月: 2023年2月

What Is Wood Siding?

Wood siding utilizes treated wood planks as a material for exterior walls in architectural designs, particularly in wooden structures. This siding option is celebrated for its aesthetic appeal, durability, and the natural warmth it brings, courtesy of its wood composition.

Uses of Wood Siding

Wood siding finds its applications in various settings including general housing, villas, public facilities, and commercial buildings. It is especially favored for constructions aiming for high design quality with natural materials and is apt for environments like mountainous or coastal areas.

Characteristics of Wood Siding

Advantages

1. Natural Material
Wood siding, being a natural material, is environmentally friendly and plays a crucial role in global environmental conservation.

2. High Thermal Insulation Performance
It offers superior thermal insulation, contributing to energy savings. The inherent insulating properties of wood are enhanced with additional insulating materials, improving the indoor climate throughout the seasons.

3. High Durability
Thanks to the inherent strength and solid structure of wood, wood siding offers considerable durability, ensuring long-term use.

4. Aesthetic Appearance
The natural texture and grain of wood siding not only enhance the exterior look of a building but also add warmth and elegance, making it a popular choice.

Disadvantages

1. Requires Regular Maintenance
As a natural material, wood siding necessitates ongoing maintenance, including painting and repairs, to prevent deterioration and extend its lifespan.

2. Vulnerability to Weather and Insect Damage
Wood is vulnerable to weather elements and insects, necessitating proper care and preventive measures to guard against mold and infestations.

Types of Wood Siding

Wood siding can be broadly classified into:

1. Solid Wood

Made from processed natural wood, options include cedar, cypress, and red cedar, each varying in price and durability.

2. Laminated Wood

Comprising multiple layers of wood bonded with glue, laminated wood is more durable and requires less maintenance than solid wood.

How to Choose Wood Siding

Consider the following when selecting wood siding:

1. Wood Type

Choose a wood type that complements the building’s design, considering the color, texture, and quality of the material.

2. Durability

Opt for durable materials to withstand weather and insect damage, ensuring the siding remains in excellent condition over time.

3. Construction Method

Select a construction method that aligns with the building’s design and structural requirements, consulting with specialists for best results.

4. Budget

Balance the choice of wood siding with budget constraints, considering both material and installation costs.

How to Use Wood Siding

Proper installation of wood siding is crucial for ensuring durability and effectiveness. Techniques vary from fastening directly to the substrate to using metal fittings for enhanced stability. Incorporating insulation between the siding and the wall can further improve thermal performance.

What Is a Wooden Door?

A wooden door is a door made primarily of wood, a classic and essential building material. Wooden doors are renowned for their superior thermal insulation properties, with thermal conductivity significantly lower than that of steel or aluminum, which are also commonly used in door construction.

Although the rise of condominiums and housing complexes has led to an increased prevalence of steel doors, wooden doors are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. This resurgence is partly due to their warm aesthetic appeal and the growing variety of designs available.

Uses of Wooden Doors

Wooden doors are versatile, used in various parts of a home including the main entrance, interior rooms, and large closets. Their increasing popularity is attributed to their ability to complement a home’s interior design.

Advancements in design and a broader range of available products have further boosted their appeal. Modern wooden doors often feature a lightweight construction, consisting of laminated wooden boards attached to a wooden frame, making them easier to install and offering more options to consumers.

What Is a Soil Conditioner?

A soil conditioner is a material used to improve the soil to make it suitable for growing crops.

Unlike fertilizers, they are used to improve the physical, chemical, and biological elements of the soil. As crops are grown in the field, the physical, chemical, and biological elements inevitably break down. This is why a soil conditioner is needed.

As the name suggests, soil conditioners are materials used to improve the soil.

Uses of Soil Conditioners

There are various types of soil conditioners, and their uses vary according to their characteristics. Typical applications of soil conditioners are as follows:

1. Humus

Humus is classified as a vegetable compost. Humus is created by piling up fallen leaves and allowing them to ferment over an extended period of time. Because of its high fiber content, humus is ideal for improving aeration and water retention. It creates a fluffier soil It also contains minerals, which can promote plant growth.

2. Cow Manure Compost

Cattle manure is made by adding rice straw and other materials to cow manure and fermenting it. Since cattle manure also contains a large amount of fiber, it is used to improve aeration and water retention.

It is also an organic fertilizer and contains nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphoric acid, which make it effective as a fertilizer. It is used when you want to improve soil conditions before the next cultivation, as it slowly becomes effective as a fertilizer.

When mixed between the end of one cultivation and the next, the nutrients are gradually mixed into the soil.

3. Slaked Lime

Slaked lime is made by adding water to powdered limestone and allowing it to mature. It is a substance known as calcium hydroxide, and because of its strong alkalinity, it is used to improve highly acidic soil to a neutral level.

