The literal answer to the question of what polymer is can be given as a combination of the Latin words “poly” meaning many and “mer” meaning repeating units. The term polymer is often used synonymously with plastic or resin in the construction chemicals industry. In fact, polymer includes a number of materials with various properties. It is found in many household items used in daily life, clothes, toys and most importantly, construction materials used for insulation purposes.<\/p>\n
A polymer is a chemical compound whose molecules are linked together in long, repeating chains. Due to their structure, polymers have unique properties that can be adapted for different uses. Polymers are divided into two: natural and synthetic. Rubber, for example, is a natural polymeric material that has been used for thousands of years. It has excellent elastic qualities as a result of the molecular polymer chain created by nature.<\/p>\n
The most common natural polymer on Earth is cellulose, an organic compound found in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is frequently used in the production of materials such as paper products and textiles. Man-made or synthetic polymers include materials such as polyethylene and polystyrene, the most common plastics in the world, found in most products. Some synthetic polymers can be bent, while others have a permanently rigid structure.<\/p>\n
What are the Properties of Polymers?<\/p>\n
The functionality of materials that increase durability is very important in construction projects. Chemical components that increase the lifespan of buildings and make living spaces comfortable must also be at sufficient levels. Therefore, polymer materials stand out with their many different properties. Polymers that can be produced in chemical environments may have desired properties depending on the area of use.<\/p>\n
Thanks to these properties, polymers become resistant to hard impacts that may be encountered in use and become among the most suitable options for the production of construction chemicals. Polymer-based building materials that are resistant to water and chemicals are therefore very popular.<\/p>\n
What are the Polymer Types?<\/p>\n
In addition to the questions “What is a polymer and what are its properties?”, another important issue that needs to be answered is what types of polymers are available on the market. Polymers are divided into two main classes: thermoplastics and thermosets. The most important factor that creates the difference between these polymer types is their reaction when they encounter heat.<\/p>\n
1. Thermoplastics
\nThermoplastics are a resin that is solid at room temperature but becomes plastic and soft when heated. Thermoplastics, after being processed by processes such as injection molding or blow molding, take the shape of the mold they are poured into as a melt and solidify into the desired shape by cooling. The important aspect of thermoplastics is that they can be reversible, reheated, melted again and changed shape.<\/p>\n
While thermoplastic polymers provide the material with advantages such as high impact resistance, flexibility, reshaping abilities and resistance to chemicals; It also has disadvantages such as softening and melting at low temperatures.<\/p>\n
2. Thermosets
\nThe main difference between thermoset and thermoplastic polymers is their response under heat. Thermoplastic polymers soften with heat and turn into a liquid form. The curing process is therefore reversible, meaning it can be remolded and recycled. When placed in a mold and heated, the thermoset solidifies to the specified shape, but this solidification process involves the formation of certain bonds, called cross-links, that hold the molecules in place and change the fundamental nature of the material.<\/p>\n
In other words, thermosetting polymers have a structure that prevents them from melting and remoulding while curing. Once hardened, they retain their shape and remain solid under heat. Thermosetting polymers are more resistant to high temperatures, have dimensional stability, and cannot be reshaped or straightened.<\/p>\n
Usage Areas of Polymer<\/p>\n
The major active ingredient of many synthetic and organic materials, including plastics, rubbers, adhesives, foams, paints and sealants, is based on polymers. The most common uses of polymers in the field of construction include paints, waterproofing membranes, mastics, roofing and floor coverings, as well as all kinds of materials we can think of.<\/p>\n
With the development of thousands of polymers on the market in laboratory environments, products used for new applications are always emerging. Polymers, which are found in almost every material found in homes, are especially effective in waterproofing. Polymer-based insulation materials, which can be applied on a wide variety of surfaces such as concrete, steel, aluminum, wood and bitumen covers, maintain their performance even at low temperatures and have high acid and base resistance, are among the indispensable parts of construction projects.<\/p>\n
How to Apply Polymer Based Insulation Materials?<\/p>\n
The most important point to consider when applying SBS Added, Polymer Bituminous Coverings is that the area where the application will be made must be free of dust and dirt. If there are defects on the surface, they are corrected with mortar. Then, a polymer-based bituminous cover is laid on the membrane liner placed on the surface and adhered to the surface using a torch flame.<\/p>\n
When applying HYBRID 120 or HYBRID 115, the surface is cleared of all elements and cracks are smoothed. Then, the ready-to-use products are applied to the surface in two layers using a brush, roller or spray gun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The literal answer to the question of what polymer is can be given as a combination of the Latin words “poly” meaning many and “mer” meaning repeating units. The term polymer is often used synonymously with plastic or resin in the construction chemicals industry. In fact, polymer includes a number of materials with various properties. […]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en"],"yoast_head":"\n