materials - properties and uses Flashcards
Acrylic PMMA thermoforming Polymer
Hard, excellent optical quality, good resistance to weathering, scratches easily and can be brittle, excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good polymerity when heated Uses: Car light units, bath tubs, shop signage, displays.
Low Density Polythene LDPE thermoforming Polymer
Tough, flexible, easily molded, waterproof and suitable for all moulding techniques, excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good polymerity when heated Uses: Carrier bags, bin liners, washing up liquid bottles.
High Density Polythene HDPE thermoforming Polymer
Hard, stiff, excellent chemical resistance, good tensile strength, excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good polymerity when heated Uses: Milk crates and wheelie bins, washing up bowls, buckets, pipes.
Polystyrene PS thermoforming Polymer
Food safe polymer, Uses: Disposable plates and cutlery
Expanded Polystyrene EPS thermoforming Polymer
Lightweight, white molded foam, easy to mould, good impact resistance, excellent thermal insulator Uses: Packaging such as TV and monitors.
Polypropylene PP thermoforming Polymer
Tough, good heat and chemical resistance, lightweight, Can be used where a plastic hinge is needed, excellent resistance to fatigue, excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good polymerity when heated, good polymerity when heated Uses: Toys, DVD cases, food packaging film, bottle caps, medical equipment.
Polyvinyl Chloride PVC thermoforming Polymer
Excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good polymerity when heated, hard and tough, good chemical and weather resistance, low cost, can be rigid or flexible, good tensile strength. Uses: Rainwater pipes and guttering
Melamine Formaldehyde MF Thermosetting Polymer
Stiff, hard, strong, excellent resistance to heat, scratching and staining, excellent thermal and electrical insulator. Uses: Picnic crockery, kitchen worktop laminates
Urea Formaldehyde UF Thermosetting Polymer
Stiff, hard, Hardwearing, durable, non-conductor of electricity, will not change it shape if it becomes hot Uses: Extensively used in the manufacture of electrical fittings such as electrical plug and socket.
Polyester Resin PR Thermosetting Polymer
Used to bond stands of glass fibres to produce, tough, waterproof mouldings. Uses: Hull of a yacht
Epoxy Resins ER Thermosetting Polymer
Excellent thermal and electrical insulator, good chemical and wear resistance, can be brittle. Commonly found in the school workshop Uses: Used as a adhesive (glue) such as Alaldite
manufactured polymer fibre - Polyester
Strong when wet and ry, flame resistant (will melt), thermoforming, hardwearing, poor absorbency, crease resistant. Uses: Very versatile fabric with a huge number of applications.
manufactured polymer fibre - Nylon (polyamide)
Strong, hardwearing, melts as it burns, thermoforming, good elasticity, poor absorbency, resistant to chemicals and perspiration Uses: Clothing, carpets, rugs, seat belts, ropes, tents, rucksacks.
manufactured polymer fibre - Polypropylene
Thermoforming with a low melting point, strong, crease resistant, non-absorbent, resistant to chemicals, hardwearing and durable. Uses: Engineered for specific uses, carpet backing, sacks, webbing, twine, medical uses.
manufactured polymer fibre - Acrylic
Strong except when wet, thermoforming, burns slowly then melts, poor absorbency, good insulator. Uses: Knitwear, fake fur products including toys, upholstery.
manufactured polymer fibre - Elastane, Lycra
Very elastic and stretchy, lightweight, strong, hardwearing. Uses: Clothing, swimwear, sportswear.
manufactured polymer fibre - Aramid Fibres
Engineered for strength and heat resistance, no melting point, 5x stronger than nylon, resistance to abrasion, low shrinkage, ease of care. Uses: Flame resistant clothing, protective clothing, accessories, armour, geotextiles.
natural polymer fibre - Cotton (plant)
Absorbent, strong, cool to wear, hardwearing, creases easily, smooth, easy to care for, flammable, can shrink. Uses: Clothing, sewing and knitting threads, soft furnishings, medical dressings, bed sheets, canvas, car tyre cords.
natural polymer fibre - Linen (plant)
Strong, cool to wear, absorbent, hardwearing, creases very easily, has a natural appearance, handles well, flammable. Uses: Lightweight summer clothing, soft furnishings, table linen
natural polymer fibre - Hemp (plant)
Absorbent, non-static, anti-bacterial, naturally lustrous, strong Uses: Clothing, carpets, rugs, ropes, mattress filling
natural polymer fibre - Jute (plant)
Very absorbent, high tensile strength, anti-static Uses: Bags, sacking, carpets, geo textiles, yarn and twine, upholstery.
natural polymer fibre - Silk (animal - insect)
Absorbent, comfortable to wear, can be cool or warm to wear, strong when dry, has a natural sheen, creases, good feel. Uses: Luxury clothing and lingerie, knitwear, soft furnishings
natural polymer fibre - Wool (animal)
Warm ,absorbent, low flammability, good elasticity, crease resistant, strong, shrinks easily. Uses: Warm outer clothing including coats, jackets, suits, knitwear, carpets, blankets.
Ferrous metals -Cast iron - Iron and 3.5% carbon
Hard, can be brittle, strong compressive strength, poor resistance to corrosion, 1200 degree melting point, good electrical and thermal conductivity, cheap Uses: Metal work vice in the workshop. Car brakes discs, cylinder blocks, manhole covers.
