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DT 1.2
DT Summer Y12
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Layout paper properties | Thin translucent paper with a smooth surface |
| Layout paper uses | Sketching, tracing |
| Cartridge paper properties | Off-white paper usually with a slightly textured surface |
| Cartridge paper uses | Sketching, rendering, printing |
| Bleed-proof paper properties | Similar to cartridge paper but has bleed-proof layer on one side so colours don't run |
| Bleed-proof paper uses | Spirit-based marker rendering |
| Treated paper properties | Plain paper with a clear binder or dye layer applied to help hold the image on the paper surface and brighten the image. Surface sheens such as high gloss of matt available. |
| Treated paper uses | Photographic printing |
| Watercolour paper properties | Available in absorbent, smooth, hot-pressed or the more textured cold-pressed and heavily textured rough |
| Corrugated card properties | Usually with carton board outer layers and a corrugated middle layer - provides protection against impact |
| Corrugated card uses | Protective packaging, model making, prototypes, food packaging |
| Bleached card properties | Chemically treated to brighten the surface to make it suitable for high-quality printing |
| Bleached card uses | Greeting cards, high quality packaging |
| Mount board properties | Made from compressed fine cotton fibres to produce a rigid board |
| Mount board uses | Presenting artwork, picture mounting, modelling |
| Duplex card properties | Made up of 2 layers of paper with the exterior often coated to make it more water-resistant and to give it a glossy sheen and waxy feel |
| Duplex card uses | Food packaging such as juice/milk cartons, disposable cups, plates |
| Foil backed and laminated card properties | Card with polymer film/foil applied to either one side or both to provide water resistance and/or heat insulating layer. Must be removed before recycling the paper pulp |
| Foil backed and laminated card uses | Drinks packaging, milk cartons, take-away box lids |
| Metal effect card properties | High-quality card with a thin metal effect layer applied to the outer surface for enhanced aesthetics. Can be embossed. |
| Metal effect card uses | Gift boxes and packaging, high-quality metal effect business cards |
| Moulded paper pulp properties | Recycled paper pulp moulded when wet and dried to a specific shape. Usually smooth on the visible inside surface and rough textured on the outer surface. |
| Moulded paper pulp uses | Moulded packaging products, eco-friendly packaging, egg boxes, fruit packaging |
| Paper stock forms | A0 largest Commercial printers may use the slightly larger untrimmed sizes (RA or SRA same numbers) - allows for any bleed from printing to be trimmed after. |
| gsm | The lower, the easier to bend, cut, and score (and obvs more lightweight) |
| Polymer-based sheets/film environmental impact | Some e.g. cellulose acetate naturally biodegrade, and some, e.g. fluted PP, can be recycled. Foam board can be recycled but difficult due to outer sheets of card, so more likely to be reused. |
| Foam board properties | Two outer layers of card with a foam middle core. Range of thicknesses. |
| Foam board uses | Mood board backing, presentation boards, modelling |
| Fluted PP sheet properties | Extruded sheet with integral 'flutes' or corrugations. Lightweight and easily bent along the flutes. |
| Fluted PP sheet uses | Signs (e.g. construction sites), storage boxes, small models |
| Translucent PP sheet properties | Extremely tough polymer sheet. Can be scored before bending to produce a plastic hinge, which can be folded many times. Virtually impossible to tear. Water resistant. |
| Translucent PP sheet uses | Packaging products, folders, boxes |
| Styrofoam properties | Dense, closed cell foam, commonly blue in colour. Can be cut, shaped, and sanded with standard workshop tools. |
| Styrofoam uses | Product modelling, formers for moulding and laminating. |
| LDPE (low density polyethylene) sheet properties | Tough, available in thin sheet form, transparent, good chemical resistance, flexible |
| LDPE sheet uses | Food wrapping, bubble wrap, carrier bags |
