Step 1: Nature of Plastics
Plastics are widely used in construction due to:
- Low density,
- High corrosion resistance,
- Easy fabrication,
- Good electrical insulation properties.
Step 2: Drawback – Low Strength
However, compared to traditional materials like steel, aluminum, and concrete, plastics have:
- Much lower tensile and compressive strength,
- Poor performance under heavy mechanical loading or structural stress.
This limits their use in load-bearing or high-stress applications in construction.
Step 3: Elimination of Other Options
- Density: Low density is an advantage, not a drawback.
- Machinability: Plastics are generally easy to machine or mold.
- Plastic deformation: Plastics typically show large deformation before fracture, which can be useful.
Conclusion: The primary structural drawback of plastics in construction is their low strength.