A. Development in New Materials

Question 1

What is graphene?

Answer 1

A single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice.
It is the thinnest material known to date

Question 2

What is graphene used in?

Answer 2

Sports equipment, cooling technology in mobile phones, batteries, aerospace etc

Question 3

Properties of titanium

Answer 3

High strength, lightweight, resists corrosion and does not react with human tissue

Question 4

What is titanium used in?

Answer 4

• Missiles, space and aircraft
• Medicine for artificial joints

Question 5

What is metal foam?

Answer 5

Cellular structures made up from metal containing gas filled pores

Question 6

Properties of metal foam

Answer 6

• Good stiffness to weight ratio
• Strong
• Resistant to deformation
• Can be made into complex geometrical forms
• Good heat resistance and sound absorption

Question 7

What is metal foam used in?

Answer 7

Weight saving and impact absorption in vehicles

Question 8

What is a liquid crystal display?

Answer 8

Pixels display an image on the screen.
A backlight provides light to the individual pixels
Varying the levels of red, green and blue light, millions of colour combinations are created

Question 9

Benefits of metal coatings

Answer 9

Helps protect metal, making it more durable and reduce wear and tear.

An unprotected ferrous metal is liable to rust and corrosion due to exposure to the environment

Question 10

Examples of coated metals

Answer 10

Galvanised steel, plastic coatings like Teflon, anodising, thermoplastic dip coating, painting

Question 11

What are nanomaterials?

Answer 11

Materials or substances made at a very small scale.
Anything less than 100 nanometres in size

Question 12

What are the properties of nanomaterials?

Answer 12

Can add properties to products, such as
Lightweight
Tensile strength
Rigidity
Hydrophobic
Bacteria resistant
Repel dirt
Neutralise bad odours

Question 13

What is polymorph?

Answer 13

A polymer that can be shaped and reshaped multiple times. When warmed to 62C, it becomes flexible and easy to mould into the desired shape.

Question 14

What is polymorph used for?

Answer 14

• Making bespoke shapes like ergonomic handles.
• Making prototype mechanical parts and for making mouldings

Question 15

What is Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC)?

Answer 15

• A flexible polymer with tiny metal particles embedded into it.

Question 16

How does QTC conduct electricity?

Answer 16

• Material is squeezed
• Pressure forces particles together
• A current of electrons flor between the particles
• This is known as quantum tunnelling

Question 17

What are Shape Memory Alloys (SMA)?

Answer 17

A group of materials that revert back to their original shape after being deformed by heat or another external stimulus

Question 18

What are thermochromic materials?

Answer 18

• Temperature sensitive
• Change colour at certain ranges of temperatures
• Incorporated into inks or for baby products

Question 19

What are photochromic materials?

Answer 19

• Light sensitive
• Change colour at different UV levels
• Degrade from overexposure to UV light

Question 20

Where are photochromic materials used?

Answer 20

• Glasses. The lens darkens when exposed to UV light, and reverts back once removed from the UV source

Question 21

What is a smart material?

Answer 21

Responsive materials that react to external stimuli. They alter the functional or aesthetic properties in response to the changing environment

Question 22

What is Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)?

Answer 22

A polyester material reinforced with the addition of glass fibre, creating a strong and lightweight composite.

Question 23

What is GRP used in?

Answer 23

• Manufacture of circuit boards
• In the marine industry for boat hulls
• In custom kit car market

Question 24

What is Carbon fibre Reinforced Plastic (CRP)?

Answer 24

A thermoplastic reinforced with carbon fibres.
It has a high strength to weight ratio

Question 25

What is CRP used in?

Answer 25

• Aerospace engineering for fuselage components
• Formula One vehicle chassis
• Running blades for para-athletes

Question 26

What is Gore-Tex? Where is it used?

Answer 26

A fabric with breathable yet waterproof properties. Allows vapour produced by the wearer to escape, but repels water.

Commonly used for outdoor clothing

Question 27

What protection can protective clothing provide?

Answer 27

• Chemical protection
• Particulate filtration
• Flame resistance
• Cut resistance
• Outdoor protection and high visibility

Question 28

What is Kevlar?

Answer 28

A plastic fibre with high tensile strength
- Polyamide fibres connect to form long chains.
- These are aligned parallel to each other inside the fibres acting as reinforcement to give Kevlar its strength.
- So tightly spun, its impossible to penetrate them

Question 29

Properties of Kevlar

Answer 29

• Heat resistant
• Extremely hard wearing
• Flexible and lightweight
• Cut, puncture and ballistic resistant.

Question 30

What is Kevlar used in?

Answer 30

• Body armour and bullet proof vests
• Reinforces tyres
• Adds strength and durability to sports equipment and other vehicle components

Question 31

What is micro-encapsulation?

Answer 31

• The process of adding a coating to tiny particles or droplets

Question 32

What are microfibres?

Answer 32

Synthetic fibres that are less than one denier thick which can be microencapsulated

Question 33

Properties of microfibres

Answer 33

Can hold anti-microbial agents, insecticides, moisturisers and medicines

Question 34

Properties of fire-resistant fabrics

Answer 34

• Withstand heat and burning
• Lightweight and durable
• Protects against heat and flame without melting or dripping

Question 35

Where are fire-resistant fabrics used?

Answer 35

• Protective clothing for firefighters
• Racing driver and pit crew apparel

Question 36

What are conductive fabrics used for?

Answer 36

• Thermal heating or allowing an electrical signal to pass through them.
• Fitted into sportswear to monitor vital statistics
• Woven into fabric to generate power from sunlight and motion