Polymers in Building and Construction

Polymers in Building and Construction

Author: Market Report, 2002
ISBN 978-1-85957-332-7 

Published: 2002
pages: 124, tables: 3, figures: 9

$450.00
Building and construction form a large part of the global economy and this industry showed a growth rate of 1.8% worldwide in 2001. Polymer materials have been steadily replacing traditional materials in this sector. Construction applications of plastics include pipes and guttering, window and door profiles, glazing, roofing, sealants and adhesives, cement, insulation, flooring and building panels. Civil engineering applications include geomembranes, road and sports surfaces, building reinforcement and bridge building.

This is a critical market for plastics. Around 60% of all PVC production is now used in this sector, applications include profiles for windows and doors, fascias, pipes and pipe fittings. Polystyrene is also used extensively, primarily in insulation applications. Around 1.85 million tons of high density polyethylene are used annually in construction, amounting to roughly 10% of total global consumption. Low density polyethylene, polyurethane, and polypropylene are also used extensively.

In Western Europe alone in 1998 6.4 million tonnes of plastics were used in construction. The value of the plastics pipes market in the same year was estimated at 11 million euros and the growth rate is predicted to be 4% per annum in Europe. PVC accounts for 60% of the pipe market with polyolefins at 27% and growing. Alternative materials such as ABS and polyvinylidene fluoride are also being used, particularly in industrial sectors.

The growth rate for plastics consumption in building and construction in the US averaged 8% per annum from 1995 to 1998. Figures for the US housing industry showed an increase in the number of new housing starts in June 2001 at 1.658 million units, 6.3% higher than in June 2000. Other factors that influence plastics consumption are refurbishment and DIY projects.

Composite materials are being used for load bearing in construction applications. Foamed wood/plastic composites are a growing market in applications such as decking in North America. Demand is projected to be around 600,000 tons in 2005. There is potential for using recycled materials in composites. Plastic lumber decking is commonly made using recycled HDPE. Recycled plastics are also being used in a cement matrix. Polymeric fibres can also be used to reinforce cement and materials are being developed with ductility values equal to those of metals for applications such as runway surfaces, floors, and pavements.

Environmental concerns are affecting the building industry in many ways. Recycling methods are being developed for plastic building components. Methods of using recycled material in construction are under trial. The housing itself is being redesigned to minimise usage of fossil fuels, which is leading to an increased requirement for insulation and the development of alternative means of heating such as solar panels and geothermal heating.

Polymers in Building and Construction examines the extensive markets for polymers by material and also by application, listing key players in these fields and new developments. A selection of companies operating in this sector is described in greater depth in Chapter 7.

1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 World Markets
1.3 Scope
1.4 Geographical Focus
1.5 Methodology
Reference
2 Executive Summary

2.1 Global Construction Industry
2.2 Materials
2.2.1 Resins
2.2.2 Composites
2.3 Applications
2.3.1 Plastic Pipes
2.3.2 Profile
2.3.3 Cladding
2.3.4 Roofing
2.3.5 Adhesives
2.3.6 Glazing
2.3.7 Insulation
2.3.8 Flooring
2.3.9 Civil Engineering Applications
2.4 Recycling
2.5 Material Suppliers
Reference
3 Review of Material Types and Properties

Introduction
3.1 PVC
3.1.1 Overview
3.1.2 PVC in Pipes
3.1.3 PVC in Profile
3.1.4 Compounds and Additives
3.1.5 Foamed PVC
3.2 Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB)
3.3 Polyethylene
3.3.1 Overview
3.3.2 Polyethylene for Pipe
3.3.3 Other Uses
3.4 Polyethylene Terephthalate
3.5 Polypropylene (PP)
3.5.1 Overview
3.5.2 Polypropylene for Pipe
3.5.3 Other Uses
3.6 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
3.7 Polystyrene (PS)
3.7.1 Overview
3.7.2 Expanded Polystyrene
3.7.3 Other Uses
3.8 Acrylic
3.9 Polycarbonate
3.10 Polyamide (PA)
3.10.2 Polyphthalamide (PPA)
3.11 Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)
3.12 Unsaturated Polyesters
3.13 Phenolic Resins
3.14 Epoxy Resin
3.15 Polyurethane
3.15.1 Overview
3.15.2 Polyurethane Foam
3.15.3 Blowing Agent Replacements
3.15.4 Other Uses
3.16 Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
3.17 Thermoset Elastomers
3.18 Composite Materials
3.18.1 Glass Fibre Composites
3.18.2 Carbon Fibre Composites
3.18.3 Wood/Plastic Composites
3.18.4 Other Natural Fibre Composites
3.18.5 Cement-Based Composites
References
4 Overview of Polymer Usage in the Building and Construction Sector