4. Rice Husk Charcoal

Rice husk charcoal is an improver made by grinding rice husks into charcoal. It is rich in trace elements and is used to improve aeration and water retention while promoting plant growth. Other effects include the activation of microorganisms and deodorizing effects.

Characteristics of Soil Conditioners

Advantages

Advantages of soil conditioners include improving water retention and preventing root rot. If the soil has poor water retention properties, no matter how much water is applied, the water will not penetrate. Also, if soil aeration is poor, moisture in the soil will remain in the soil, which can lead to root rot. These problems can be remedied by incorporating soil conditioners into the soil.

Cons

One of the disadvantages of soil conditioners is they can be costly, as there are many different types of soil conditioners for different uses and purposes. Also, soil conditioners are available in large lots and may not be purchased in small quantities.

Types of Soil Conditioners

There are four main types of soil conditioners. The characteristics of each type are as follows:

1. Vegetable Compost

Vegetable compost is made by fermenting fallen leaves and other plant matter. Although it contains few nutrients, it improves physical properties, such as aeration and activates microorganisms in the soil, making it compatible with all types of soil.

2. Animal Manure

Animal compost is made by fermenting the feces and urine of livestock, such as cows, chickens, and pigs. Dung and urine are used as fertilizers because they contain high levels of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium, which promote plant growth. However, since the effects and characteristics vary depending on the type of livestock, it is important to select the right one for the intended use.

3. Lime Materials

Lime materials are used to adjust soil acidity (pH). Lime materials also contain calcium and magnesium, which are used to provide essential nutrients to the field.

Lime materials also come in a variety of types, including quicklime, slaked lime, calcium carbonate, shell fossils, and oyster shells.

Other Soil Conditioners

In addition to the soil conditioners described above, there are many other types of soil conditioners. Some soil conditioners can be used when the composts described above do not improve the soil. For example, soil conditioners made from rice husks that have been smoked into charcoal instead of fermented to improve poor soil drainage.

What Is Brick?

Brick is a rectangular, block-like building materials made from clay. Clay is mixed with shale, sand, and other materials, placed in a mold, and fired in a kiln to harden it. Usually, it is reddish brown in color due to ferric oxide contained in the clay and they are commonly known as red bricks.

Uses of Brick

Bricks are predominantly used in decorative, civil engineering, and small-scale structures within the building industry. Bricks are chosen for their excellent fire resistance, durability, and heat insulation properties, finding application in:

1. Building Construction

Bricks are durable for building walls and columns, used in a variety of buildings from ordinary houses to historical structures.

2. Roadbed and Pavement

Often used in quaint areas such as sidewalks and garden paths, bricks provide aesthetically pleasing pavements and are also utilized in landscaping such as gardens and flower beds.

3. Heating

Due to their heat storage capability, bricks are employed in creating warm spaces, such as fireplaces and stoves.

Properties of Brick

Bricks possess a variety of properties based on their material and manufacturing process. Primarily made of clay, which becomes sticky when mixed with water, bricks are formed and then fired at high temperatures. This process hardens the bricks, enhancing their durability, fireproofing, insulation, and hygroscopic properties.

1. Durability

Bricks boast extreme durability and a long lifespan, resisting deterioration and contributing to stable building structures.

2. Fire Resistance

Highly fire-resistant, bricks help protect buildings during fires, adding a crucial safety layer.

3. Thermal Insulation

The air layer within bricks serves as a thermal insulator, improving heating and cooling efficiency.

4. Moisture Absorption

Brick’s clay content enables it to absorb and store moisture, aiding in humidity regulation while requiring careful management.

Types of Brick

Bricks are classified by use into construction, landscaping, and more, with standard red bricks measuring 21 cm x 10 cm x 6 cm. Varieties include irregularly shaped bricks for window areas, high-temperature baked glazed terra cotta bricks, hollow bricks for better insulation and lightness, and pavement bricks for roads. Firebricks withstand temperatures above 1,000°C for industrial use, while architectural bricks are designed for exterior walls with enhanced strength and water absorption.

Other Information on Brick

1. Brick Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing of bricks involves:

1. Mining
   Clay, the primary ingredient, is extracted from the ground, with properties varying by location and method.
2. Mixing
   Clay is blended with shale and water, then kneaded for uniformity, resting for around two days before molding.
3. Molding
   The homogenized clay is shaped, ensuring consistent quality. Techniques include extrusion and press molding.
4. Drying
   Bricks are dried naturally or in ovens, shrinking in the process.
5. Firing
   Drying is followed by kiln firing, with temperature and duration affecting color and hardness.
6. Inspection and Sorting
   Post-manufacture, bricks undergo quality checks, with only those meeting standards proceeding to use.

