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ABRASION RESISTANCE:
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The ability of a membrane to resist being worn away by contact with a moving, abrasive surface, such as foot traffic.
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ABSORPTION:
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Ability of a porous solid material to hold within its body relatively large quantities of gases or liquid.
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ACOUSTICAL DECK:
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Metal deck panel perforated to absorb sound.
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ACRYLIC:
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A group of thermoplastics formed by polymerizing esters of acrylic acid. Acrylic coatings are permeable and water-based, curing by evaporation. Colors are available.
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ADDITION POLYMERIZATION:
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Polymerization in which monomers are linked together without the splitting off of water or other simple molecules.
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ADHERE:
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To cause two surfaces to be held together by the combined strenght of the molecular forces and the mechanical interlocking achieved between adhesive and the bonded surface.
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ADHESIVE FAILURE:
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Failure of the bond between a compound and the surface with which it is in contact, allowing the compound to pull away and create an opening. See cohesive failure.
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ADIPRENE (Urethane Rubber):
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A polyurethane rubber, strong, tough and abrasion-resistant.
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ADSORPTION:
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The adhesion of an extremely thin layer of molecules (of gases or liquids) to the surface of solids liquids with which they are in contact.
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A-FRAME:
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A three-piece rigid structural frame in the shape of the upright capital letter A. See FRAMING.
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AGGREGATE:
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Crushed stone, crushed slag, or water-worn gravel used for surfacing a builtup roof; any granular mineral material.
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AGING:
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1) The effect on materials of exposure to an environment for an interval of time. 2) The process of exposing materials to an environment for an interval of time.
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AIR LANCE:
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A device used to test, in the field, the integrity of field seams in plastic sheeting. It consists of a wand or tube through which compressed air is blown.
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AISC:
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American Institute of Steel Construction
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ALIPHATIC POLYURETHANE COATING
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Normally used as a topcoat, a material that contain a specific class of iscyanates based on a long, straight-chain molecular structure noted for its high tensile strength, high gloss, color-stable properties, and ultraviolet resistance.
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ALKALINITY:
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The capacity of water to neutralize acids, a property imparted by the water's content of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and occasionally borates, silicates, and phosphates. It is expressed in milligrams of calcium carbonate equivalent per liter. This is one method of determining the amount of base in water.
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ALLIGATORING:
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The cracking of the surfacing bitumen asphalt which occurs during the aging process in which the loss of vilatile oils and the oxidation brought about by solar radiation; produces a pattern of cracks similar to an alligator's hide. The cracks may or may not extend through the surfacing bitumen.
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ALLOY:
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Material that has metallic properties and which is composed of two or more elements, of which at least one element is a metal.
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ALLOYS, POLYMERIC:
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A chemical blend of two or more polymers, typically a rubber and a plastic to imporive a given property (i.e., impact strength).
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ALTERNATING CURRENT:
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An electrical current in which the charge flow periodically reverses.
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ALUMINUM [Al 13] intl. symbol:
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Silvery, lightweight, easily owrked, metallic element that resists corrosion.
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AMBIENT TEMPERATURE:
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Surrounding air temperature.
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AMMETER:
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A meter used to measure electrical current flow.
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ANCHOR BOLT:
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A steel bolt usually fixed in a building structure with its threaded portion projection; used to secure frameworks, timbers, etc.
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ANGSTROMS:
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(AE A unit of measurement equal to .0001 microns (.0000000001 meters). Generally used to measure the wave length of certain types of electromagnetic radiations. For example, the red line of cadmium is defined as 6438 AE.
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