Polymers in building and construction

Abstract

Polymers are materials with increasing utilisation as engineering materials in the last 40 years. The building and construction industry is responsible by more than 20Â % of plastics consumption in Europe (commodity and engineering thermoplastics). Thermosets also present an increased utilisation as reinforcing and structural materials, focused in structures where reduced weight and tight time frame are relevant exigencies.This chapter provides an introductory presentation of the most relevant polymer materials from the point of view of its applications in engineering, with particular focus in building and construction industry. The relationships between structure and performance as well as a set of important material properties of the most relevant polymer materials are provided.