Construction Materials

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CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:

Aluminium and Iron:

extracted from ores in rocks

Glass = melting limestone, sand and soda:

heat up limestone (calcium carbonate), sand (silicon dioxide) and soda (sodium carbonate) until it melts

when the mixture cools, it comes out as glass

Bricks = made from clay

clay = mineral formed from weather and decomposed rock

is soft when it's dug up out of the ground - easy to mold

can be hardened by firing at very high temps

ideal as a building material - bricks can withstand weight of lots more bricks on top of them

Cement = limestone and clay:

powdered clay + powdered limestone are roasted in a rotating kiln to make cement

cement + water = slow chemical reaction which causes cement to gradually set hard

Concrete = cement, sand, aggregate + water

cement, sand, aggregate and water are mixed together to make concrete

very quick and cheap

but is unattractive

reinforced concrete - combo of concrete and solid steel support

combines the hardness of concrete w/ the strength and flexibility of steel

QUARRYING:

Can cause environmental damage

Uses up land

Destroys habitats

Costs money to restore quarry sites

Transporting rock causes noise and pollution

Produces dust and makes a lot of noise