JEE MAINS PAPER 2 (B.
ARCH)
APTITUDE SERIES
BUILDING MATERIALS
Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent amorphous solid, that has widespread practical,
technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is
most often formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of the molten form; some glasses such as volcanic
glass are naturally occurring.
Commercial glass composition
Such glasses are made from three main materials—sand (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), limestone
(calcium carbonate, or CaCO3), and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
The ultimate strength of glass is related to the rate at which it is cooled. There are four main types or
strengths of glass:
1) Annealed Glass
Annealed glass is a basic product formed from the annealing stage of the float process. The molten
glass is allowed to cool slowly in a controlled way until it reaches room temperature, relieving any
internal stresses in the glass.
2) Heat Strengthened Glass
Heat Strengthened Glass is semi tempered or semi toughened glass. The heat strengthening process
involves heating annealed glass back up to about 650 to 700 degrees Celsius and then cooling it
quickly, although not as fast as with toughened glass.
3) Tempered or Toughened Glass
This is the most common type of glass used in balustrades or similar structural applications. Annealed
glass is heated to about 700 degrees Celsius by conduction, convection and radiation.
4) Laminated Glass
Any one of the above types of glass can be laminated. The most commonly used finished product is
two sheets of toughened glass, laminated together with a 1.52mm thick Polyiynil Butyral (PVB)
interlayer.
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It
is an organic material – a natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in
a matrix of lignin that resists compression. Wood is sometimes defined as only the secondary xylem in the
stems of trees, or it is defined more broadly to include the same type of tissue elsewhere such as in the roots
of trees or shrubs.
These three types are: softwoods, hardwoods, and engineered wood. Each of these different wood types can
be used in a number of different ways:
Softwoods
Softwoods are the wood and lumber which are milled from conifer trees. Scientifically known as
Gymnosperms, Conifer trees are any trees which have needles and produce cones. Examples of popular
softwood trees used in woodworking, construction, and furniture are Pine, Cedar, Fir, Spruce, and Redwood.
Are Softwoods Softer Than Hardwoods?
Contrary to popular belief, softwoods are not named softwoods because they are “soft”. While it is true that
some varieties of hardwoods are very hard and therefore more challenging to work with, the distinction
between hardwood and softwood has little to do with the actual softness or whether one wood is harder to
work with. There are many hardwoods which are softer than softwoods.
Hardwoods
Hardwoods come from any trees which do not produce needles or cones. These trees are most commonly are
known as deciduous trees, more scientifically known as angiosperms. Hardwoods are trees which produces
leaves and seeds.
Engineered Wood: Manufactured Wood Products
The third type of wood you may encounter are engineered woods. Engineered wood does not occur naturally
in the environment but instead are manufactured.
These boards are generally made with wood which is manipulated to have certain qualities or features. Also
known as composite wood, these products are often made from the waste wood of sawmills.
A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction.
Properly, the term brick denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to
denote other chemically cured construction blocks. Bricks can be joined using mortar, adhesives or by
interlocking them. Bricks are produced in numerous classes, types, materials, and sizes which vary
with region and time period, and are produced in bulk quantities.
Bricks are laid in courses and numerous patterns known as bonds, collectively known as brickwork,
and may be laid in various kinds of mortar to hold the bricks together to make a durable structure.
Classification Of Bricks
Clay bricks are classified as first class, second class, third class and fourth class based on their physical and
mechanical properties.
First Class Bricks
1. These are thoroughly burnt and are of deep red, cherry or copper colour.
2. The surface should be smooth and rectangular, with parallel, sharp and straight edges and square
corners.
3. These should be free from flaws, cracks and stones.
4. These should have uniform texture.
5. No impression should be left on the brick when a scratch is made by a finger nail.
6. The fractured surface of the brick should not show lumps of lime.
7. A metallic or ringing sound should come when two bricks are struck against each other.
9. Water absorption should be 12-15% of its dry weight when immersed in cold water for 24 hours. The
crushing strength of the brick should not be less than 10 N/mm2. This limit varies with different Government
organizations around the country.
Uses: First class bricks are recommended for pointing, exposed face work in masonry structures, flooring
and reinforced brick work.
Second Class Bricks are supposed to have the same requirements as the first class ones except that
1. Small cracks and distortions are permitted.
2. A little higher water absorption of about 16-20% of its dry weight is allowed.
3. The crushing strength should not be less than 7.0 N/mm 2.
Uses: Second class bricks are recommended for all important or unimportant hidden masonry works and
centering of reinforced brick and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures.
Third Class Bricks are underburnt. They are soft and light-coloured producing a dull sound when struck against
each other. Water absorption is about 25 per cent of dry weight.
Uses: It is used for building temporary structures.
Fourth Class Bricks are overburnt and badly distorted in shape and size and are brittle in nature. Uses: The ballast
of such bricks is used for foundation and floors in lime concrete and road metal.
