Properties of Materials (2) Flashcards
What are
nanoparticles?
and how many atoms do they have?
really tiny particles that have diameters between 1nm and 1000nm
a few hundred
What is
nanoscience?
the study of nanoparticles
What are some current
applications of nanoparticles?
(7)
- as catalysts
- in nanomedicine
- in electronics
- in sun cream
- in deoderant
- in cosmetics
- in sports equipment
Why are nanoparticles suitable to be used as
catalysts?
they have a high surface area to volume ratio
Why are nanoparticles suitable to be used in
electronics?
they can be used to make really thin, light display screens or really tiny memory chips that hold a vast amount of data
Why are nanoparticles suitable to be used in
sun cream?
they are better than traditional materials at protecting skin from harmful UV rays
they also give better skin coverage and don’t leave white marks on the skin
Why are nanoparticles suitable to be used in
deoderants?
some nanoparticles (e.g. silver) have antibacterial properties
How are nanoparticles used in
cosmetics?
they improve moisturisers without making them really oily
How are nanoparticles used in
sports equipment?
they can make the material much stronger and more durable
What are some
disadvantages of nanoparticles?
(3)
- it is not yet clear whether nanoparticles can get into your body, and, if they do, whether they might damage cells
- when antibacterial fabric is washes, some of the silver nanoparticles end up in the waste water, they don’t degrade and end up in rivers, where they can be toxic to fish
- some nanoparticles used in medicine don’t break down easily so could start to build up in cells
What are some
key properties of polymers?
(5)
- insulators of heat and electricity
- can be flexible
- easily moulded
- inexpensive
- less dense
Why are the properties of different polymers so
varied?
lots of different monomers can be used to make polymers
What are
ceramics?
non-metallic solids with high melting points that aren’t made from carbon-based compounds
What are some key properties of
ceramics?
(6)
- excellent insulators of heat and electricity
- brittle
- stiff
- strong
- hardwearing
- don’t degrade or corrode
