Mind map
Tech Materials
Map content
Tech Materials
Plastics
- Thermosetting
- Melamine
- Properties: Heat resistant polymer
- Uses: Tableware, Electrical installations, Synthetic resin paints, decorative laminates, Worktops.
- AD: Easily coloured, Odour free, Good resistance to solvents
- DIS: Limited resistance to concentrated acids and alkalis
- COST: Expensive
- DIS: Limited resistance to concentrated acids and alkalis
- AD: Easily coloured, Odour free, Good resistance to solvents
- Uses: Tableware, Electrical installations, Synthetic resin paints, decorative laminates, Worktops.
- Properties: Heat resistant polymer
- Polyester Resin
- Properties: Resin and hardener mixed together, polymerises at room temp, often reinforced with glass fibre.
- Uses: Laminate to form GRP Castings, Encapsulations, Car bodies, Boats
- AD: Long lasting, Durable
- DIS: Requires special precautions when processing
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: Requires special precautions when processing
- AD: Long lasting, Durable
- Uses: Laminate to form GRP Castings, Encapsulations, Car bodies, Boats
- Properties: Resin and hardener mixed together, polymerises at room temp, often reinforced with glass fibre.
- Epoxy Resin
- Properties: A resin and a hardener mixed together to produce a casting.
- Uses: Castings, PCB, Surface Coating, Araldite glue.
- AD: Very strong, Sets in 2 hours, Will join different materials together.
- DIS: Difficult to apply because its so thick, Must be used inn a well ventalated are
- COST: Expensive
- DIS: Difficult to apply because its so thick, Must be used inn a well ventalated are
- AD: Very strong, Sets in 2 hours, Will join different materials together.
- Uses: Castings, PCB, Surface Coating, Araldite glue.
- Properties: A resin and a hardener mixed together to produce a casting.
- Urea formaldehyde
- Properties: ColourlessPolymer, Coloured with artificial pigments to produce different colours.
- Uses: Door & cupboard handles, electrical switches, electrical fittings
- AD
- DIS
- COST: Cheap
- DIS
- AD
- Uses: Door & cupboard handles, electrical switches, electrical fittings
- Properties: ColourlessPolymer, Coloured with artificial pigments to produce different colours.
- Melamine
- Thermoplastic
- Acrylic
- Uses: Display signs, Baths, Roofs Lights, Machine guards,used in school workshops
- AD: Highly transparent, Light, Weather resistant
- DIS: Toxic during manufacturing, Not easily recyclable
- COST: Expensive
- DIS: Toxic during manufacturing, Not easily recyclable
- Properties: Flexible, resistant to shock, UV and Chemical damage, Easily cut, can transmit/filter UV light
- AD: Highly transparent, Light, Weather resistant
- Uses: Display signs, Baths, Roofs Lights, Machine guards,used in school workshops
- PVC
- Properties: Stiff, Hard wearing, plasticiser added to make a softer, more rubbery material.
- Uses: Air & Water Pipes, Chemical tanks, Shoe soles, Floor and Wall Coverings
- AD: Light, Easy to handle and install
- DIS: It releases toxins during manufacture, decomposition in landfills and if exposed to fire.
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: It releases toxins during manufacture, decomposition in landfills and if exposed to fire.
- AD: Light, Easy to handle and install
- Uses: Air & Water Pipes, Chemical tanks, Shoe soles, Floor and Wall Coverings
- Properties: Stiff, Hard wearing, plasticiser added to make a softer, more rubbery material.
