Comprehensive Building Technology Reviewer: Paints, Plastics, Indigenous Materials, and Protection Systems

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering paint components, plastic classifications, indigenous architectural materials, and building protection systems according to the instructional reviewer.

Paint

A liquid or fluid solution/suspension containing pigments, binders, and solvents that converts into an opaque, solid protective film after application.

Base (Paint Ingredient)

Solid, finely ground metallic oxides that form the body of the paint film, providing opacity and blocking destructive environmental rays.

Vehicle / Binder

The non-volatile liquid portion of paint that binds pigment particles into a continuous film, determines durability, gloss, and adheres the coating to the substrate.

Pigment

Granular solids that remain insoluble suspended particles; they contribute color, opacity, and body to the paint matrix.

Solvent / Thinner

A volatile liquid that controls viscosity for uniform fluid application and evaporates fully during curing, leaving no residue.

White Lead

A traditional carbonate of lead base that is highly opaque, durable, and flexible, but heavily restricted due to severe toxicity and neurological hazards.

Zinc Oxide (Zinc White)

A base highly resistant to chemical fumes and sulfur that acts as a natural mildewcide, though it tends to form a hard, brittle film when used alone.

Titanium Dioxide ($TiO_2$)

The premier modern white pigment base with exceptional hiding power and a high refractive index of $n \approx 2.7$.

Alkyd Resins

Chemically modified synthetic polyester binders that dry faster, form harder coatings, and resist weathering better than traditional raw oils.

Epoxy Binders

Two-part chemically cured cross-linking resins yielding exceptional mechanical toughness, abrasion proofing, and industrial chemical resistance.

Mineral Spirits / White Spirit

A petroleum distillate used as the primary modern industrial thinner for alkyd and oil-based paint formulas due to lower costs and mild odor.

Enamel Paint

A hard, high-gloss protective finish formulated with alkyd or oil binders that is highly wash-resistant.

Varnish

A clear, un-pigmented protective finish made of binder (resins/polyurethane), solvent, and additives that accents natural wood grain patterns.

Shellac

A natural bio-resin secreted by the female Lac bug dissolved in denatured alcohol; used as a wood sealer but vulnerable to heat and moisture.

Chalking

A paint defect involving the formation of loose, powdery pigment residue on the film surface caused by UV radiation decomposing the polymeric binder matrix.

Alligatoring

An advanced cracking pattern mimicking reptilian skin caused by applying a hard finish coat over a soft, un-cured primer layer.

Thermoplastics

Polymers that soften and melt when heated and harden back into a rigid form when cooled; this phase change is infinitely reversible.

Thermosetting Plastics (Thermosets)

Polymers that undergo a permanent chemical cross-linking reaction when heated or cured; once set, they cannot be re-melted and will char if heated.

uPVC (Unplasticized PVC)

A type of PVC devoid of plasticizers, making it extremely rigid and impact-resistant; used for window frames, drainage gutters, and water mains.

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

A linear, tightly packed chain structure polymer used for heavy-duty underground drainage pipes and structural geogrids.

XPS (Extruded Polystyrene)

A closed-cell rigid dense foam with superior moisture resistance and compressive capacity, used for sub-slab or perimeter foundation insulation.

Polycarbonate (PC)

An engineering thermoplastic with $250$ times the impact strength of standard glass and $30$ times 그 of acrylic; can be cold-bent on-site.

Injection Molding

A manufacturing method where molten plastic is forced into a precision-machined steel mold cavity under extreme pressure.

Indigenous Materials

Locally sourced, naturally occurring, and minimally processed building materials native to a specific geographic region.

Abaca (Manila Hemp)

A fiber derived from the leaf stalks of $Musa\,textilis$ and known as the strongest natural fiber available; used for high-tensile cordage.

Rattan

A climbing palm with a solid, highly fibrous internal core that becomes highly flexible when exposed to localized steam heat.

Coir (Husk Fiber)

Fibrous husks from coconut palms processed into acoustic insulation batts or bio-composite geotextile mats for erosion control.

Capiz Shells

Translucent shells from the marine bivalve mollusk $Placuna\,placenta$ used as natural light diffusers in traditional Spanish-Filipino architecture.

Yakal Wood

An ultra-dense, resinous structural hardwood with immense resistance to severe weathering and direct soil contact.

Rice Hull Ash (RHA)

An agricultural waste byproduct rich in amorphous silica used as a pozzolanic admixture in concrete to enhance durability.

Waterproofing Systems

Continuous, impermeable barrier materials designed to stop liquid water penetration under hydrostatic pressure conditions.

Damp-Proofing

A method designed strictly to resist the transmission of capillary soil moisture and vapor in non-hydrostatic conditions.

Crystalline / Integral Systems

Chemical admixtures introduced into concrete that grow microscopic structures to permanently plug capillary pores and micro-cracks.

Radiant Barriers

Shiny aluminum foil sheets that operate by blocking up to $97\%$ of radiant solar heat transfer.

Physical Termite Shields

Continuous sheets of non-corrosive sheet metal built into foundation-to-wood transitions to force termites out into the open for visibility.