| Plastazote foam properties | Closed cell polyethylene foam, tough, flexible, good impact resistance, impermeable to liquids |
| Plastazote foam uses | Protective packaging, swimming floats, exercise mats, sound and pipe insulation. |
| Cellulose acetate properties | Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades |
| Cellulose acetate uses | Packaging film, membranes, photographic film |
| Polylactide properties | Transparent, tough, naturally biodegrades |
| Polylactide uses | Biodegradable packaging film |
| Tracing paper properties | Translucent paper slightly thicker than layout paper |
| Wood structure | Hollow cells (tracheids) supported by lignin resin |
| Wood seasoning | First converted (sawn into useable pieces) then seasoned (removing excess moisture to natural equilibrium, about 80 - 90%) |
| Air seasoning (AD) | Traditional, cheap. Stack wood under shelter. Air circulates. Used for outdoor wooden products because is seasoned to the same moisture content as its surroundings and so wood less prone to defects |
| Kiln seasoning (KD) | More expensive but controlled. Very quick - few weeks. Planks stacked on trolleys into kiln where temp + humidity controlled, starting steamy then hotter and drier. Indoor products - seasoned to meet indoor conditions. |
| What happens when unseasoned plank placed in heated room | Twist, warp, cup, or bow when drying, and cracks/gaps may appear. Designer needs to make sure correct of either AD or KD is chosen for outdoor/indoor respectively. |
| Pros of seasoning wood | Greater immunity from decay and increased rot resistance Increased strength and stability Helps preservatives to penetrate Makes wood less corrosive to metals |
| When to fell wood | In winter when they grow less, so have less sap, so less moisture. This reduces the time for seasoning. |
| Wood shrinkage | Almost none along grain, some radially (perpendicular to rings), more tangentially (along rings). Ends of wood lose moisture faster so crack - care must be taken so shrinks uniformly. Usually any end cracks close once in equilibrium. |
| Seasoned wood shrinkage | Although some, not as much of an issue any more due to heating + AC in modern homes |
| Hardwood examples | Oak, ash, mahogany, teak, birch, beech |
| Oak properties | Hard, tough, attractive grain, good weather resistance. Contains tannic acid which will corrode steel screws/fixings. |
| Oak uses | Furniture, flooring, boat building |
| Ash properties | Tough, attractive open grain pattern which makes it more flexible |
| Ash uses | Tool handles, sports goods, laminating |
| Mahogany properties | Can contain interlocking grain, making it more difficult to work. Rich dark red colour. |
| Mahogany uses | Indoor furniture, veneers often for manufactured boards |
| Teak properties | Hard, rough, straight grain, natural oils resist moisture + acids + alkalis |
| Teak uses | Outdoor furniture, laboratory benches, traditional boat decks |
| Birch properties | Hard, straight close grained, resists warping |
| Birch uses | Furniture, indoor panelling, veneers for birch-faced plywood construction |
| Beech properties | Tough, close grained, hard, available in steamed (white colour) and un-steamed (pink tinge), does not impart a taste to food |
| Beech uses | Chopping boards, tools (mallets), turned bowls, steam-bent laminated furniture |
| Softwood examples | Pine (European Redwood), spruce, douglas fir, larch, cedar |
| Pine (European Redwood) properties | Straight grain, knotty, can contain resinous knots |
| Pine uses | Construction work (roof beams and timber frame construction), interior joinery (furniture) |
| Spruce properties | Straight grain, resistant to splitting |
| Spruce uses | Indoor furniture |
| Douglas fir properties | Straight or slightly wavy grain, few knots, stable, good corrosion resistance |
| Douglas fir uses | Veneers, plywood construction, joinery and construction work |
| Larch properties | Hard, tough, attractive grain pattern fades to silver upon exposure outside, good resistance to moisture |
| Larch uses | Garden furniture, cladding, decking, fencing |
| Cedar properties | Straight grain, can corrode ferrous metals due to acidic nature, low density, good sound damping, good resistance to moisture |
