Core Materials Flashcards
Papers and Boards
Formed from wood pulp that is rolled out into this sheets.
Paper density - grams per square meter
Board density - microns
(Thinner - lower density)
Forms:
- sheet, rolls or ply
- thickness, weight, colour, size
Paper examples
DRAWING AND PRESENTATION OF TECHNIQUES - bleed proof paper, cartridge paper, grid paper, layout paper and tracing paper
Low density
- newspapers
- Magazines
- comics
- bus tickets
Board examples
Card
- easy to fold, cut, print
- modelling, greetings cards, paperback book covers
Cardboard
- easily cut, folded, printed on
- Inexpensive
- packaging, Modeling, templates
Corrugated card board
- stiff = difficult bend/fold
- strong + lightweight
- packaging of delicate items and food packaging
Board sheets
- rigid
- picture framing mounts, architectural modelling
Woods
Types and general properties
Hardwood
Softwood
Manufactured wood
- biodegradable
- cheap to manufacture
- stiff, hard, abrasion resistance
Hardwood
Properties and examples
- comes from deciduous trees (loose leaves)
- darker wood
- slow growing
- expensive
- expensive, heavy, dense, close grain + knots (which makes them weaker than manufactured)
- higher level of strength and durability
- one-off production, flooring, boatbuilding
OAK:
- heavy,hard, tough, very flexible, finished well, good outdoors
- contains tannic acid that corrodes steel screws + leaves blue stain
- garden furniture, doors, floors, high-end furniture
BEECH:
- tough, hard, close grain, withstands wear and shock
- liable to warp
- toys, furniture, wooden tool, good for steam bending
MAHOGANY:
- easy to work, available in wide planks, polishes well
- furniture, shop fittings, boat building, doors, pool cues
Soft wood
Properties and examples
- come from coniferous trees (don’t loose
- fast growing
- often pale colours
- cheaper, lighter and easier to work
- flexible, lighter, less dense than hardwood, grains + knots make wood weaker than manufactured
- interior moulding, window manufacturing, construction framing
CEDAR:
- resistant to insect attack, weather and dry rot due to natural oils
- lightweight, soft, knot-free, durable, attractive surface
- outside joinery, panelling, cladding
SPRUCE:
- easy to work, fairly strong, resistant to splitting, can contain pockets of resin
- construction work, crates
SCOTS PINE/REDWOOD:
- straight grain, easy to work, knotty,durable, finishes well, widely available, relatively cheap
- interior uses of construction work, boxes, crates, flooring
Manufactured wood
Properties and examples
- man-made from old scraps
- easy to work with
- not as aesthetically pleasing
- cheap
- board size not restricted to tree size
MDF:
- easy to machine/paint/glue/stain, smooth, chips easily, poor moisture resistance
- furniture, interior panelling, interior doors
PLYWOOD:
- strong + tough, high strength:weight, easy to cut
- can splinter
- structural panelling, furniture
CHIPBOARD:
- easy to cut, lightweight, inexpensive
- rough finish so usually veneered or covered in plastic, breaks and snaps easily
- kitchen worktops, cabinets, shelving
Polymers
Types and general properties
Thermo polymer
Thermosetting polymer
Elastomer
- heat and electrical insulators, range of colours
- mainly produced from crude oil
- good resistance to corrosion/degradation
- water resistance
- sheet form are flat, smooth and shiny surface
- formed from crude oil (non-sustainable source)
Thermo polymers
Properties and examples
- can be softened with the use of heat and moulded into shape (can also be reheated)
- most thermo polymers are recyclable
- reusable
- bendy and available in variety of colours
ACRYLIC:
- easily machined, hard, brittle, transparent/translucent or opaque, does scratch, not recyclable
- Used to illuminate shops signs, bathtubs, and shower trays
HDPE:
- recyclable, hard, tough, good chemical and weather resistance, low cost due to high-volume production
- Used for pipes, gutters, window frames.
PP:
- recyclable, tough, durable, good heat and chemical resistance
- Used in children’s toys, DVD cases, medical equipment
Thermosetting polymers
Properties and examples
- once moulded into shape, can’t be remoulded with the use of heat
- brittle, hard to recycle, good insulators, resistant to heat and chemicals
EPOXY RESIN:
- easily moulded as it is in a two part liquid form, good insulating properties once set
- Used as an adhesive + for casing electrical components
MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE:
- stiff, hard wearing, good heat and staining resistance
- Used for kitchen work surfaces.
PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE:
- hard, good electrical and heat insulator
- Used for light fittings and pan handles.
Elastomers
Properties and examples
- if force is applied it changes shape, when force is removed it returns back to original shape
- resilient, flexible
SILICON RUBBER:
- high heat resistance, chemical stability, electrical insulation, high elasticity and compressibility
- Used in cooking/baking/food storage products.
Metals
Properties and examples
ferrous metals
non-ferrous metals
alloys
- high boiling point, good conductors of electricity and heat, high density, malleable, ductile
Ferrous metals
Properties and examples
- a metal that contains iron
- attracted to magnets, can rust
STAINLESS STEEL:
- resistant to wear and corrosion
- Used for cutlery, surgical equipment, kitchen utensils, vehicle parts
CAST IRON:
- high compressive strength, extremely brittle and resilient to corrosion and oxidation
- Used for car engines, manhole covers, kitchen saucepans
Non-ferrous metals
Properties and examples
- metals that don’t contain iron
- high corrosion resistance, east to machine/cast/weld, great thermal and electrical conductivity, low density, non-magnetic, more expensive than ferrous metals, colourful
ALUMINIUM:
- light weight, malleable, attractive + natural finish, can be polished to mirror finish
- Used for drinks cans, foil, automotive parts, ladders, cooking utensils…
COPPER:
- soft, extremely ductile, good conductor
- Used for cables and wires, electroplating, cooking pots, statues, jewellery
TIN:
- soft and pliable
- used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion (galvanising)
Alloys
Properties and examples
- mix of a metal and another element to improves properties and/or aesthetics
- hard, tough, corrosion and increased oxidation resistant, mangnetizability, ductile, conductors
BRASS:
- easily machined, requires lots of maintenance, prone to a blackish tarnish, durable.
- Used to make locks, gears, braces, brackets, handles, musical instruments
- (copper and zinc)
PEWTER:
- low melting point, easy to cast
- Used for jewellery, decorative items
- (Tin, copper, antimony)