1.1 + 1.2 Flashcards
mechanical vs physical properties
mechanical = properties associated with how a material reacts to an external force
physical = properties associated with the actual make-up or structure of the material
compressive strength
the ability to withstand being crushed or shortened by pushing forces (compression)
tensile strength
the ability to resist stretching or pulling forces (tension)
bending strength
the ability to resist forces that may bend the material
shear strength
the ability to resist sliding forces on a parallel plane
torsional strength
the ability to withstand twisting forces from applied torque or torsion
hardness
the ability to resist abrasive wear such as scratching, surface indentation or cutting
toughness
the ability to absorb impact force without fracture
plasticity
the ability to be permanently deformed (shape) and retain the deformed shape
ductility
the ability to be drawn out under tension, reducing the cross-sectional area without cracking
(stretching a material into a wire)
malleability
the ability to withstand deformation by compression without cracking. malleability increases with a rise in temperature
elasticity
the ability to be deformed and then return to the original shape when the force is removed
electrical conductor
allows the flow of electrical current through the material. a good conductor gives very little resistance to the flow of charge
electrical insulator
does not allow the flow of electricity through he material
thermal conductor
allows the transfer of heat energy through the material. a material with high thermal conductivity allows the transfer of heat to occur quickly across the material
thermal insulator
prevents the transfer of heat through the material
thermal expansion
the increase in material volume in response to a heat input
opaque
prevents light from travelling through
translucent
allows light through but diffuses the light so that objects appear blurred.
(frosted glass)
transparent
allows light to pass through easily which means you can see clearly through the material
density
the mass of the material in a standard volume of space
fusibility
the ability of the material to be fused or converted from a solid to a liquid or molten state, usually by heat. good fusibility is an essential property for a metal being cast
magnetism
the natural force between objects that causes the material to attract iron or steels
corrosion/degradation resistance
the ability of the material to withstand environmental attack and decay
ferrous metals
a metal containing mostly iron and carbon, ferrous metals are magnetic and will rust
- low carbon steel
- medium carbon steel
- cast iron
non-ferrous metals
a metal that does not contain iron, non-ferrous metals are not magnetic and do not rust
- aluminium
- copper
- zinc
- silver
- gold
- titanium
- tin
alloy
a metal made of two or more metals, or combining two or more elements, one of which must be a metal
alloys can also be a sub classified as ferrous alloys or non-ferrous alloys
ferrous alloys
- stainless steel
- die steel (tool steel)
non-ferrous alloys
- bronze
- brass
- duralumin
- pewter
aluminium drinks can
> malleable which allows the can to be deep drawn into shape
> lightweight which makes it easier to lift and transport; aluminium adds little to the product weight
> a food safe material, which means the user will not be poisoned when drinking form the can
> non-ferrous so will not rust on contact with the liquid in the can
> very easy to recycle and use again for other products because it has a low melting point therefore saving finite resources
> aesthetically pleasing, with a natural silvery colour, which offers a contemporary, clean look to the product
hardwood
a wood from broad-leafed (deciduous) trees.
these trees are generally slow growing and lose their leaves in autumn
- oak
- ash
- mahogany
- teak
- birch
- beech
softwood
a wood from a coniferous (cone bearing) tree.
these trees are generally fast growing and tend to be evergreen
- pine
- spruce
- Douglas fir
- redwood
- cedar
- larch
manufactured board
a man-made wood-based composite material.
manufactured boards are available in much larger sizes than solid wood
- plywood
- marine plywood
- aero ply
- flexible plywood
- chipboard
- MDF
teak outdoor garden bench
> contains natural oils resistant to moisture, making it vower weather resistant and unlikely to quickly degrade due to the effects of weathering
> contains natural oils which resist acids and alkalis, meaning the bench is unlikely to degrade due to bird droppings or cleaning detergents
> is aesthetically leasing due to the natural dark brown/ red colour and straight grain
> is hard, meaning it will withstand scratches from items such as buttons people’s jeans when they sit down or move around on the bench
thermoplastic
a material which can be repeatedly reheated and reshaped, allowing it to be recycled after its initial use.
thermoplastics have long linear chain molecules held by van Der walls forces
- LDPE
- HDPE
- PP
- HIPS
- ABS
- PMMA
- PET
- nylon
- rigid and flexible PVC
thermosetting polymer
a material which hen heated undergoes a chemical change whereby the molecules for rigid cross links.
thermosetting polymers cannot be reheated and reshaped, even at very high temperatures
- urea formaldehyde (UF)
- melamine formaldehyde (MF)
- polyester resin
- epoxy resin
elastomer
a material which at room temperature can be deformed under pressure and then upon release of the pressure, will return to its original shape.
elastomers have weak bonds which allow them to stretch easily.