| Cedar uses | Exterior cladding, sheds, greenhouses, beehives, interior panelling |
| Plywood how to make and properties | Thin wood layer glued at 90 degrees and compressed to form board. Good strength in all directions, no grain weakness, always has ood number of layers |
| Plywood uses | Structural work, desk tops, indoor furniture, floorboards |
| Marine plywood how to make and properties | Similar contruction to plywood but is gap-free and void-free and uses specialist water and boil proof (WBP) glue to provide moisture resistance. Some higher quality marine ply is resistant to fungal attack. |
| Marine ply uses | Boat dashboards, boat lockers and panelling |
| Aeroply how to make and properties | Plywood made from high-quality timber such as birch Available in very thin sheets, lightweight, easy to bend around a support frame |
| Aeroply uses | Laminated furniture, laser cut projects |
| Flexible plywood how to make and properties | An odd number of layers glued together with the 2 outer layers made from open grained timber which allows the sheet to flex. Bent and glued around a former to achieve a solid shape |
| Flexible plywood uses | Laminated furniture, curved panels |
| Chipboard how to make | Wood chips compressed with a resin such as urea formaldehyde |
| Chipboard uses | Often veneered or covered with polymer laminate, kitchen worktops, shelving and flat-pack furniture |
| MDF how to make and properties | Compressed wood fibres, although sometimes urea formaldehyde is added as an additional resin. 2 smooth faces, available in either standard grade or veneered with a layer of timber |
| MDF uses | Model making, mould making, furniture (e.g. bookcases, desks) |
| What are veneers? | Thin slices of wood less than 3mm thick. Used as decorative coverings for manufactured boards. |
| MF laminates properties | Thin sheets of MF polymer, hard, tough, chemical resistant |
| MF laminates uses | Decorative covering for chipboard for kitchen worktops, etc |
| 2 ways of cutting veneers | Rotary peeling or slicing |
| Toxicity of woods | Dust and sap are hazards to workers. Depends on species, so designer pay attention. Under COSHH, both hard and softwood dusts have WELs of 5mg per m3: respiratory irritation, and hardwood dust carcinogenic. PPE, extraction, ventilation |
| WELs | Workplace Exposure Limits |
| Rough sawn wood | Directly from seasoning. Nominal sizes rather than accurate finished. E.g. thicknesses 75, 50, 32 mm |
| Planed square edge (PSE) | One edge planed accurately, the rest rough sawn. Planing removes about 3mm from nominal. |
| Planed all round (PAR) | Sides and edge all planed square, straight, and level. Smooth finish. About 3mm smaller on all sides (so 6mm total) than the original rough sawn nominal size. |
| Size of natural wood | Maximum width of the tree - planks needed for larger |
| Stock size of manufactured boards | 1220 x 2440 mm - dont need joining processes like with planks for large surfaces |
| Pros of manufactured boards | Long, wide boards with uniform thickness + quality Very stable to temp and humidity changes Uniform strength Difficult to split, available in flexible thin sheets Generally cheaper than same size solid wood Veneering for better aesthetics |
| Mouldings | Standard sections (e.g. skirting boards) or decorative mouldings readily available in standard lengths up to about 4m |
| How raw metal extracted | Crushing, smelting/heating, addition of chemicals, huge amounts of electrical energy Most metals can be recycled to save natural resources and limit material imports |
| Copper ore | Chalcopyrite |
| Aluminium ore | Bauxite |
| Tin ore | Cassiterite |
| Zinc ore | Zinc blende |
| Aluminium properties | Lightweight, ductile, malleable, corrosion resistant, electrical + thermal conductor, can be MIG and TIG welded. |
| Aluminium melting point | 660C |
| Copper properties | Ductile, malleable, tough, corrosion resistant, good electrical and thermal conductor, can be soldered and brazed |
| Copper melting point | 1083C |
| Zinc properties | Low melt point, good corrosion resistance |
| Zinc uses | Galvanising steel as coating for bins/buckets/farm gates Intricate die castings |
| Zinc melting point | 420C |
| Silver properties | Malleable, ductile, corrosion resistant, can be soldered |