A cement is a binder, a substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to
other materials to bind them together. Cement is seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and
gravel (aggregate) together. Cement mixed with fine aggregate produces mortar for masonry, or
with sand and gravel, produces concrete. Concrete is the most widely used material in existence and
is behind only water as the planet's most-consumed resource.
Cements used in construction are usually inorganic, often lime or calcium silicate based, which can
be characterized as non-hydraulic or hydraulic respectively, depending on the ability of the cement
to set in the presence of water.
Non-hydraulic cement does not set in wet conditions or under water. Rather, it sets as it dries and
reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. It is resistant to attack by chemicals after setting.
Hydraulic cements (e.g., Portland cement) set and become adhesive due to a chemical
reaction between the dry ingredients and water. The chemical reaction results in mineral hydrates that
are not very water-soluble and so are quite durable in water and safe from chemical attack. This
allows setting in wet conditions or under water and further protects the hardened material from
chemical attack.
Manufacture of cement
There are four stages in the manufacture of portland cement: (1) crushing and grinding the raw
materials, (2) blending the materials in the correct proportions, (3) burning the prepared mix in
a kiln, and (4) grinding the burned product, known as “clinker,” together with some 5 percent
of gypsum (to control the time of set of the cement). The three processes of manufacture are known as
the wet, dry, and semidry processes and are so termed when the raw materials are ground wet and fed
to the kiln as a slurry, ground dry and fed as a dry powder, or ground dry and then moistened to form
nodules that are fed to the kiln.
Stone is an essential and more permanent building material in construction than other natural
building materials. Based on the type, stones can be used in buildings for flooring, roofing, masonry,
paving roads and also as aggregates for concrete.
Stones for construction purposes are obtained by quarrying from solid massive rocks. The stones
used for masonry construction should be hard, durable, tough, and should be free from weathered
soft patches of material, cracks, and other defects that are responsible for the reduction of strength
and durability.
Uses of Building Stones
The stones used for various types of works are as follows:
• Fine-grained granite and gneiss stones are used for Heavy engineering works such as
building bridge piers, breakwaters, monuments, etc.
• Granite, quartzite and compact sandstones are used for masonry works in industrial areas
exposed to smoke and fumes.
• Marble, granite and sandstone are used for facing work of buildings.
• Limestone and sandstone are used for general building works.
• Fine-grained granite, marble, and soft sandstone are used for Carvings and ornamental
works.
• Compact limestone and sandstone are used for Fire-resistant masonry.
• Granite, quartzite stones are used in foundations of building in places with the high
groundwater level.
• Marble, slate, sandstone and granite stones are used for floor pavings.
Metals are opaque, lustrous elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity. Most metals
are malleable and ductile and are, in general, denser than the other elemental substances.
What are some applications of metals?
Metals are used in:
• Transportation -- Cars, buses, trucks, trains, ships, and airplanes.
• Aerospace -- Unmanned and manned rockets and the space shuttle.
• Computers and other electronic devices that require conductors (TV, radio, stereo, calculators, security
devices, etc.)
• Communications including satellites that depend on a tough but light metal shell.
• Food processing and preservation -- Microwave and conventional ovens and refrigerators and freezers.
• Construction -- Nails in conventional lumber construction and structural steel in other buildings.
• Biomedical applications -- As artificial replacement for joints and other prostheses.
• Electrical power production and distribution -- Boilers, turbines, generators, transformers, power lines,
nuclear reactors, oil wells, and pipelines.
• Farming -- Tractors, combines, planters, etc.
• Household conveniences -- Ovens, dish and clothes washers, vacuum cleaners, blenders, pumps, lawn
mowers and trimmers, plumbing, water heaters, heating/cooling, etc.
Alloy, metallic substance composed of two or more elements, as either a compound or a solution. The
components of alloys are ordinarily themselves metals, though carbon, a nonmetal, is an
essential constituent of steel.
Alloys are usually produced by melting the mixture of ingredients. The value of alloys was discovered
in very ancient times; brass (copper and zinc) and bronze (copper and tin) were especially important.
What materials are fire – resistant?
Various building materials are fire-resistant, but some of the best ones are fire-resistant glass
windows, concrete, gypsum, stucco and brick.
Gypsum board, also known as drywall, is the most commonly used fire-resistant interior finish. Type X
gypsum board is treated with additives to improve its fire-resistance property, making it a popular
choice.
Paint is any pigmented liquid, liquefiable, or solid mastic composition that, after application to
a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film. It is most commonly used to protect, colour, or
provide texture to objects.
1. Oil paint
Oil paints are usually applied as a primer, undercoat and a finish coat. In the past oil paints were heavily
relied on because of its durability and longevity on surfaces, however water-based paints are now at par.
Known for their gloss and durability, oil paints stand for a rich finish, water-resistant properties and long-
lasting abilities.
2. Emulsion Paint
Unlike traditional oil paints, majority of emulsions are water-based paints with fast-drying
characteristics. It’s the popular choice for paint contractors since it’s alkali resistant, rich in texture and
has stronger colour retention abilities, making it a long-lasting paint choice.
