10 Using resources Flashcards
what is a composite material
- made of one material embedded in another
- have a matrix which is the binder
examples of composite materials
- fibreglass - consists of fibres of glass embeded in polymer, low density but very strong used for skis, boats and surfboards
- carbon fibres - also have polymer matrix, reinforcment is from long chains of C atoms or from C nanotubes, very strong and light used in aerospace and sports car manafacturing
- concrete made of aggregate embeded in cemenet, very strong ideal for building material
what is a thermo-setting polymers
- contain monomers that can form cross-links between polymer chains holding them together in a solid structure
- don’t soften when heated
- strong hard and rigid
what are thermo-softening polymers
- contain individual polymer chains entwined together with weak forces between the chains
- can melt these plastics and remould them
difference between low density (LD) polymers and high density
(HD)
- LD is made from etehene at moderate temperatures under high pressure and with a catalyst, flexible and used for bags and bottles
- HD made from ethene but at a lower temperature and pressure with a different catalyst, more rigid, used for water tanks and drainpipes
properties of ceramics
glass and clay ceramics eg. porcelain and bricks
- insulators of heat and electricity
- brittle and stiff
properties of polymers
- insulators of heat and elctricty
- can be flexible and easily moulded - thermosoftening
- used in clothing and as insulators in electrical items
porperties of composites
- depend on the matrix/bider and the reinforcement used to make them
- have many different uses
- fibre glass, carbon fibre, concrete, wood
properties of metals
- malleable
- good conductors of heat and electricty
- ductile can be drawn into wires
- have many uses eg. electrical wires, car body-work and cutlery
how are alloys made
- adding another element to the metal
- disrupts the structure of the metal making alloys harder than pure metals
examples of alloys
- bronze = copper + tin, used in medals, decorative ornaments and statues
- brass = copper + zinc, used where lower friction needs eg. water taps, door fittings
- gold alloys, zinc, silver and copper used to allow gold to be used in jewlerry pure gold too soft
- aluminium alloys, used in aircrafts
what is the equation for the formation of rust
iron + oxygen + water —> hydrated iron(III) oxide
what is corrosion
where metals react with substance in their environment and are gradually destroyed
what happens when iron is exposed to oxygen and water
- it rusts
- flakes off the surface leaving more iron to rust and corrode
what happens when aluminium is exposed to air
- forms aluminium oxide on the outer layer of the aluminium creating a protective layer
- prevents any further corrosion taking place
what type of methods are there to prevent corrosion
- barrier method
- sacraficial method
- some methods use both eg. an object can be galavanised by spraying a coat of zinc - firstly protective but if scratched zinc around the site of the scratch works as sacraficial metal
barrier methods for preventing corrosion
- painting/coating with plastic
- electroplating - uses electrolysis to reduce metal ions onto an iron electrode, can be used to coat iron with a layer of a different metal that won’t corrode
- oiling/greasing - has to be used when moving parts involved eg. bike chains