Materials and Their Properties

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Materials strand of Design and technology. The resources, made by more than 1,700 contributors, work through the main material families: woods, metals, plastics, composites, and smart and modern materials. Several also cover properties, adhesives, finishing techniques and materials testing.

Where to start

Begin with the big-picture maps. The mind map Properties of Materials sets out mechanical properties, which describe how a material responds to external forces, and splits strength into types such as tensile strength, the ability to withstand pulling. The Timber Mindmap then compares hardwoods, softwoods and manufactured timber, with advantages, disadvantages and common uses for woods such as oak, beech, ash and balsa.

Material by material

• Woods: the flashcard deck IGCSE Woods lists softwoods such as Scots Pine and Spruce, and hardwoods such as Ash, Elm and Oak.
• Plastics: the Plastics flashcards name PVC, ABS, Nylon and LDPE, while the PLASTIC MATERIALS mind map separates elastomers, thermoplastics and thermosets.
• Metals and more: look for the maps on ferrous metals and steels, plus decks on smart materials and composites.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then test yourself. The Plastics Quiz asks which industrial process suits mass-producing low cost water bottles. GCSE DT Resistant Materials Quiz checks softwoods and hardwoods, and its questions include which uses beech and cedar are put to. Note what you miss, go back to the matching map, then retry.

The listed resources mention GCSE Design and Technology, AQA, A-level and Leaving Cert Construction Studies, so check which suits your course. Teachers can pick a ready-made quiz or deck for a class. Choose a material, open a quiz and see how far you get.