2. Brick Stacking

Bricks can be stacked in various styles, such as flanders, influencing strength, appearance, and workability. The chosen construction method can significantly affect the visual outcome.

What Is Plaster?

Plaster, a plastering material for finishing walls and ceilings, is created by mixing water with a mineral powder primarily consisting of calcium sulfate. Applied with a plastering trowel, it covers the base coat to smooth the wall surface. Plasters vary based on their raw materials, leading to types like gypsum, dolomite, and lime plaster.

Gypsum plaster is mainly made from calcined plaster, although mixes with anhydrite or hard plaster are also common. Dolomite plaster, derived from light-burnt dolomite made by firing dolomite or dolomitic limestone, is known for its excellent plasticity and ease of application, albeit with a finish inferior to gypsum plaster and is more cost-effective. Lime plaster combines slaked lime with fibrous materials such as chopped hemp yarn and glues like hornbeam, mixed with water.

Uses of Plaster

Gypsum and lime, ancient building materials, were utilized in the Egyptian pyramids and Greek architecture, continuing their use as plaster since then. Commonly employed to finish the top coats of walls and ceilings, plaster also serves in interior decoration, applied with a metal trowel or shaped using molds.

Beyond building applications, plaster finds medical uses, such as in casts for broken bones or dental molds. It also boasts excellent fire resistance and sound insulation, leading to its widespread use in plasterboard for interior house construction. Plasterboard, made by molding gypsum plaster into boards and covering them with special paper or other materials, is valued for its ease of installation, fire resistance, heat insulation, and sound insulation.

What Is Phenolic Foam?

Phenolic foam is a type of foamed plastic insulation material in which phenolic resin is foamed into microscopic bubbles to seal in highly insulating gases, thereby providing excellent heat insulation properties. Despite its thinness, it offers sufficient heat-insulating performance and has recently become widely used as a heat-insulating material for houses. The foaming gas used is a hydrocarbon gas, noted for its low global warming potential, making it an environmentally friendly heat insulator.

In addition to its high heat insulation performance, phenolic foam possesses excellent heat resistance, sound absorption, flame resistance, low smoke emission, cryogenic properties, and chemical resistance. While the construction cost increases with improved insulation properties, the overall cost can be reduced considering the running costs post-completion.

Uses of Phenolic Foam

Phenolic foam, when used as an insulating material in houses, significantly reduces heating and cooling expenses. It minimizes temperature differences within the building and reduces radiation from walls and floors, contributing to a comfortable living space.

With its exceptionally high thermal insulation performance and thin construction, phenolic foam is ideal for external insulation, where the walls, roof, and floors of a building are wrapped with insulation material. As a means to mitigate global warming, the demand for highly insulated building materials is increasing.

Its non-housing applications extend to semiconductor and automotive parts, cookware handles, and tableware.

What Is Spiral Pipe?

Spiral Pipe is a spiral steel pipe manufactured by crimping the ends of a strip of steel into a helical shape.

Also called spiral duct, some pipes are made by pressing or deep drawing. The clawed portion is made of overlapping steel strips and has high strength, and the clawed portion runs in a spiral pattern around the circumference of the pipe, increasing the strength of the pipe as a whole.

Spiral Pipe is often used as air conditioning ducts in building construction. The smooth inner surface of the pipe results in very little pressure loss, and installation and pipe connection are easy. Various materials are available, including hot-dip galvanized steel sheet, stainless steel, galvalume steel sheet, and PVC steel sheet.

Uses of Spiral Pipe

Spiral Pipes are used in a wide range of locations as ducts for air conditioning.

1. Factories, Etc.

• Exhaust air of petrochemical plants and pulp manufacturing plants
• Exhaust air of semiconductor manufacturing plants
• Exhaust air from factories in seaside areas
• For exhaust air of factories using chemicals and gases
• Exhaust from animal housing for experiments and clean rooms for experiments

2. Industrial and Public Buildings, Etc.

• Ducts for air conditioning of operating rooms in hospitals
• Flue ducts in factories and stores, heat-retaining piping in plants
• Ducts in office and retail buildings
• Exhaust pipes in tunnels
• Ducts for dust collection in industrial buildings
• Ventilation for sewage and human waste treatment plants

3. Residences, Etc.

• Residential chimneys
• Boilers for water heaters
• Ventilation ducts for kitchen and bathroom toilets in housing complexes, ducts for heating and cooling

Other Information on Spiral Pipe

Features of Spiral Pipe

Spiral Pipe has the following characteristics

1. High Strength

The entire duct is reinforced because it is manufactured with a gauze fold, and it is strong enough to withstand applications such as high-speed ducts, dust collection ducts, and smoke exhaust ducts.