3. Enamel Paint
As an oil-based solvent, enamel paints are characterized by key qualities of oil paints like slow-drying
abilities and hardness.
It is an expensive choice for a homeowner, but enamel paints also render high durability, strong adhesion,
provide glossy finish and are water and stain resistant.
4. Bituminous Paint
Along with common paints, there are many types of industrial paints used to coat pipes, irons, woods and
external work. Characterized by a black, tar-like appearance and good alkali-resistant properties,
bituminous paint is formulated using dissolved asphalt and/or tar.
5. Aluminium Paint
Aluminium paint is a type of paint coating that is made by mixing aluminium particles or flakes with
oil/spirit varnish. The type of varnish can be used as per the requirement since spirit varnish leads to a
shorter drying period.
The benefits of using this type of paint is resistant to electricity, weather, corrosion and is waterproof.
Aluminium paints give a silvery finish and are strong and durable paints due to the resin in it.
6. Anti-Corrosive Paint
Made from anti-corrosive elements like linseed oil, zinc chrome and fine sand, Anti-Corrosive Paints are
ideal for metallic surfaces. As its name suggests, it helps prevent corrosion on various surfaces, mainly
metallic in nature.
7. Synthetic Rubber Paint
Synthetic Rubber Paints are formulated from dissolving synthetic resins and by adding suitable pigments
and solvents to it. Due to pigments being added, any colour can be attained.
8. Cement Paint
Traditionally known as whitewash or cement paint, distemper paint is a paint variant that comprises of
lime, chalk, pigment, water and glue. It happens to be one of the oldest types of paint.
9. Speciality home paints: Lasts long, protects longer
You may have heard about antifungal, waterproofing and crack-bridging paints. There are specific types
of home paints for exterior and interior walls that focus on protecting walls from climatic conditions,
domestic situations and wear and tear.
Finish types
• Flat Finish paint is generally used on ceilings or walls that are in bad shape. This finish
is useful for hiding imperfections in walls and it is economical in effectively covering
relatively great areas. However, this finish is not easily washable and is subject to
staining.
• Matte Finish is generally similar to flat finish, but such paints commonly offer superior
washability and coverage.
• Eggshell Finish has some sheen, supposedly like that of the shell on an egg. This finish
provides great washability, but is not very effective at hiding imperfections on walls and
similar surfaces. Eggshell finish is valued for bathrooms because it is washable and
water repellent, so that it tends not to peel in a wet environment.
• Pearl (Satin) Finish is very durable in terms of washability and resistance to moisture,
even in comparison to an eggshell finish. It protects walls from dirt, moisture, and stains.
Accordingly, it is exceptionally valuable for bathrooms, furniture, and kitchens, but it is
shinier than eggshell, so it is even more prone to show imperfections.
• Semi-Gloss Finish typically is used on the trim to emphasize detail and elegance, and to
show off woodwork, such as on doors and furniture. It provides a shiny surface and
provides good protection from moisture and stains on walls. Its gloss does however
emphasize imperfections on the walls and similar surfaces. It is popular in schools and
factories where washability and durability are the main considerations.
• High-gloss paint is a highly glossy and super shiny form of paint that is light reflecting
and has a mirror-like look. It pairs well with other finishes. While it is highly durable and
easy to clean, high gloss paint is known for obvious visibility of imperfections like
scratches, dents.
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve
its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be
present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant need typically an
additional 11% chromium. Because of its high tensile strength and low cost, steel is used
in buildings, infrastructure, tools, ships, trains, cars, machines, electrical appliances, and weapons.
Iron is the base metal of steel. Depending on the temperature, it can take two crystalline forms
(allotropic forms): body-centred cubic and face-centred cubic. The interaction of the allotropes of
iron with the alloying elements, primarily carbon, gives steel and cast iron their range of unique
properties.
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main
ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid
objects of various shapes. This adaptability, plus a wide range of other properties, such as being
lightweight, durable, flexible, and inexpensive to produce, has led to its widespread use. Plastics
typically are made through human industrial systems. Most modern plastics are derived from fossil
fuel-based chemicals like natural gas or petroleum; however, recent industrial methods use variants
made from renewable materials, such as corn or cotton derivatives.
Reinforced concrete (RC), also called reinforced cement concrete (RCC), is a composite
material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the
inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ductility. The reinforcement is usually,
though not necessarily, steel bars (rebar) and is usually embedded passively in the concrete before
the concrete sets.
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by
shaping and then firing an inorganic, non-metallic material, such as clay, at a high
temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcelain, and brick.
They withstand chemical erosion that occurs in other materials subjected to acidic or caustic
environments. Ceramics generally can withstand very high temperatures, ranging from 1,000 °C to
1,600 °C (1,800 °F to 3,000 °F).
Foam is an object formed by trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid.
A bath sponge and the head on a glass of beer are examples of foams. In most foams, the volume
of gas is large, with thin films of liquid or solid separating the regions of gas. Soap foams are also
known as suds.