| Silver melting point | 962C |
| Gold properties | Malleable, ductile, corrosion resistant, can be soldered |
| Gold melting point | 1063C |
| Titanium properties | Hard, similar strength to steels but more lightweight, high resistance to corrosion |
| Titanium uses | Joint replacements, tooth implants, aircraft, spacecraft, bicycles |
| Titanium melting point | 1668C |
| Tin properties | Ductile, malleable, low melting point, corrosion resistant |
| Tin uses | Soft solder, coatings for food cans Rarely used in pure form |
| Tin melting point | 232C |
| Low carbon steel properties | Ductile, high tensile strength, tough, malleable, poor corrosion resistance |
| Low carbon steel uses | Bolts, washers, car bodies, outer panels for white goods |
| Low carbon steel melting point and carbon content | 0.15 - 0.3% carbon 1427C |
| Medium carbon steel properties | harder than low carbon steel but less ductile, malleable, and tough |
| Medium carbon steel uses | Springs, gardening tools |
| Medium carbon steel carbon content | 0.3 - 0.7% |
| Cast iron properties | Hard outer skin but brittle core, good under compression |
| Cast iron uses | Machine parts, sheet furniture (bollards, bins and lighting) |
| Cast iron melting point and carbon content | 3.5% carbon 1149C melting temp |
| Stainless steel properties | Tough, hard, corrosion resistant |
| Stainless steel uses | (example of ferrous alloy). Sinks, kitchenware, cutlery |
| Stainless steel melting point and composition | 18% chrome, 8% nickel 1510C melting temp |
| High speed steel properties | Hard, tough, high level of resistance to frictional heat |
| High speed steel uses | (example of ferrous alloy). Tool blades, drill bits, router bits. |
| High speed steel melting point and composition | 18% tungsten, 4% chromium, 1% vanadium, 0.5-0.8% carbon |
| Die steel (tool steel) properties | Hard, tough |
| Die steel uses | (example of ferrous alloy), blanking punches + dies, extruder dies, fine press tools |
| Bronze properties | Tough, corrosion resistant, can be cast |
| Bronze uses | Statues, coins, bearings |
| Bronze composition and melting point | 90% copper 10% tin 850 - 1000C melting temp |
| Brass properties | Corrosion resistant, good electrical and thermal conductor, low melting point, casts well |
| Brass uses | Boats fittings, cast valves and taps, ornaments |
| Brass composition and melting point | 65% copper, 35% zinc 930C melting temp |
| Duralumin properties | Equivalent strength properties to low carbon steel but more lightweight, ductile, becomes harder as it is worked. |
| Duralumin uses | Aircraft parts, vehicle parts |
| Duralumin composition | 4% copper, 1% magnesium and 1% manganese |
| Pewter properties | Malleable, low melt point, casts well |
| Pewter uses | Tankards, flasks, photo frames, sports trophies |
| Pewter composition and melting point | 85 - 99% tin, with the remainder consisting of copper and antimony. 170 - 230C melting point |
| Stock forms of metal | Sheet (1 - 3mm). Plate (more than 3mm). Bar. Tube (hollow cross section). Structural (H beams, L beams, I beams, tee bar, channel) |
| Fractional distillation | Naptha (between petrol and kerosene) main one for polymers. Also cracked (breaking large hydrocarbons down into smaller more usable forms). Polymers then formed by either polymerisation or polycondensation process. |
| How long do bio-based polymers take to degrade | As little time as a few months to a couple of years |
| Safe working temp meaning | Temp deemed same for processing without possible degradation of the polymer properties |
| Self finishing meaning | Can be pigmented during manufacture and therefore require no additional secondary finishing process |
| LDPE (low density polyethylene) properties | Very tough, good chemical resistance, weatherproof, available in translucent, low level of rigidity |
| LDPE safe working temp | 65C |
| LDPE uses | Squeezy detergent bottles, carrier bags, food wrap film, food trays |
| HDPE properties | Available in translucent, weatherproof, tough, good chemical resistance |
| HDPE safe working temp | 65C |
| HDPE uses | Chemical drums, kitchenware, buckets |
| PP (polypropylene) properties | Available in translucent, good chemical resistance, tough, good fatigue resistance (hinge property) |
