Construction Chemicals Industry Newsletters Vol. 2
Construction Chemicals Industry Newsletters Vol. 2
3D-Printed Buildings: The Future of Construction?
Imagine building a house in 24 – 48 hrs? Seems like the stuff of science fiction, or a scene from Jurassic Park 2 or Ocean 8, right?
With today’s technology, such a feat is fast becoming a reality. In 2014, the first habitable house was manufactured by Audrey Radenko, in Minnesota, USA; a 15 square meter miniature castle. There has been great improvement since then, with the tallest 3D-printed structure by Winsun, in China; a 5-storey apartment block, completed in 2015.
Dubai opened the world’s largest 3D printed building in early 2020; a 6,900 square-foot administrative building for the Dubai Municipal. She plans for 25% of its buildings to be 3D printed by 2030.
According to Architect Magazine, the firm said the combination of 3D printing and modular assembly reduced labor costs by 50%–80% and construction waste by 30%–60%. The building, which first opened for business in the summer of 2016, was designed by Gensler for the United Arab Emirates National Committee.
Richard Hammond, a principal at Gensler based in San Francisco, told Architect Magazine – “This paves the way for a future where 3Dprinting can help resolve pressing environmental and urbanization issues, and allows for delivery of highly customized spaces to clients in a much shorter time frame”.
3D printing, best known as additive manufacturing, is a manufacturing method that involves building an object by laying down thin layers of materials on top of the other. 3D printing construction promises to be cost-effective, shorten building time, reduce labour cost, minimize construction waste and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Interview:
Ayoola Onagbenro Store/Procurement Officer, Bel Impex Limited
Q. Please tell us about your organization?
Ans. Bel Impex Limited (BIL), the converting arm of BEL Papyrus Limited, the paper mill operation, was incorporated in 2001. Equipped with the best European converting machines, BIL is currently producing and distributing several lines and sub-brands of tissue paper.
Q. When and how did you begin business with Cormart?
Ans. Cormart was our major local supplier of hotmelt glue, dating as far back as 15 years. Now, we get supplies of core bond liquid glue.
Q. Please tell us about your company’s business relationship with Cormart?
Ans. The business relationship is smooth. We make requests for products and it gets processed timely. It feels like we are Cormart’s number one customer.
Q. What Cormart products do you purchase and what is your impression?
Ans. The two major products we purchase are corebond liquid white glue and hotmelt glue. Both products are top quality.
Q. How have the products improved your business operation
Ans. There have been zero negative impact since we have been using the products.
Q. During product sourcing, what do you look out for?
Ans. We have a responsibility to our customers to deliver quality products. We apply the same directive in sourcing for products to enhance our production quality and capacity. We also prioritize a good market price and prompt delivery.
Q. Are there other business areas you’d like to partner with Cormart?
Ans. Not yet at this time, but we are always looking at possibilities.
Q. How likely would you recommend our products to others?
Ans. As often as the opportunity arises. Everyone wants quality and Cormart provides that.
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Read MoreProduct Spotlight: Seal PU Foam
Professional Grade Polyurethane Foam Spray
SEAL Polyurethane Foam spray is dispensed as a frothy liquid which expands and cures into a solid foam insulation and sealant, which is completely harmless to the ozone layer
Area of use:
- Gas and electrical penetrations
- Garage ceiling and wall joints
- Around outdoor faucets and exterior vents
- Window and door gaps
- Baseboards and vents
- Sill plates, pipe and duct penetrations
- Sink plumbing, floor/wall junctions, around electrical boxes
Advantages:
- Very good filling capacity
- Excellent stability (no shrink or post expansion)
- High thermal and acoustical insulation
- Excellent adhesion on most substrates
- Excellent mounting capacity
Application
- Shake the can properly for at least 30 seconds. Fit the tube onto valve. Hold the can upside down and extrude the foam by pressing bar. Gaps are to be filled partly (ca. 1/3) since foam will expand. After use, clean valve and tube immediately.
Technical Advice & Tips
PVC Adhesive
Components of PVC adhesive
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) adhesive is based on vinyl chloride polymers with added solvents and fillers (cyclohexanone, tetrahydrofuran and butanone).
Curing time
The length of time it takes for hard PVC adhesive to dry or cure varies, depending on the measurements of the areas being glued, the type of substrate and the amount of glue used. The ambient temperature and the atmospheric humidity will also affect the drying time.
Pressures and Strength
The strength of the PVC adhesive is measured according to the pressure it can withstand. The pressure is measured in KPA (kilopascal) or Bar. However, usage appears to be the reliable way of measuring the pressure in recent times as some of the right up on some labels can be deceptive.
Method of Application
For a 15-20 Bar PVC Adhesive, Cut the pipes at right angle. Insert pipe in fitting and mark depth. Clean the surface with a clean tissue paper and solvent cleaner. Stir the adhesive well and apply an even layer (thin on the fitting and thick on pipe) in an axial direction with brush. Assemble the parts within 4 mins (at 23C) without twisting, hold it firmly for few seconds. Remove the extra adhesive. The assembled joint should not be disturbed for 5 mins (below 10C for 15 mins). For pressure test, wait at least 24 hour.