2. Low Friction Loss and Leakage

Spiral Pipe’s high strength results in less deformation during airflow and high roundness. The smooth inner surface of the spiral pipe minimizes air resistance and friction loss. In addition, the spiral spiral ducts have a smaller leakage volume than square ducts, etc., because the spiral ducts are spiral-shaped, which reduces the cost of heat insulation work around the ducts.

3. Easy Installation and Connection

Another major advantage of Spiral Pipe is the ease of installation work, such as connecting Spiral Pipe and suspending it from the ceiling.

Although the degree of resistance varies depending on the material, it is excellent in touch resistance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, and weather resistance. Of course, the price varies depending on the material, so it is necessary to select the material that best suits the application.

What Is Primer?

Primer refers to a paint used as a primer for painting. Both water-based and oil-based sealers exist and are used depending on the application. In addition to the difference between water-based and oil-based types, there are various types of Primer, so it is important to select the one with the appropriate effect for the type of object to be painted.

Uses of Primer

In general, painting is done in separate stages, such as “primer coat,” “middle coat,” and “top coat,” and sealers are used in the “primer coat,” which is the first stage. The water-based type is mainly used for interior paints because it has little odor, while the oil-based type has a strong odor but high permeability and excellent reinforcement effect, so it is mainly used for heavily deteriorated painted surfaces such as exterior walls. Primer priming improves the finish of the final coated surface and reinforces the substrate itself, so Primer is not just for a clean finish, but also as a measure against deterioration.

Principle of Primer

Primer priming has the following effects

• Improvement of Adhesion Between the Painted Surface and the Paint
  Primer acts as an adhesive and improves the adhesion between the painted surface and the paint, thereby preventing deterioration such as peeling of the paint film.
• Prevention of Paint Absorption During Painting
  Primer can be applied at the beginning of the painting process to prevent the paint from being absorbed by the middle and top coats that are applied later.
• Reinforces the Substrate of the Painted Surface
  Primer can reinforce the deteriorated substrate by penetrating into the substrate.

In addition to the difference between “oil-based” and “water-based” Primer, there are also differences depending on the application, as shown below.

• Primer for Fire Retardant
  Mainly used on interior walls and ceilings, this sealer can control cigarette smoke and rain stains.
• Cationic Primer
  Primer that can be used on both exterior and interior walls. It has excellent “permeability,” “adhesion,” and “economic efficiency,” and has a wide range of applications, but it does not allow the use of strong solvent paints for the top coat.
• Primer for Reinforcing Concrete
  This product is ideal for use on concrete and mortar because of its excellent durability and prevention of dust and dirt. It is characterized by its ability to harden the surface, reduce paint absorption, and reinforce the surface.

What Is a Torque Converter?

A torque converter is an essential component in automatic transmission (AT) vehicles, designed to transfer the rotational force (torque) generated by the engine to the wheels. It utilizes a fluid power transmission mechanism and is situated between the engine and the gearbox.

Uses of Torque Converters

In AT vehicles, the torque converter replaces the clutch found in manual transmission (MT) vehicles, handling the task of power transfer from the engine to the wheels. This facilitates easier driving and accessibility for beginners by regulating engine power for smooth acceleration and deceleration.

Principles of Torque Converters

The torque converter comprises three main parts: the impeller, turbine, and stator. The impeller, powered by the engine, rotates and moves the fluid inside the converter, directing it towards the turbine. The turbine then converts this fluid motion into rotational force to drive the wheels. The stator sits between the impeller and turbine, optimizing fluid flow for efficient power transfer. This arrangement allows the torque converter to adjust power transmission based on engine speed, ensuring the vehicle operates smoothly under varying conditions.

Other Information on Torque Converters

1. Advantages of Torque Converters

The most significant benefit is the ease of driving it offers. By automatically adjusting power transfer and gear shifting in response to engine speed, the torque converter allows drivers to focus on steering, accelerating, and braking, simplifying vehicle operation.

2. Demerits of Torque Converters

The primary drawback is the potential for energy loss due to the fluid transmission process, which can reduce fuel efficiency.

3. Maintenance of Torque Converters

While torque converters require minimal maintenance, periodic replacement of the contained fluid is recommended to prevent deterioration that can compromise power transmission, fuel economy, and overall vehicle performance. The schedule for fluid replacement varies by vehicle make and model, so consulting the owner’s manual and a professional is advised. Symptoms of torque converter issues include unusual vibrations, noises, drops in fuel economy, or engine stalls at idle, warranting a specialist’s inspection.

Proper understanding and maintenance of the torque converter are crucial for the longevity and smooth operation of AT vehicles.