

  2. To produce glass merging takes place which is when the mixture is melted in a furnace at a temperature of around 1500 converting the mixture of raw materials into molten glass

  3. After this they are placed into moulds where they are blown into the desire shape

  4. Then they are placed in annealing chests to ensure the solidity of the glass container this is where they are cooled in a slow and controlled manner
• Fibre wool glass


  • Fibre spun from molten glass
  • Up to 30% recycled content
  • In rolls or batts
• Fibre wool glass applications


  • Lofts
  • Walls
  • Cavities
• Expanded polystyrene


  • Expanded polystyrene foam
  • In boards or loose fill
• Expanded polystyrene applications


  • Walls
  • Cavities
  • Floors
• Celotex (phenolic foam)


  • Expanded in phenolic resin foam
  • In boards
• Celotex (phenolic foam) applications

  • Walls
  • Cavities
  • Floors
• Mineral wool


  • Fibres spun from molten rock
  • In boards, batts or rolls
• Cellulose


  • Made from shredded newspaper
  • In loose fill
• Cellulose thermal conductivity


  • 0.035W/MK
• Cellulose applications


  • Lofts
  • Walls
  • Cavities
• Straw


  • Agricultural biproduct
  • In bales
• Straw applications


  • Load bearing construction
• Polyurethane


  • Expanded polyurethane foam
  • In spray coatings
• Polyurethane applications


  • Sprayed on roof tiles
  • Concrete slabs
  • Cavities. Allows retrofit cavity insulation by spraying holes made previously.
• Plastic


  A material composed from a formation high molecular weight organic polymer such as carbon (found in gas, oil or plants)
• Plastic in construction


  • Mainly used for seals in windows or doors
  • Used for cables as an insulator
  • Used for floor coverings for interior design
  • Used for insulation to improve energy performance
• Plastic


  • Has high strength to weight ratios
  • Has corrosion resistance
  • Has resistance to moisture
  • Has low workability
  • Has low density