| PP safe working temp | 100C |
| PP uses | Rope, food containers, folders, medical equipment |
| HIPS (high impact polystyrene) properties | Hard, rigid, available in translucent, tough |
| HIPS safe working temp | 70C |
| HIPS uses | Yoghurt pots, single use cups, toilet seats |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) properties | Extremely tough, hard, available in opaque |
| ABS safe working temp | 80C |
| ABS uses | Rigid luggage, remote control casings, domestic appliances (food mixers) |
| PMMA (Polymethyl-methacrylate) properties | Tough, hard, good chem resist, available in translucent |
| PMMA safe working temp | 95C |
| PMMA uses | Car light casings, CNC laser cut items |
| Nylon properties | Tough, corrosion resistant, good temp resistant, low coefficient of friction |
| Nylon safe working temp | 150C |
| Nylon uses | Bearings, gears, curtain rails, textiles, boil-in-the-bag food packaging, cable ties |
| uPVC (rigid polyvinyl chloride) properties | Rigid, opaque, tough, hard, good weathering resistance, good chemical resistance, fire retardant |
| uPVC safe working temp | 95C |
| uPVC uses | Window frames, guttering, water pipes |
| PVC (flexible polyvinyl chloride) properties | Available in translucent, tough, flexible, good weathering resistance, good chemical resistance |
| PVC safe working temp | 95C |
| PVC uses | Hose pipes, cable insulation, medical grade tubing, inflatable products, imitation leather |
| UF (Urea formaldehyde) properties | Hard, heat resistant, good electrical insulator, brittle |
| UF safe working temp | 80C |
| UF uses | Electrical fittings, adhesives |
| MF properties | Hard, opaque, tough, heat resistant, food safe, chemical resistant |
| MF safe working temp | 130C |
| MF uses | Decorative laminates, picnic ware, buttons |
| Polyester resin properties | Rigid, heat resistant, chemical resistant, brittle |
| Polyester resin safe working temp | 95C |
| Polyester resin uses | Castings, lay-up GRP boat hulls |
| Epoxy resin properties | Rigid, clear, hard, tough, chemical resist |
| Epoxy resin safe working temp | 80 - 200C |
| Epoxy resin uses | Adhesives, surface coatings, electrical component encapsulation, lay-up CFRP |
| Toxicity of elastomers | Non-toxic so good for overmouldings of gripped surfaces |
| Natural rubber (polyisoprene) properties | High tensile strength, low elongation, good hardness compared to other elastomers, tough, electrical insulator, good cold resistance |
| Natural rubber uses | Tyres, hoses, balloons, shoes |
| Butadiene rubber (BR) properties | Tough, excellent wear resistance against friction, good thermal resistance against friction, electrical insulator |
| Butadiene rubber uses | Vehicle tyres, shoe soles, conveyor belts, water and pneumatic hoses |
| Neoprene (polychloroprene rubber) properties | Good thermal resistance, toughness, good oil and chemical resistance, excellent weather resistance, good abrasion resistance, electrical insulator |
| Neoprene uses | Wetsuits, industrial wire insulation, shock absorber seals in cars. |
| Silicone properties | Good flexibility at low temperatures, poor abrasion resistance, good thermal resistance and resistance to temperature extremes, good weather resistance, good lubricating qualities, electrical insulator |
| Silicone uses | Flexible ice cube trays, machinery lubricant, sealants, mould making, tubing for drug delivery, cooking utensils |
| 2 types of biopolymers | Natural (made from natural materials e.g. cellulose) Synthetic (renewable resources but chemically engineered [synthesised] to break down more quickly. e.g. corn kernels milled for dextrose, fermented into lactic acid, then chem processed into PLA) |
| What are biopolymers | Sourced from renewable resources |
| 3 methods of polymer degradation | Oxy-degradable, photodegradable, hydro-degradable |
| Oxy-degradable polymer | Breaks down into fine powder when exposed to oxygen ,then degraded by action of micro-organisms. Length of degradation 'programmed' during manufacture from a few months to a few years. Commonly in LDPE carrier bags - confetti shapes then powder |
| Photodegradable polymer | Polymer bonds weakened and it breaks down in exposure to UV. Common in agriculture |