- natural rubber
- polybutadiene
- neoprene
- silicone
PET drinks bottle
> a thermoplastic which allows I tot be recycled; this is important for a single use product as it means it will not contribute to landfill
> tough - if the user drops the bottle, the contents will not be released
> available in transparent form, which allows the user to see how much drink is left
> impermeable to carbon dioxide, making it ideal for carbonated drinks
melamine formaldehyde kitchen worktop
> is a thermosetting polymer with a high melting point, so it will not be affected by hot pans placed on the surface
> is chemical resistant which allows the worktop to be cleaned with detergent
> is hard, which enables the user to clean the surface with a scouring pad without scratching the surface
> can be pigmented to give the kitchen worktop a specific colour to fit with the kitchen aesthetic
neoprene wetsuit
> is an elastomer so the wetsuit will stretch and release to fit tightly around the body
> has good degradation resistance so will not be damaged by salt water in the sea
> can be pigmented to give a particular colour choice for the consumer, or to provide a company brand colour option
papers and boards
papers and boards ca be described as compliant materials, meaning that they can be scored, folded, and cut with basic tooling to form items such as nets for packaging
- layout paper
- cartridge paper
- tracing paper
- bleed proof paper
- treated paper
- water colour paper
- corrugated card
- bleached card
- mount board
- duplex card
- foil backed card
- laminated card
- metal effect card
- moulded paper pulp
corrugated card take-away food box
> it is compliant and easy to cut and fold to a box shape using a die cutter
> it is a food safe material - the food will not become contaminated by the corrugated card
> it is an insulating material due to the air pockets within the corrugations, which will help to keep the food warm
> it is a lightweight material which makes it easy carry on a delivery bike
> a food box is a single use product, and corrugated card is easily recycled, so the box should not contribute to landfill
> it is biodegradable, so will not contribute to landfill issues if it is thrown away and not recycled
composites
a material comprised of two or more different materials, resulting in a material with enhanced properties
fibre based - CFRP, GRP, fibre concrete
particle based - tungsten carbide, concrete
sheet based - aluminium composite board, engineered wood (glulam)
GRP boat hull
> can be manufactured via the lay-up method, allowing complex 3D shapes such as the hull to be created
> can be pigmented to produce a range of colours for improved aesthetics or corporate branding such as racing team colours
> has chemical resistance so will not corrode or decay when in the salty sea water
> is a tough material and able to withstand minor impact from waves etc, without damage
smart material
a material whose properties change in response to an input or change in the environment, such as electricity, pressure, temperature or light
- shape memory alloy
- thermochromatic pigment
- thermochromatic film
- phosphorescent pigment
- photo chromatic pigment
- electroluminescent wire
- piezo electric material
thermochromatic film thermometer
> it changes colour in response to temperature change
> the colour change, such as red for hot, makes it easier to read than small numbers or lines as used on traditional thermometers
> it is a non-toxic material, therefore much safer to use than mercury thermometers
> it can be incorporated into a film strip, making it flexible enough to go on to a forehead when taking a temperature reading
modern material
a material developed through the invention of new or improved processes.
modern materials are not ‘smart materials’ because they do not react to eternal change
- kevlar
- precious metal clay (PMC)
- high density modelling foam
- polymorph
material disposal
> major consideration for the end of a product’s life
> not only influences the manufacturer’s choice but also the consumer’s
> environmentally aware consumer may choose a product based on its ability to be recycled
example:
aluminium bike frame over a CFRP frame, because although CFRP may have performance advantages, it is difficult to recycle, whereas aluminium has a low melting point
tensile testing (practical workshop test)
> clamping materials of the same length and thickness into a vice
> applying a load such as weights to the unclamped end
> see how wuchthe material deflects under the load / how much load each material can bear with the least deflection
> the less deflection the more tensile strength
toughness testing (practical workshop test)
> material samples are clamped into a vice
> each sample is then hit with the same force, using a hammer
> tough materials with absorb the impact, whereas brittle materials may bend or even shatter
hardness testing (practical workshop test)
abrasive wear
> run a file over the surface of the material, using the same force for each sample
> the material with the fewest scratches is the hardest
resistance to surface indentation
> the material sample is fully supported underneath and the dot punch is placed onto the material surface
> the dot punch is hit once with a hammer, using the same force for each sample
> the smaller the indent, the harder the material
malleability and ductility testing (practical workshop test)
> secure the test piece in the vice
> try to bend the testy piece to 90*
> cracks or surface damage on the outside of the bend indicates a lack of ductility
> crack or surface damage to the inside of the bend indicates a lack of malleability
conductivity testing (practical workshop test)
electrical
> collect material samples of the same dimensions and, on the top surface, mark a set distance between the two ends of the material sample
> the distance is the spacing for each probe of the multimeter
> place the probes on the distance marks and measure the resistance on the multimeter
> the higher the resistance, the lower the electrical conductivity
thermal
> collect material samples of the same dimensions and measure a set distance from one ned for the thermometer to be placed
> a Bunsen burner is lit under the other end of the material
> record the time it takes for the temperature to reach the set point at the other end of the material
> the shorter the time, the higher the thermal conductivity
corrosion testing (practical workshop test)
> all test pieces should be the same size
> materials can simply be placed outside in an area exposed to weather effects and left for a certain length of time
> materials can then be visually inspected for surface corrosion
tensile testing (industrial test)
> a standard test piece is placed into a tens-meter machine and held in clamps at each end
> one clamp is fixed and the other moves on a worm drive gear mechanism
> as the worm drive travels at a constant rate, the test piece is put under tension.
