Metals, Glass and Plastics as Building Materials

wrought iron - пудлінгове залізо

high-tensile steel - сталь із високим опором на розрив

hot-rolled section - гарячекатаний прокат

rolling mill - прокатний стан

alloying metal - легований метал

легований метал

Metals, Glass and Plastics as Building Materials

1. The history of building in iron and steel is hardly more than a hundred years old. The construction of the first railways has given considerable impetus to cast and wrought iron production. The commonest quality of steel for building construction is that known as mild steel (m.s.). Several qualities of high tensile steel are widely used everywhere. They vary both in their chemical composition and their mechanical properties. The elements used for most steel structures are the hot-rolled sections, produced in a great variety by the rolling mills.

2. Aluminum is the most important of the light metals used in the building industry. Magnesium is still lighter, but it has not yet become a building material. It is only used as an alloying metal in conjunction with aluminum. The major characteristics of aluminum in which the architect is interested are its durability and its light weight.

3. Glass is now generally employed in the construction of industrial buildings, office blocks and schools. In recent years it has eclipsed all other materials for heat and sound insulation purposes.

4. Plastics are a new building material. Nearly all the plastics are compounds of such simple elements as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sometimes nitrogen. The characteristics of the various plastics depend upon the way in which these elements are combined.

Plastics are used where the older materials are not satisfactory, or for the development of entirely new uses. Since plastics combine all the fine characteristics of a building material together with good insulating properties, and are fireproof as well, it is no wonder that the architects and engineers have turned to them to add color and beauty to modern homes and offices.

Decide if the following statement is true or false.

The rolling mills produce a lot of hot-rolled sections, because they are necessary for most steel structures nowadays.

Metals, Glass and Plastics as Building Materials

1. The history of building in iron and steel is hardly more than a hundred years old. The construction of the first railways has given considerable impetus to cast and wrought iron production. The commonest quality of steel for building construction is that known as mild steel (m.s.). Several qualities of high tensile steel are widely used everywhere. They vary both in their chemical composition and their mechanical properties. The elements used for most steel structures are the hot-rolled sections, produced in a great variety by the rolling mills.

2. Aluminum is the most important of the light metals used in the building industry. Magnesium is still lighter, but it has not yet become a building material. It is only used as an alloying metal in conjunction with aluminum. The major characteristics of aluminum in which the architect is interested are its durability and its light weight.

3. Glass is now generally employed in the construction of industrial buildings, office blocks and schools. In recent years it has eclipsed all other materials for heat and sound insulation purposes.

4. Plastics are a new building material. Nearly all the plastics are compounds of such simple elements as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sometimes nitrogen. The characteristics of the various plastics depend upon the way in which these elements are combined.

Plastics are used where the older materials are not satisfactory, or for the development of entirely new uses. Since plastics combine all the fine characteristics of a building material together with good insulating properties, and are fireproof as well, it is no wonder that the architects and engineers have turned to them to add color and beauty to modern homes and offices.

Decide if the following statement is true or false.

People began to use iron and steel for construction more than three hundred years ago.

Decide if the following statement is true or false.

Plastics, a new building material, can not have nitrogen in their composition, only sometimes.

Decide if the following statement is true or false.

Plastics have impressed the builders with a number of good properties and they are now being used for construction.

Choose the correct answer.

Iron/ a/ building/ used/ is/ as/ widely/ material.

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A/ who/ designs/ and/ man/ makes/ the plans/ for them/ buildings/ called/ is/ an architect.

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Concrete/ is used/ any/ other / man-made/than / more / material.

Match to make the word combinations.

Watch the video and choose the correct answer.

What material is not natural?