Plain-English definitions of common terms used across plastics, polymers, roofing and construction.
C
- Circular economy
- An economic model that keeps materials in use through reuse, repair and recycling instead of disposal. Related articles →
D
- Daylighting
- Using natural light to illuminate building interiors, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Related articles →
E
- Extrusion
- A process that pushes molten material through a shaped die to make continuous profiles, pipes or sheets. Related articles →
F
- FRP
- Fibre-reinforced plastic: a polymer strengthened with glass or other fibres. Related articles →
H
- HDPE
- High-density polyethylene: a strong, chemical-resistant plastic used in pipes, tanks, floats and packaging. Related articles →
I
- Industry 4.0
- The use of connected sensors, automation and data analytics in manufacturing. Related articles →
- Injection moulding
- A process that injects molten plastic into a mould cavity to produce identical parts at scale. Related articles →
L
- Light transmission
- The percentage of visible light that passes through a material. Related articles →
M
- Masterbatch
- A concentrated mixture of pigments or additives in a carrier resin, added to plastics during processing. Related articles →
- Multiwall polycarbonate
- Extruded polycarbonate sheet with internal hollow ribs (flutes) that add rigidity and thermal insulation at low weight. Related articles →
P
- PEB
- Pre-engineered building: a steel building designed and fabricated off-site, then bolted together on site. Related articles →
- PEEK
- Polyether ether ketone: a high-performance engineering thermoplastic with excellent heat and chemical resistance. Related articles →
- PMMA
- Polymethyl methacrylate (acrylic): a clear, rigid plastic with excellent optical clarity. Related articles →
- Polycarbonate
- A tough, transparent thermoplastic known for very high impact resistance; widely used for roofing, glazing and skylights. Related articles →
- PUF panel
- Sandwich panel with a polyurethane foam core between metal skins, used for insulated roofs and walls. Related articles →
- PVC
- Polyvinyl chloride: a versatile plastic used in pipes, profiles, boards and sheets. Related articles →
S
- Skylight
- A roof opening glazed with transparent or translucent material to let daylight in. Related articles →
T
- Thermoplastic
- A polymer that softens when heated and hardens when cooled, so it can be melted and re-shaped. Related articles →
U
- U-value
- The rate of heat transfer through a building element; a lower U-value means better insulation. Related articles →
- ULTEM
- A trade name for polyetherimide (PEI), a high-heat, high-strength engineering thermoplastic. Related articles →
- UV stabilizer
- An additive that protects plastics from degradation caused by ultraviolet light. Related articles →