| Agriculture use for photodegradable polymer | Ground covered by polymer sheet, which acts as a mulch to prevent weed growth - less herbicides needed. Also helps hold water in ground and insulates the ground, extending growing season |
| Hydro-degradable polymer | Breaks down with water exposure then micro-organisms. Faster than oxy. Additive often used in liquid detergent sachets, or in single use packaging, or in large-scale laundry bags (no cross-contamination in chemical plants or hospitals) |
| Cons of both bio-polymers and biodegradable polymers | Can't be recycled - may contribute to a throw-away culture being more accepted. The terms are similar sounding so may confuse average person, making it harder to make a positive environmental choice when shopping |
| Cons of bio-polymers | Need land to grow crops, increasing food cost. Could be made from GM crops. |
| Cons of biodegradable polymers | Can make methane when decomposes. Can take high temps and may leave toxic residues. |
| How are bio-polymers shaped | Can be processed in the same way as thermoplastics |
| Corn starch polymer | Natural bio-polymer. Made from high starch vegetables such as corn/potatoes |
| Corn starch polymer uses | Packaging, straws, bags, take-away food containers |
| Potatopak | Natural bio-polymer. Made from potato starch. |
| Potatopak uses | Single use food items, packaging beads (packing peanuts), bin bags |
| Biopol (bio-batch additive aka PHB - polyhydroxybutyrate) | Natural bio-polymer. made from bacteria grown in cultures. Additive to promote degradation - usually 1% added to thermoplastics. |
| Biopol uses | Packaging, surgical stitches, pill coverings |
| PLA (polylactide acid) | Synthetic bio-polymer. Made from corn kernels or cane sugar, fermented into lactic acid, then synthesised into PLA |
| PLA uses | Packaging, medical sutures, 3D printing |
| PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) | Natural bio-polymer. Made from bacteria grown in cultures. Fully compostable. |
| PHA uses | Packaging, slow release medication patches, screws, bone plates |
| Lactide | Synthetic bio-polymer. Fully compostable, water soluble. PLA and cellulose based |
| Lactide uses | Biomedical applications, slow release medication, bone repair fixings, detergent washing sachets |
| Glycolide (Lactel and Ecofilm) | Synthetic bio-polymer. Fully compostable, water soluble. PLA and cellulose based |
| Glycolide uses | Food film, bags, agricultural ground sheet, flower wrap |
| Composite material definition | Material comprised of 2+ different materials, resulting in a material with enhanced properties |
| What type of designs can be made with lay-up | Monocoque (frame and body are built as a single integrated structure) designs which are virtually impossible with traditional materials. Lightweight, good toughness and strength throughout |
| Why CFRP good for bikes | Good resistance to torque produced when rider initially pressing down on pedals |
| What is CFRP | Carbon fibres mixed with polyester/epoxy resin |
| CFRP properties | Lightweight, corrosion resistant, tough, hard, good compressive strength, low thermal expansion |
| CFRP uses | Sports equipment like bike frames, tennis racquets, fishing rods, racing car bodies, prosthetics |
| What is GRP | Glass fibres mixed with polyester resin |
| GRP properties | Lightweight, corrosion resistant, tough, hard, low thermal expansion, good compressive strength |
| GRP uses | Boat hulls, pond liners, sports car bodies |
| What is tungsten carbide | A cermet (mixture of ceramic and metal particles). Ceramic tungsten carbide powder mixed with cobalt metal as a binder |
| tungsten carbide properties | Hard, tough, resistant to high temperatures, corrosion resistant |
| tungsten carbide uses | Cutting tools such as drill bits, router bits, kitchen knives |
| What is aluminium composite board | Aluminium sheets with a polyethylene core |
| aluminium composite board properties | Lightweight, rigid, tough, malleable, good thermal and sound insulation, good vibration damping |
| aluminium composite board uses | Sound-proofing panels in cars, buildings, and boats. Signage. |
| What is concrete | Cement powder, sand, aggregate particles, mixed with water |
