Properties and uses of materials

Properties and uses of materials

1. Hardwood timbers

   • Ash
     • Properties
       • Open-grained, Tough, flexible
     • Uses
       • Sports equipment, Wooden ladders, Tool handles
   • Beech
     • Properties
       • Close-grained, hard, tough, strong, warps easily
     • Uses
       • Furniture, Toys, tool handles
   • Elm
     • Properties
       • Open/ interlocking grain, tough, durable, resists splitting, Durable in water.
     • Uses
       • Indoor and outdoor furniture
   • Mahogany
     • Properties
       • Fairly strong, durable, some interlocking grain
     • Uses
       • Good quality furniture
   • Oak
     • Properties
       • Strong, Hard, Tough, Open-grained, corrodes steel screws and fittings.
     • Uses
       • Interior woodwork, good quality furniture.

2. Softwood timbers

   • Scots pine
     • Properties
       • Straight grained, Knotty, Fairly strong, Easy to work with.
     • Uses
       • Diy-cheap quality furniture, Constructional work, Simple joinery
   • Parana pine
     • Properties
       • Hard-straight grained, Knot free, Fairly strong, Durable
     • Uses
       • Good quality-expensive furniture.
   • Spruce
     • Properties
       • Small hard knots, Not very durable.
       • Uses
         • General indoor work, White wood furniture used in bedrooms and kitchens.
   • Yellow Ceader
     • Properties
       • Fine even texture, Light weight, Stiff, stable
     • Uses
       • Furniture, Boats, veneers, model making
   • European redwood
     • Properties
       • Strong, Knotty, Durable when preserved
     • Uses
       • General woodwork, cupboards, shelves, roofs

3. Ferrous metals

   • Cast Iron
     • Properties
       • Brittle, corrodes by rusting, Boiling point: 1200 c
     • Uses
       • Casting, rail tracks, aircraft, construction
   • Mild Steel
     • Properties
       • Tough, Ductile, malleable, good tensile strength, poor resistance to corrosion, Boiling point: 1600 c
     • Uses
       • Engineering, aircraft, cars, buildings.
   • High carbon steel
     • Properties
       • Brittle, Can be heat treated to make it harder, tough, Boiling point: 1800 c
     • Uses
       • Cutting tools, ball bearings