Compound
A compound might be described as a material made from two or more materials with specific ratios, bonded at a molecular or microscopic level.
More specifically a chemical compound is any substance composed of identical molecules consisting of atoms of two or more chemical elements from the periodic table. For example, water is a compound because it is made up of water molecules - made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the defined proportion of two hydrogens for one oxygen.
In terms of general materials compounds, to some extent (incorrectly) the term might be used interchangeably with composite, though this normally refers to different materials being combined at a macroscopic rather than molecular level. For example cement is a compound material, made from limestone and clay heated to extremely high temperatures of up to 1600°C. Cement in turn is a constituent part of concrete which might also be referred to as a compound material or more commonly a mix made up of (portland) cement, aggregate (gravel, crushed stones), sand and water. PVC polyester is a composite - consisting of a PVC substrate coated with polyester.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.