Ferrous metals -Mild steel - Iron and 0.15-0.35% carbon
Good tensile strength, tough, malleable, poor resistance to corrosion, 1500 degree melting point, good electrical and thermal conductivity, cheap Uses: RSJs and girders (used in construction of buildings), car bodies, nuts, bolts, screws.
Ferrous metals -medium -carbon steel Iron and 0.35-0.7% carbon
Good tensile strength, tougher and harder than mild steel, poor resistance to corrosion, 1500% melting point, good electrical and thermal conductivity. Uses: Spades, trowels, gardening tools, springs
Ferrous metals -High-carbon steel Iron and 0.7-1.4% carbon
Hard but also brittle, less tough, malleable or ductile than medium-carbon steel, poor resistance to corrosion, 1500% melting point, good electrical and thermal conductivity. Uses: Cutting tools such as saw blades and drill bits, screwdrivers, chisels, taps and dies.
Nonferrous metals Aluminium
Lightweight, soft, ductile, malleable, good conductor of heat and electricity, corrosion resistant, 660 degree melting point Uses: Aircraft bodies, high end car chassis, cans, cooking pans, bike frames.
Nonferrous metals Copper
Extremely ductile, malleable, excellent conductor of heat and electricity, easily soldered and corrosion resistant, 1084 degree melting point. Uses: Plumbing fittings, hot water tanks, electrical wire.
Non ferrous metals Silver
Soft, precious metal, extremely resistant to corrosion, excellent conductor of heat and electricity, 961 degree melting point, expensive. Uses: Often used as jewellery
hardwood JELUTONG
Close grain, pale colour, medium hardness and toughness, easily worked. Uses: Pattern making
hardwood BEECH
Hard, strong, close grained timber, light brown colour with distinctive flecks of brown. Prone to warping and splitting, can be difficult to work. Uses: Furnitue, childresn toys, workshop tool handles, bench tops
hardwood MAHOGANY
Strong, durable timber, deep reddish colour. Available in wide planks. Fairly easy to work, but can have interlocking grain. Uses: Good quality furniture, panelling and veneers.
hardwood OAK
Hard, tough, durable, open grained timber, can be finished to a high standard. Uses: Timber framed buildings, high quality furnituer, flooring
hardwood BALSA
Very lightweight, soft, easily worked timber. Pale in colour but weak and not very durable. Uses: Model making, floats, rafts
softwood WESTERN RED CEDAR
Very resistant to weathering and decay, lightish reddish brown colour with close straight grain, easily worked. Uses: Fencing, cladding, fence posts.
softwood SCOTS PINE
Straight grained, light yellow-coloured timber. Soft and easy to work, can be quite knotty. Uses: Interior joinery, furniture, window frames.
softwood PARANA PINE
Distinctive open, straight grain, contains few knots, strong, durable. Uses: Internal joinery and staircases.
manufacured timber MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD (MDF)
Made from fine particles of wood that have been produced from recycled and poor-grade timber. Flat, smooth surface, easily affected by moisture. Glue used to bind it together is abrasive on tools, detrimental to health if breathed in. Uses: Flat-pack furniture, decorative mouldings and shop interiors.
manufacured timber PLYWOOD
Consists of a number of layers (veneers) of wood glued together with the grain of each veneer running adjacent to the next. Very strong, flexible board. Uses: Available in weatherproof and marine versions, but typically used for interior applications. Laminated flooring, roofing and furniture.
manufacured timber CHIPBOARD
Compressing chips of wood together with a resin. Cost effective board often veneered with natural timber to improve appearance. Uses: Kitchen work surfaces, kitchen cupboards and flooring.
manufacured timber HARDBOARD
Low cost manufactured board, generally used as a packing material and as a backing for self assembly furniture. One smooth surface and one meshed surface, little strength and easily affected by moisture. Uses: Wardrobe backs and drawer bottoms.
Layout Paper Around 50gsm
Used for sketching and developing design work, smooth surface for pen and pencil work, thin to trace and copy parts of designs when developing ideas, cheap to buy.
Tracing Paper Around 40gsm
Used for making copies of drawings and fine details, thin and translucent, hardwearing and strong despite its lack of thickness, mistakes in pen can be scratched off using a sharp blade, expensive,
Copier Paper 80gsm
B/W and colour copying from inkjet and laser printer. Heavy ink use from inkjet will cause it to wrinkle. Used extensively for printing, photocopying and general purpose, smooth surface making it ideal for most printers and photocopiers
Cartridge Paper Ranges from 8 - 140gsm
Thicker and more expensive than layout and copier paper, slightly textured surface, cleamier in colour than pure white, used by artists for sketching, drawing and painting, ideal surface for pencil, crayons, pastels, water colour paints, inks and gouache.
Corrugated card 3000+ microns
Strong, lightweight, made from two layers of card with another fluted sheet in between. The fluted construction makes it very stiff and difficult to bend or fold. Can absorb knocks and bumps, ideal for packaging. Widely used as takeaway boxes such as pizza boxes, the fluted constructed gives it good heat insulation properties.
Mounting board 1400 microns
Rigid, smooth surface. Available in a range of different colours, white and black are most common, often used for picture framing mounts and architectural modelling.
Folding box board Around 3000 microns
Rigid and lightweight, thick centre made of layers of mechanical pulp sandwiched between two thinner outer layers of chemical pulp. A coating is usually applied to one side to give it a smooth texture and white colour. Low density and good stiffness, often used as packaging, particularly for frozen foods, medicines and beauty products.
