Chemicals have always amazed us with surprising experiments. Compound and Plaster are two kinds of cementing materials that are used for fixing walls and cracks. The Compound takes time to settle, but Plaster is too quick. These two terms came into action during construction work.
The Compound, also called drywall compound, is whitish in color containing gypsum. And Plaster is a mixture of either gypsum, lime, or cement. The compound is mixed with a small amount of water to get a consistent thick or mud-like paste, which can be applied to walls or cracks.
Compound vs Plaster
The main difference between Compound and Plaster is that Compound only contains gypsum, it does not settle quickly, and it takes time after applied for drying. While Plaster either contains gypsum, cement, or lime, and it settles very quickly also after application, it dries out instantly.
The compound has a muddy texture that is white in color and is used to seal walls, cracks, etc. No skills are needed for applying Compound to your walls. One just needs to add a subtle amount of water to it. It is smooth in texture which helps it to expand easily, and after the moisture is lost, the compounds get hardened.
Plaster is also a substance that is used for fixing, filling walls and cracks. It contains one among the compounds like gypsum, cement, or lime. It settles very quickly, and it is a powder that is white in color and is mixed with some amount of water before its application.
Comparison Table Between Compound and Plaster
| Parameters of Comparison | Compound | Plaster |
| Definition | The compound has a muddy texture that is white in color and is used to seal walls, cracks, etc. | Plaster is a substance that is used for joining and filling walls. |
| Compounds contained | The compound only contains gypsum as its main material. | Plaster can have either gypsum, lime, or cement as their main material. |
| Drying time | It takes time to lose moisture and drying out. | It does not take much time and dries out quickly. |
| Skills required | No skills are required for its application. | It requires some skills for its application or implementation. |
| Moulding feature | A compound cannot be mold into different shapes. | It can be molded into different shapes when its texture is soft. |
| Existence | It exists as a mineral and is pure in the form which occurs naturally. | It is made by humans after adding materials in requires proportions. |
| Chemical name | Calcium sulfate dihydrate. | Calcium sulfate hemihydrate. |
What is Compound?
The compound is calcium sulfate dihydrate which is used for fixing cracks or holes in a wall and is mainly used as a first layer before applying paints to the wall. It is for small fixes or work and can be applied by the unskilled person also because it does not require specific proportions during mixing.
The compound is pure in form, and it occurs naturally, unlike Plaster which is a man-made material. Because it hardens quickly, it cannot be molded into different shapes. When applied to walls, it makes the wall smooth in texture and equal for smooth application of wall paints.
The Compound texture is like plastic and is a little bit flexible, so it is mostly for the finishing touches. Multilayer coating is needed when using Compound because it does not provide a smooth texture in the first layer.
What is Plaster?
Plaster is used for decoration and safety purposes as it protects the wall and makes the wall water-resistant. It mainly contains a mixture of either gypsum, lime, or cement. It needs some skills for its application because its materials need to be added in measured proportions.
It is calcium sulfate hemihydrate which is also used for making statues because it has a clay-like structure and can be molded into different shapes easily but only before the moisture loss. Because once the moisture is lost, it becomes hard and tough to break.
Plaster is mixed with water, and then the exothermic reaction takes place, which takes away its moisture by making it hard. It is also used by doctors for bone joining purposes. Plaster is kept away from moisture because once it comes in contact with moisture, it becomes purposeless.
Main Differences Between Compound and Plaster
- Compound only contains gypsum, it does not settle quickly, and it takes time after applied for drying. While Plaster either contains gypsum, cement, or lime, and it settles very quickly also after application, it dries out instantly.
- The Compound is used for filling cracks and small purposes, while the Plaster is used for joining bricks, walls, etc.
- Plaster settles very quickly and does not take much time for drying. That is why most of the construction work is done with the help of plaster, but Compound takes time to settle and lose moisture, which is why it is mostly used for small jobs.
- The compound exists as a mineral and is pure in the form which occurs naturally. Whereas Plaster is made by humans after adding materials in requires proportions.
- A compound cannot be molded into different shapes because it hardens and loses its moisture, making its structure tough. On the other hand, Plaster can be molded into a different shape because of its soft structure and clay-like texture.
Conclusion
The compound is used for small fixes and for giving walls a smooth texture or even texture for easiness in paint applications. It can be used by anyone because it does not require much effort. But on the other hand, Plaster needs skills for its application, and measurable proportions of materials are added before to make it usable.
Plaster is a man-made material, while Compound is a naturally occurring mineral. A compound cannot be molded into different shapes because it hardens and loses its moisture, making its structure tough. On the other hand, Plaster can be molded into a different shape because of its soft structure and clay-like texture. Plaster is also used for medical purposes as it is wrapped around the broken bones or joints for fixing them.
References
- https://scripts.iucr.org/cgi-bin/paper?S0365110X58000128
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00354546