Modern Materials Flashcards
What are modern materials?
Materials that have been developed with a specific application in mind.
They can be developed by inventing new or improved manufacturing processes.
What is graphene?
A super-thin layer of graphite (pencil leads).
Properties of graphene
Incredibly light, strong, great conductor of heat and electricity.
Uses of graphene
Modern tennis rackets.
Future applications could be aerospace, vehicles, water purification, flexible electronics.
What are metal foams?
Metals that contain many gas-filled spaces which make the material lightweight.
Properties of metal foams
Lightweight, stiff, strong under compression.
Uses of metal foams
Lightweight car parts and bone implants.
When were metal foams first developed and how has research progressed?
1940s, focussed on improving properties and production methods.
When was graphene first developed and how has manufacture progressed?
2004, focussed on allowing it to be made more cheaply.
What is titanium?
An extremely corrosion-resistant material with a high strength-to-weight ratio.
It is difficult and expensive to machine (e.g. drill, cut, polish)
Uses of titanium
Bone replacements, dental implants, bikes, ships, armour.
What are Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)?
The liquid crystals used in the display are made from a mixture of chemicals.
When an electric current is applied, the crystal’s shape is modified - this in turn changes the image seen on the screen.
Properties of LCDs
Thin, lightweight and energy efficient
How have LCDs developed?
Originally used in calculators and other small displays, and were usually black and grey.
Developed to become high definition, full-colour displays used as TV and computer screens.
What are coated metals?
Where metals are coated with another material, in order to alter their properties.
How is galvanising used in coating metals?
Where iron and steel is coated with zinc to prevent rusting, using electroplating.
Explain the example of anodised aluminium in coating metals.
Anodised aluminium has a coating of aluminium oxide to make the surface harder and more resistant to corrosion.
What does a PVC coating do?
Makes it corrosion resistant and can be coloured, used for roofing.
What are nanomaterials?
Materials made from tiny particles, where they are manipulated for specific purposes.
What are carbon nanotubes?
Tiny carbon cylinders with a very high strength-to-weight ratio, and are good conductors of heat and electricity.
They can be added to a material to strengthen it without adding weight (e.g tennis rackets and electronics).
Explain the example of self-cleaning fabrics (as nanomaterials).
Self-cleaning fabrics have a nanoparticle coating that removes odours and stains upon exposure to light.
Explain the example of antibacterial fabrics (as nanomaterials).
Antibacterial fabrics use nanoparticles of silver to kill bacteria. They have lots of medical uses (e.g. face masks and dressings). They are also used in anti-bacterial toys and odour-free socks.
