materials

materials

1. Timbers

   • softwood
     • pine,ceder,dougles,fir,junipur,redwood,spruse and yew
     • less dense than hardwood
     • Uses for Softwoods. Since pine absorbs finishes such as paint, varnish, oil and urethane, it is perfect for home woodworking projects. Pine can be used for cladding, decking, flooring, panelling, structural framing, beams, poles, bench tops, furniture and cabinets
   • Hardwood
     • Hardwood comes from trees like oak, maple beech,hickory,birch and cherry.
     • Hardwood trees take longer to grow
     • Hardwoods are deciduous trees that have broad leaves.
     • They often produce a fruit or nut and go dormant in the winter.
   • manufactured boards
     • Wood pieces are bound together with adhesives to make man-made / manufactured board
     • Manufactured board can be susceptible to moisture
     • Boards are rigid, stable and supplied in large sheets
     • MDF
       • Very dense board which makes it tough
       • Its smooth surface makes it suitable for veneers and finishes
     • Chip board
       • Good compressive strength
       • Edges chip easily
     • Plywood
       • Made up of alternative rotated layers of glued wood veneers
       • Available in various forms including marine ply for greater water resistance
   • Natural timbers can have natural defects The most common natural defect is a knot Softwoods such as pine, larch and cedar can also seep resin at the knot

2. Metals

   • Ferrous metals
     • Ferrous metals contain iron and may rust
     • Iron and steel can corrode – this is known as rust
     • Rust is a compound called iron oxide and is formed when iron and oxygen react in the presence of moisture or water
     • Most ferrous metals are magnetic
   • Ductile metals
     • Will stretch without being damaged
     • Can be drawn or stretched out into long wires
     • Copper is highly ductile and can be drawn into long, thin wires
   • Malleable metals
     • Can be hammered into a shape without breaking
     • Can be rolled or pressed into sheets Will deform under compression
   • Hardness – a material’s ability to withstand abrasion
     • A very hard metal is likely to crack or shatter upon impact or force.
   • Toughness – metal requires strength and ductility
     • This is how well a metal can absorb energy and resist fracturing without deforming
   • Tensile strength
     • Tensile strength is the amount of tensile stress (stretching) a material can withstand before breaking or failing
   • non ferrous
     • Non-ferrous metals don’t contain iron
     • They are often more expensive than ferrous metals owing to their desirable properties which include: Lightweight ,Good conductivity, Ductile and malleable, Resistant to corrosion
     • The process of galvanising adds a protective coat of zinc to iron and steel to help prevent rusting
     • Aluminium, copper, tin and zinc are all non-ferrous metals
   • Electrical conductivity
     • Conductivity is how easily an electrical current can flow through a metal
     • As copper is such an efficient conductor, it’s most common use is in electrical cabling
   • Thermal conductivity
     • Thermal conductivity measures the ability of a metal to conduct heat
     • Copper is also an excellent conductor of heat and is commonly used in air conditioning, water tanks, saucepan bases and water heaters
   • Alloys
     • Metals are rarely used in their pure form. Alloys are made by combining two or more elements
     • This helps improve the working properties and appearance
     • Brass and steel are common alloys
     • Stainless steel is made by combining iron, with a small amount of carbon and chromium

3. Plastics

   • For more than 50 years, the global production and consumption of plastic has continued to rise Approximately 300 million tons of plastic is produced each year Plastic is relatively inexpensive to produce and very versatile
   • polymeres
     • Polymers are mostly synthetic materials They are usually derived from finite resources such as coal, natural gas or crude oil More renewable and sustainable materials such as vegetable starches are being used to make bio-plastics
   • thermoforming
     • Also known as thermoplastics, when heated the plastic becomes soft and flexible
     • Thermoplastics can be remoulded without affecting the material’s physical properties
     • Thermoplastics can be repeatedly heated and moulded Thermoplastics are not suitable for use in areas of heat or UV sensitivity A good surface finish can be achieved for superior aesthetics They can be recycled Each time the plastic is reheated it will try to return to its original shape – this is known as plastic memory
   • thermosetting
     • Also known as thermosets, this plastic cannot be reformed once set in to shape
     • Thermosets have strong chemical bonds between the molecules, which do not separate on heating

4. Textiles

5. paper and boards

   • Papers and boards are made from natural fibres (cellulose), usually sourced from wood
   • Other sources of fibre include bamboo, flax, hemp, kenaf, straw and sugarcane
   • Wood fibres are mostly sourced from faster growing softwoods rather than hardwoods
   • Rag paper is made using cotton which gives it superior strength and durability
   • Pulp
     • The first stage in the production of paper and board is to make pulp
     • The natural cellulose fibres are mixed with water This mixture is cooked which produces a fibrous liquid known as pulp Pulp is fed onto a mesh conveyor which allows excess water to drain away This makes its way through a series of rollers which help to press, form and dry the pulp into a continuous sheet which is either rolled or cut to size for commercial processing
   • Paper is characterised by weight The weight is measured in grams per square metre (GSM) Understanding the different types of paper available will help you select the right material for the job
   • Bleedproof paper
     • leedproof paper is smooth and has a special coating to reduce absorbency When drawing with a marker pen or writing with ink, the paper keeps the ink on the surface which creates a crisper line or mark It resists bleeding and feathering It’s lightweight at around 70-80gsm
   • Cartridge paper
     • A thick, quality paper with a slight texture It’s used particularly for pencil and ink drawings and paintings Available in a range of weights, a heavier paper at 200gsm is more suitable for watercolour and acrylic painting
   • Plotting data
     • Grid paper has printed squares or isometric grids These are printed with feint lines that enable the user to draw graphs and diagrams, plot mathematical functions or add scientific data Lines can be printed in different weights
   • Translucency
     • Tracing paper is smooth and sold in pads and rolls Ranging from 40gsm up to 280gsm for specialist uses It is made in the same way as ordinary paper, but is passed through a bath of acid which partially dissolves the paper This increases the translucency, and it also increases the stability of the paper
   • Cardboard
     • A heavy duty paper available in a range of thicknesses and strengths Board is measured in microns – 1000 microns equal 1mm Board can be made from recycled paper It can be laminated to other materials to increase strength or provide an alternative surface
   • Corrugated cardboard
     • Corrugated board is made up of one or two outer flat layers and a corrugated layer
     • Commonly used for delivery containers and packaging It’s lightweight, but strong With a smooth surface, it can easily be printed on
   • Foil lined board
     • This is made from a stiff card lined with aluminium foil on one side Cartons containing liquid are foil lined making it food safe The card also has a waxy coating to make it resistant to oils and liquids
   • Duplex board
     • Duplex board is made up of two layers The exterior will have a wax coating to provide a moisture barrier and give it a glossy sheen Its smooth white surface makes it suitable for offset printing Its weight, 200 – 500gsm, also makes it ideal for folding and die cutting
   • foam board or foamcore
     • Foam board consists of a sheet of polystyrene foam sandwiched between outer layers of paper Rigid and lightweight, it is often used as a backing material for graphic signage It cuts cleanly with a sharp blade making it very suitable for architectural models or prototypes
   • Solid white board
     • Solid white board is a high quality board with a bright white finish Weights range from 200gsm – 500gsm It’s strong, smooth surface makes it suitable for book covers and product packaging It accepts printing and surface finishes
   • ink jet card
     • Designed for use with an inkjet printer, the inks sit on the surface of the paper With a special coating this increases the stability of the print A good smooth surface, ensures even ink coverage and absorbency Available in weights ranging from 120-350gsm A matt or gloss coating enables a variety of images to be printed