4.1 Windows and Doors
4.2 Glazing
4.2.1 Glazing Film
4.3 Cladding and Fascias
4.3.1 Coving, Skirting and Other Interior Items
4.3.2 Exterior Cladding, Shuttering and Panels
4.3.3 Other Profiles and Interior Panels
4.4 Insulation
4.4.1 Thermal Insulation
4.4.1.1 Building Regulations
4.4.1.2 Polystyrene Foam Insulation
4.4.1.3 Polyurethane Foam Insulation
4.4.2 Acoustic Insulation
4.5 Sealing
4.5.1 Seals and Gaskets
4.5.2 Sealants
4.6 Flooring
4.6.1 Sheets
4.6.2 Tiles
4.6.3 Carpet
4.6.5 Wall Covering
4.7 Pipe and Conduit
4.7.1 Overview
4.7.2 Renovation of Water and Sewerage Pipelines
4.7.3 Gas Pipes
4.7.4 Pipe Coatings
4.8 Roofing
4.9 Houses and Shelters
4.9.1 Hurricane-Proof Shelters
4.9.2 Storm Shelters
4.9.3 Emergency Shelters
4.10 Adhesives
4.11 Fencing and Decking
4.12 Recycled Plastic Lumber
4.13 Building Stone Restoration
5 Civil Engineering Applications of Polymers

5.1 Bridges
5.1.1 Construction
5.1.2 Repair and Reinforcement
5.1.3 Glulams
5.2 Seismic Damage
5.3 Membranes
5.4 Road and Paving Applications
5.5 Railway Applications
5.6 Sport and Leisure Surfaces
6 Key Trends

6.1 The Economy
6.1.1 North America
6.1.2 Europe
6.2 Regional Differences in the Market for Construction Products made from Plastics
6.3 Polymer Pricing
6.4 Internet Trading
6.5 Global Warming
6.6 European Union Action Against Ozone Depleting Substances
6.7 Recycling and Use of Recycled Materials
6.8 Synthetic Building Materials from Solid Waste
6.9 Trends in Housing
6.9.1 Environmentally Friendly Housing
6.9.2 Modular Housing
6.9.3 Floating Houses
6.9.4 Plastic Space House
6.10 Solar Heating
6.11 Geothermal Heating
6.12 Development of Dense Plastic Foam
7 Company Profiles

7.1 Introduction - Competitive Situation
7.2 Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P.
7.3 Atofina
7.4 Barlo Plastics Europe N.V.
7.5 BASF AG
7.6 Bayer AG
7.7 Borealis Holding A/S
7.8 BP
7.9 British Vita PLC
7.10 CRH PLC
7.11 Crompton Vinyl Additives GmbH
7.12 Deceuninck NV
7.13 The Dow Chemical Company
7.14 DSM
7.15 DuPont de Nemours International SA
7.16 European Vinyls Corporation (EVC)
7.17 Heywood Williams Group PLC
7.18 HT Troplast AG
7.19 Huntsman Corporation
7.20 Hydro Polymers
7.21 Icopal Holding
7.22 IMI plc
7.23 Palram Industries Limited
7.24 Royal Group Technologies Limited
7.25 Solvay S.A.
7.26 Spartech Corporation
7.27 Tarkett Sommer Vertriebs GmbH & Co. KG
7.28 Uponor Oyj
7.29 Wavin Plastics Ltd.
8 Future Outlook

8.1 Polymers in the Third Millennium
8.2 Technology
Abbreviations and Acronyms

Keith Cousins graduated from Oxford University in Engineering Science and followed a graduate apprenticeship with one of the fore-runners of GEC with a career in export sales. This included export area management with Francis Shaw, a leading manufacturer of rubber and plastics extruders and mixing machinery.

Moving to market research at Buckingham-based Harkness Consultants after posts in Export Area and Market Planning Management at Coventry Climax, he has since November 1993, established a successful independent market research consultancy. Assignments have included a succession of published reports and privately communicated studies.