Name: Nathan
Status: educator
Grade: 6-8
Location: MI
Country: USA
Date: Spring 2010
Question:
I was wondering what combination of materials that would result
in a weather resistant building but yet be a home that someone
might want to live in?
Replies:
The term 'weather-resistant' really depends on time-scale. How long do
you want the building to resist weather? Typical homes are build with
materials that last for 10-20 years, but you could choose materials
that last much longer than that. When you get into 50-100 year
structures, you rely on metals that form a protective oxide layer, or
stone. Organic materials (like caulk or asphalt) would no longer be
appropriate. Many materials will break down when exposed to water --
steel, wood, plastics... If you want a structure to last hundreds of
years the problem becomes even more challenging. Another key question
is maintenance -- with proper maintenance, many materials can last
decades -- but without maintenance, almost any structure will break
down.
Hope this helps,
Burr Zimmerman
Nathan--
The Materials Research Society Fall 2009 meeting had a presentation on
using chicken feathers as a viable building material. It was a talk
given by Richard Wool of the University of Delaware. I think is was
Symposium AA on 30.November.2009. A few links to the University of
Delaware and the Materials Research Society are given below.
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