> as the test piece is stretched, the load and distance travelled is plotted, giving information on elastic limit, yield point, maximum load and final breaking point after ‘necking’
toughness testing (industrial test)
> a notched test piece is held vertically in the vice of the test machine
> a pendulum is released from a set position and swings to strike the test piece
> the energy absorbed by the test piece is calculated form the height the pendulum swings to after it hits the test piece
> the material that absorbs the most impact is the toughest
hardness testing (industrial test)
Rockwell test
> a preload is applied to the material sample using a diamond indenter which breaks through just the surface of the material
> the preload is the datum or zero reference position
> an additional load is then applied to the test material and held for a predetermined length of time
> the load is then released and the distance between the preload and the applied load is measured, the smaller the indentation depth the harder the material
Brinell test
> a hardened standard size steel ball is forced into the material’s surface using a pre-set load
> the diameter of the indent in the surface is measured, the smaller the diameter indent the harder the material
Vickers pyramid test
> use a diamond square-based pyramid to indent the surface of the material (diamond is used because it won’t deform under load)
> a microscope is used to measure the size of the indent, the smaller the indent the harder the material
ductility and malleability testing (industrial test)
> the test piece is placed into a bending machine and held, supported at the ends
> a mandrel or plunger loads the test piece at the centre and bends it to a predetermined angle, or util the piece fractures
> the material is then inspected fro cracks or defects. cracks on the outside indicate the level of ductility, cracks on the inside indicate the level of malleability
ultrasonic testing (non-destructive)
+ and uses
> a transducer generates sound waves which are pulsed into the material.
> the intensity of the reflected sound waves signal is recorded on a display unit
> the sound waves travel through he material and if there are any defects such as cracks in the sound waves’ path, the sound energy will be partially reflected and shown on the display unit
+ can be performed on all types of materials
+ it can be portable
+ has a high accuracy of flaw detection
used for the aerospace industries, and used to check the quality of welds in pips for offshore oil applications
X-ray testing (non-destructive)
uses
> an x-ray beam passes through the material and an image is projected onto a display screen
> it allows the observation of tiny details within the material
> the magnified images enable miniature flaws such as voids or hairline cracks to be reliably detected
used to inspect integrated circuits and printed circuit boards and to check for voids in composite materials such as F1 cars or track pursuit cycles where there is a monocoque construction
it can also be used to detect faults in turbine blades or aeroplane engine blocks
electrical conductivity (non-destructive testing)
> four small diameter wires are stretched parallel to each other across a non-conductive polymer block, held in place and connected to a copper terminal block
> two leads re attached to the inner wires and two to the outer wires
> the outer leads are connected to a precise current and the two inner leads measure the voltage drop
> ohms law (V=IR) can then be used to measure the resistance
thermal conductivity (non-destructive testing)
> using a heat flow meter, a square shaped material test piece is placed between ow temperature controlled plates
> the temperature is increased at a controlled rate and the heat flow through the material is measured by heat flow sensors placed on the surface of the material
> as the material is heated to a specific temperature, the sensors measure and record the rate of thermal conductivity
layout paper
thin translucent paper with a smooth surface
- sketching
- quick ink
- technical drawing
- tracing
cartridge paper
off-white paper usually with a slightly textured surface
- sketching
- rendering in pencil
- ink and pastel
- can be used for printing
tracing paper
translucent paper slightly thicker than layout paper
- for copying images when sketching
bleed-proof paper
similar to cartridge paper but has a bleed-proof layer on one side so colours do not run
- spirit-based marker rendering
treated paper
plain paper with a clear binder or dye layer applied to help hold the image on the paper surface and brighten the image. Surface sheen such as high gloss or matt available
- photographic printing
watercolour paper
available in absorbent, smooth, hot-pressed or the more textured cold-pressed and heavily textured rough
- watercolour painting
corrugated card
usually with carton board outer layers and a corrugated middle layer, giving the material the ability to provide protection against impact
- protective packaging
- model making
- prototyping ideas
- food packaging such as take-away boxes
bleached card
chemically treated to brighten the surface to make it stable for high-quality printing
- greeting cards
- high-quality packaging
mount board
made from compressed fine cotton fibres to produce rigid board
- presenting artwork
- picture mounting
- modelling
duplex card
made up of two layers of paper, with the exterior often coated to make it more water-resistant and to give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel
- food packaging such as juice or milk cartons
- disposable cups
- plates
foil backing and laminated card
card with polymer film or foil applied to either one side or both sides to provide a water resistant and/or heat insulating layer. The foil or laminate layer must be removed before recycling the paper pulp
- drinks packaging
- milk cartons
- take-away box lids
metal effect card
high-quality card with a thin metal effect layer applied to the outer surface doe enhanced aesthetics. Can be embossed
- gift boxes and packaging
- high-quality metal effect business cards