Evening star., 1936-07-11
ROLE OF SCIENCE
IN BUILDING CITED
Entire Structure Could Be
Constructed of Synthetic
Materials.

A greater variety of materials, from
which architects and builders may
make a choice, is offered the build
ing construction industry today than
ever before through achievements OF
the chemist. The role science plays
In making synthetic. materials avail
able for homes, business buildings and
other structures has revolutienized
the building industry. No longer is 1t
nel essary to depend wholly upon
nsture, although necessarily these
synthetic materials, like those used
tr other industries, are based on natu-
raj products.
An analysis of what the chemical
laboratory has contributed to building
construction shows that virtually
every product that is used, or may be
used, is of a synthetic nature, with
the exception of natural stone, humber
and steel. And even in the case Of
these natural building materials,
chemistry has made important con-
tributions. The chemist has given us
"preservatives" for prolonging the life
of lumber and sstone-and steel, al
though not synthetic. is very definitely
q product of chemical and metaal-
lurgical science.
The construction of an average
building, from the roof to the founa
dations, could be entirely of synthetic
materials and in many cases most of
the material used Is man-made, or Is
such an improvement by the chemist
on the product of nature that 1t can
no longer be classed as a natural
product. Below is list Of synthetic
materials that can be used in the con-
struction of every part of building,
although some of these materials have
not yet found wide application:
The Roof.
Asbestos shingles, tar paper, new
fiber bases for tar paper. alternate
layers of tar and fabric, sheet CORFU
gated asbestos board, galvanized iron
asphalt-coated corrugated steel plus
metal foil surface, silicate-coated
granules (slate, etc. on asphalt felt
base, stained shingles, and copper
shingles.
Floors (Surface Portion).
Asphalt tile, rubber tile, synthetic
resin tile, linoleum, terrazzo (con-
crete -colored aggregates), magnesite
cements. vitreous tile, concrete (hard-
wood and colored with chemicals }
pressed fiber boards (hard surface,
soft underneath), endgrain wooden
blocks fabricated into boards
through the use of heat-hardening
adhesives, and impregnated fbrous
sheet In which the decorative pattern
extends through the sheet, similar to
that of inlaid linoleum.
Floors load Bearing Porti0n).
Poured concrete, with special steel
beams, steel-bound gypsum planks
porous concrete (involving the Use o1
foaming agents and gas-evolvine
chemically, and porous calcium hydro
silicate.
Walls Exclusive Of Interior Walls).
Cinder block, concrete block, sand
lime brick, cement, brick, pourec
(monolithic) concrete, pre-cast con-
crete panels, calcium hydrosilicate
panels, asbestos cement board, ply
wood with or without insulation)
glass brick. metallized terra-cotta
enameled steel. synthetic stone (cal-
cium silicon aluminate), and steel lath
Interior Walls, Trim and Partitions.
Fiber board, plaster board. plywood
wood piled to steel, wood veneer on
fabrics, synthetic resin paneling, wash
able wall papers, tile board (asbestos-
cement), ceramic tile tplain and col
oredD, corrugated asbestos-cement
board (for partitions, and colored
glass.
Heat Insulation.
Glass wool, mineral wool, metal foils,
Q. z. aluminium foil, aluminium coated
dber board, cork board and aerogels
(silica base).
Foundations.
Cinder block, concrete block and
membrane waterproofing asphalt fab
xc).
Miscellaneous.
Synthetic resins for electrical fix
lures, flexible molding for electrical
wiring rubber compositions, acoustic
plasters, paint, ETC.; polariz-d glass,
ne-way" glass. ultraviolet trans
mitting glass, termite- -proofing mate
rails: fire-proofing materials, wood
preservatives Ito inhibit decay, quick
setting cements, lightweight concrete
(porous aggregate), caulking compo-
sitions for walls, etc. 70. 9. China wood
oil and asbestos), and paints and
varnishes.