| concrete properties | High compression strength, low tensile strength, few surface defects, easy to mould |
| concrete uses | Pathways, beams, driveways, house foundations |
| What is reinforced concrete | Concrete with low carbon steel rods (rebar) |
| reinforced concrete properties | High compression and tensile strength, consistency across structure, few surface defects, fire resistant |
| reinforced concrete uses | Buildings, bridge piles and bridge spans, retaining walls to hold back soil |
| What is fibre cement | Cement powder, sand, aggregate particles and polymer/steel fibres mixed with water |
| fibre cement properties | Lighter than reinforced, hard, tough, good at low temps and freeze/thaw situations |
| fibre cement uses | Suspended floors, pathways, complex geometric shapes |
| What is engineered wood | e.g. glulam (glued laminated timber). Timber laminates and MF adhesive |
| engineered wood properties | Good aesthetics, natural alternative to reinforced concretes, more lightweight than concrete alternatives, fire resistant, good structural stability, corrosion proof |
| engineered wood uses | Beams, bridges, roof beams, decking |
| Smart materials definition | Materials whose physical properties change in response to an input or change in the environment such as electricity, temperature, or light |
| SMA aka nitinol overview | Transition temperature of 70C. Can also be dictated by passing an electrical current through the material, for example for dental braces designed to change at body temperature for constant tension. |
| Common detailed uses for SMAs | Response in change in temps e.g. fire alarms, hot water valves, industrial greenhouse windows. Repair of damaged products e.g. spectacle frames Movement response to electrical signal e.g. artificial muscles, electric door locks |
| SMAs other uses | Self-closing windows, aeroplane wing flaps, bioengineering such as stents, bone plates, and screws |
| Thermochromic pigment uses | Room thermometers, medical thermometers for kids, colour change mugs/kettles, drink packaging, baby feeding spoons |
| Phosphorescent pigment function | Absorbs light energy during the day and 're-emits' when dark |
| Phosphorescent pigment uses | Fire exit signs, glow in the dark products (e.g. watch hands, night lights) |
| Photochromic pigments function | Changes colour with light intensity |
| Photochromic pigments uses | Welding goggles, reactive spectacle lenses, security markers that show under UV light |
| Electroluminescent wire function | Thin copper wire coated in phosphorescent material which glows in response to an alternating current |
| Electroluminescent wire uses | Glow bracelets, interweaving for clothing, home decoration |
| Piezoelectric material function | Gives off a small electrical charge when deformed. Increases in size (up to 4%) when an electrical current is passed through it |
| Piezoelectric material uses | Airbag sensors in cars, vibration damping in tennis racquets, musical greetings cards, pressure sensors |
| Examples of modern materials | Kevlar, precious metal clay, high density modelling foam, polymorph |
| Kevlar features | Aramid fibres with high cut resistance and heat resistance |
| Kevlar uses | Body armour, cut proof gloves, puncture-resistant bike tyres |
| PMC features | Clay consistency material made up of fine metal particles. Works like ceramic clay, easily mouldable, easy to shape and form, sets hard once fired with a kiln or butane torch. Inexpensive compared to solid metals e.g. silver |
| PMC uses | Jewellery, decorative items |
| High density modelling foam features | Polyurethane closed cell foam blocks/sheets. Lightweight, easy to work using traditional woodworking tools, CNC miller/router, sands easily to allow intricate shapes and forms to be created |
| High density modelling foam uses | 3D modelling, prototypes |
| Polymorph features | Granules which become mouldable at about 60C - in water or with hair dryer. Also available in liquid form, which solidifies at 2C |
| Polymorph uses | Modelling, shaping ergonomic handles, prototype mechanical parts |
| Why PP good for freezer tupperware | Resistance to low temperatures, excellent fatigue resistance, very good mould flow characteristics. |
Created by:
Pyrogearos2