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
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
Mental Health Awareness Week with ABS
Architects Benevolent Society programme of activity.
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
May 13-19: Moving more for our mental health.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.