Construction Chemicals: Adding Value and Quality for a Strong and Sustainable Construction

Nowadays, construction of a building is not just about fixing the bricks with cements, or the quality of steels, iron rods, rather it also consists of a proper blend of chemicals that enhances the quality of the construction and protects it from many future risks. There are various construction chemicals which are used during the construction process according to the need and requirement of the project. For example, some construction chemicals are specifically used for repairing purpose, while some others are used for waterproofing. In such ways, the construction chemicals are available in the market in variety of forms to make the built-up structures more durable by providing additional stability.

If we talk about the wide range of use of construction chemicals, then these are sometimes used before, after, or during the construction stages to add some beneficial properties to the built-up concrete structures. Presently, a large number of manufacturers are broadly using construction chemicals to protect the concrete from atmospheric hazards, boost the strength and quality of the concrete and to prevent the concrete from damping and for many other benefits. Before moving towards the various types of construction chemicals and their applications, let’s begin with some fundamentals first.

What are the Construction Chemicals?

Scientifically, construction chemicals are the type of chemicals which are used during the various stages of construction processes to provide numerous beneficial advantages in the field of building concrete structures. These chemicals are used along with several building materials to provide enhanced strength to the structures, improve effectiveness, increase the speed of the construction work, repair the existing buildings, and many more. Construction chemicals are available in various forms such as grouts, chalks, sealants, adhesives, concrete mixtures to be suitably used for different types of purposes. Significantly rising urbanization along with the surging construction activities across the globe have increased the demand for construction chemicals.

What are the Various Types of Construction Chemicals Used for Numerous Construction Applications?

Generally, construction chemicals are used as hardening agents which are advantageous for surface application, repairing purpose or coating. Some of the basic types of construction chemicals are discussed below:

• Concrete Floor Hardeners- These type of chemicals are added to the concrete to make it more firm and durable. These chemicals are also useful in enhancing the waterproofing capability, abrasion resistance, chemical resistance and even in reducing the tendency of capturing dust. Therefore, such construction chemical are widely used in industrial, commercial or factory concrete floors.
   
• Polymer Modified Mortar- Polymers generally act to improve the workability of non-hardened mortar. So, polymer modified mortar are a better replacement for traditional binders as it makes the concrete more stronger and reduces the water ingress and permeability to salt by tightening the pores. These are mostly used for repairing and maintenance of old infrastructures.
   
• Tile Adhesives- These types of chemicals are treated as the backbone of your home, as adhesives helps in fixing the pieces of tiles together and delivers a beautiful canvas look. Such type of chemicals are broadly used in kitchen tops, floorings, washbasins and the areas where there is need of two surfaces to stick together.
   
• Water Repellents- As you can guess from the word itself, these type of chemicals are added to concrete to protect them from the adverse effects of water or moisture. Some best examples of water repellents are water-based silane water repellent, stone masonry, acrylic protective coating and many more.
   
• Epoxy Grouts- Particularly, these types of construction chemicals are mixed with concrete to make them more durable, abrasion resistant, stain resistant, and strong enough to absorb and physical impact. Moreover, these type of chemicals are also beneficial to protect the concrete from harsh environmental conditions such as exposure to high temperature, acids, chemicals, grease, etc.
   
• Adhesives- The main principle behind a strong and firm structure is its sustainability. Adhesives are the chemicals which are used to increase the life of any construction project by providing extra protection from environmental hazards. These chemicals possess strong bonding capacity and elasticity, hence, can easily perform expansion and contraction according to the temperature fluctuation. In markets, several types of adhesives are available such as silicone adhesives, UV adhesives, acrylic adhesives, etc.

Construction Chemicals: The Key Ingredients for Setting Standards in Construction

With the growing industrialization and urbanization all across the globe, the demand for buildings, highways, roads, bridges, tunnels, and many other infrastructures, is continuously increasing from the last few years. These factors will accelerate the demand and usage of construction chemicals in the near future. Furthermore, the challenges before construction industry to provide durable and sustainable infrastructures with emerging climatic conditions are further expected to bolster the growth of the construction chemicals market in the upcoming days.

About the Author(s)

     

Rosy Behera

Rosy Behera holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and is currently working as a content writing professional. She loves to portray her thoughts and ideas via her command on words. Grabbing her audience’s attention with her creative write ups is one of her biggest assets. Apart from writing, she is a certified “Odisi” dancer and has done Gardharva in Drawing, Painting and Arts. She always explores new things through travel and is a big foodie.