Materials Intro

Question 1

what is toughness defined as?

Answer 1

the level of resistance to crack propagation

Question 2

what are some general facts/properties of metals?

Answer 2

• strong
• ductile
• high thermal and electrical conductivity
• opaque and reflective

Question 3

what are ceramics compounds of?

Answer 3

they are compounds of metallic and non-metallic elements - oxides, carbides, nitrides and sulphides

Question 4

what are some general facts/properties of ceramics?

Answer 4

• brittle
• glassy
• elastic
• non conducting

Question 5

what are some general facts/properties of polymers?

Answer 5

• covalent bonded
• soft
• ductile
• low strength & density
• thermal and electrical insulators
• optically translucent or transparent

Question 6

what size range are we looking at when talking about macro properties?

Answer 6

centimetres (1cm = 10^-2m)

Question 7

what size range are we looking at when talking about macro structure?

Answer 7

milimetres (1mm = 10^-3m)

Question 8

what size range are we looking at when talking about micro structure?

Answer 8

micrometres (1μm = 10^-6m)

Question 9

what size range are we looking at when talking about molecular structure?

Answer 9

nanometres (1nm = 10^-9m)

Question 10

what size range are we looking at when talking about atomic structure?

Answer 10

angstrom (0.1nm = 10^-10m)

Question 11

what is an allotrope?

Answer 11

each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist. Graphite, graphene, charcoal, fullerene and diamond are all allotropes of carbon

Question 12

what is graphene?

Answer 12

carbon nanotubes rolled up

Question 13

what is the hardest material known to man?

Answer 13

diamond