Engineering - Materials Flashcards
What are the 3 main steels?
Low carbon (mild)
High carbon
Stainless
What is a ferrous metal?
A metal that contains iron and is magnetic
What is the difference between low carbon and high carbon steel?
Low carbon steel is a carbon-iron alloy with a low percentage of carbon making it softer
High carbon steel has more carbon so it is harder
What is stainless steel?
An alloy of iron, carbon along with nickel and chromium so that it doesn’t rust
What is iron and what is it used for?
A magnetic, soft metal that rusts easily meaning that it is usually alloyed with carbon to make steel which is harder and still magnetic
It is used for machinery, cars, ship hills and components of buildings
What is aluminium and what is it used for?
A very common, non-magnetic metal that is very durable and lightweight and can be alloyed to make it harder
It is used for buildings, vehicles and some household items and devices
What is copper and what is it used for?
Red colour, extremely conductive, non-magnetic, ductile (can be pulled into white) metal which is used for electrical wiring and some colourings
What is brass and what is it used for?
A metal alloy made from copper and zinc and it is cheap and shiny meaning it is used decoratively
What is a thermosetting plastic?
Once set, these plastics can’t be reheated to soften and re-shape because the molecules are linked in 3 dimensions
What is epoxy resin?
It is an adhesive that sets in order to hold 2 materials together (can bond wood, some metals and some plastics)
What is urea formaldehyde and what is it used for?
A thermosetting plastic that is hard and strong and is also a good electrical conductor so it is used for electrical fittings
It is also scratch resistant
What are polyester resins and what are they used for?
When a resin is combined with fibre glass and some other materials, a polyester resin is formed that is a very tough material that can resist impact
It is used for car body repairs, sailing boats, corrugated sheet because of its lightness and resistance to water
What is acrylic?
It can be translucent, transparent or opaque and is resistant to acids and most weather conditions but it can snap fairly easily if used as a thin sheet
What is a thermoplastic?
A plastic that can be re-heated and shaped again into a different shape meaning it is good for recycling
It can do this because the hotter the temperature, the weaker the bonds between molecules
What is PVC and what is it used for?
A tough material that can be flexible or hard. It can also be bonded with adhesives
It is used for water pipes, coatings for wires and raincoats since it is strong and waterproof
