Lecture 1

Question 1

Technology push

Answer 1

The discovery or development of new materials or processing routes giving improved properties results in the development of new devices to exploit these

Question 2

Market pull

Answer 2

New inventions or developments demand improved materials or processes in order for them to work

Question 3

Stone Age

Answer 3

8000BC - 4000BC. Only naturally occurring materials were used.

• animal parts
• bones and sinew
• hides
• clay
• metals
• wood
• stone
• tools were limited due to the availability

Question 4

Bronze Age

Answer 4

3000BC-1000BC. Humans began making more superior materials to natural ones.

• pottery (clay & water)
• copper from ores
• bronze made from copper ore

Question 5

Iron Age

Answer 5

1200BC-1620AD. Made possible as iron could be extracted from ore –> not pure due to technology restrictions.

• cast iron (brittle)
• iron sponge

Question 6

Long period

Answer 6

1200BC-1620AD. Sees gradual and accidental improvements in iron and steel

Question 7

Henry Sorby (1864)

Answer 7

Discovers microstructure –> grain or crystals joined together in metals

Question 8

Plastic Age- naturally occurring plastics were used

Answer 8

1862--> celluloid
1906--> bakelite 
1933--> polyethylene
1940--> PVC produced
2000-->60,000 plastics

Question 9

Ceramics

Answer 9

• Applications were limited by brittleness and weak tension

- In the late 20th century scientists discover methods to ceramics and glasses tough

Question 10

Composites

Answer 10

• Naturally occurring materials (bone, wood, horn)
• Manufactured pre-history (straw, mud bricks)
• 20th century has seen the development of composites