Using Materials

Question 1

How is glass made?

Answer 1

1) mixture (mainly sand) is heated to 1500°c to melt the chemicals
2) mixture is shaped when cooling

Question 2

Glass properties

Answer 2

-irregular structure
-hard

Question 3

How are ceramics made?

Answer 3

1) mixture (mainly clay) is shaped when wet
2) shaped mixture is heated in a furnace and set into a fixed shape

Question 4

Ceramic properties

Answer 4

-clay mixture compounds contain ionic and covalent bonds
-regular structure
-hard
-brittle
-electrical insulators

Question 5

What are composites?

Answer 5

Mixtures of substances that together provide properties for a particular use

Question 6

Glass-ceramic properties

Answer 6

-hard
-tough (glass melts between ceramic layers which prevents cracking)

Question 7

Fibreglass properties

Answer 7

-tough
-flexible
-low density

Question 8

Plywood/ MDF properties

Answer 8

-resistant to splitting when cut (thin sheets of wood are glued together)

Question 9

Concrete properties

Answer 9

-very hard
-very strong
-reinforced concrete is set around steel rods

Question 10

Low density poly(ethene)

Answer 10

-made under high pressure, oxygenated conditions
-branched chains (molecules can’t pack closely)
-used in plastic bags

Question 11

High density poly(ethene)

Answer 11

-made under higher temperature and pressure, using catalysts
-stronger, layered chains
-used in milk bottles

Question 12

Thermosoftening polymers

Answer 12

-melt when heated (polymer chains are easily separated due to weak intermolecular forces)

Question 13

Thermosetting polymers

Answer 13

-don’t melt when heated (strong covalent bonds “cross-links”)