- ABS
- Properties: Opaque, Strong Resistant to heat and chemicals, Durable, Easy to process
- Uses, Toys, Telephones, Kitchen appliances, LEGO, 3D Printing
- AD: Good impact and heat resistance,
- DIS: Poor weather ability, Poor solvent resistance
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: Poor weather ability, Poor solvent resistance
- AD: Good impact and heat resistance,
- Uses, Toys, Telephones, Kitchen appliances, LEGO, 3D Printing
- Properties: Opaque, Strong Resistant to heat and chemicals, Durable, Easy to process
- Nylon
- Properties: Hard, Durable, Solid nylon has low friction qualities Resilient
- Uses: Curtain rail fittings, Combs, Hinges, Bearings, Clothes, Gear wheels
- AD: Light, Strong, Easy to wash, Natural lubricant qualities
- DIS: Poor resistance to sunlight, Heat sensitive
- COST: Varies with type
- DIS: Poor resistance to sunlight, Heat sensitive
- AD: Light, Strong, Easy to wash, Natural lubricant qualities
- Uses: Curtain rail fittings, Combs, Hinges, Bearings, Clothes, Gear wheels
- Properties: Hard, Durable, Solid nylon has low friction qualities Resilient
- Rigid Polystyrene
- Properties: Easy to machine, paint and glue. Strong, Stiff
- Uses: Computer keys, Packaging Power tool housing,
- AD: Easily Shaped, Comes in a wide range of forms
- DIS: Flammable, Weak, environmental pollutant
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: Flammable, Weak, environmental pollutant
- AD: Easily Shaped, Comes in a wide range of forms
- Uses: Computer keys, Packaging Power tool housing,
- Properties: Easy to machine, paint and glue. Strong, Stiff
- Acrylic
- Thermosetting
Wood
- Hardwood
- Mahogany
- Properties: Reddish-brown in colour, Easy to work with
- Uses: Indoor furniture, Shop fittings, Bars, Veneers
- AD: Wide range of availability, Easy to work with
- DIS: Warps, Hardness varies
- COST: Expensive
- DIS: Warps, Hardness varies
- AD: Wide range of availability, Easy to work with
- Uses: Indoor furniture, Shop fittings, Bars, Veneers
- Properties: Reddish-brown in colour, Easy to work with
- Beech
- Properties: Straight grain, Fine Texture, Light in Colour, Can be Steam Bent
- Uses: Furniture, tool handles, Toys
- AD: Polishes well, Strong, Tough
- DIS: Not suitable for permanent outdoor use
- COST: Varies
- DIS: Not suitable for permanent outdoor use
- AD: Polishes well, Strong, Tough
- Uses: Furniture, tool handles, Toys
- Properties: Straight grain, Fine Texture, Light in Colour, Can be Steam Bent
- Oak
- Properties: Very strong, Light brown, Open-Grained, Hard but easy to work with
- Uses: High quality furniture, Beams used in buildings, Veneeres
- AD: durable, widely available
- DIS:Very heavy, may appear outdated in a room due to traditional look
- COST: Expensive
- DIS:Very heavy, may appear outdated in a room due to traditional look
- AD: durable, widely available
- Uses: High quality furniture, Beams used in buildings, Veneeres
- Properties: Very strong, Light brown, Open-Grained, Hard but easy to work with
- Ash
- Properties: Strong, Durable, Flexible, Open Grained, Easy to machine, Well finished
- Uses: Furniture, Handles of Tools, Sports Goods, Construction, Ladders
- DIS: Not weather resistant as is prone to rotting
- COST: Expensive
- DIS: Not weather resistant as is prone to rotting
- Uses: Furniture, Handles of Tools, Sports Goods, Construction, Ladders
- Properties: Strong, Durable, Flexible, Open Grained, Easy to machine, Well finished
- Mahogany
- Softwood
- Pine
- Parana
- Properties: Hard, Straight-grained, Almost knot free, Pale yellow with Red/Brown streaks
- Uses: High quality Pine furniture and fittings e.g. Doors
- AD: Attractive grain, wide range of availability
- DIS: Lacks toughness, tends to warp
- COST: Can be expensive
- DIS: Lacks toughness, tends to warp
- AD: Attractive grain, wide range of availability
- Uses: High quality Pine furniture and fittings e.g. Doors
- Properties: Hard, Straight-grained, Almost knot free, Pale yellow with Red/Brown streaks
- Scots Pine (red deal/wood)
- Properties: Straight-Grained, Knotty, fairly strong, easy to work with.
- Uses: DIY Work, Constructional work and Simple Joinery
- AD: Finishes well, Durable
- DIS: Knotty
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: Knotty
- AD: Finishes well, Durable
- Uses: DIY Work, Constructional work and Simple Joinery
- Properties: Straight-Grained, Knotty, fairly strong, easy to work with.
- Parana
- Cedar
- Properties: Light, Knot free, Reddish Brown, Weak, Naturally oily, Easy to work with
- Uses: Outdoor uses e.g Timber Cladding, Fencing
- AD: Knot free, Resistant to insect attacks
- DIS: Not that strong
- COST: More expensive than some softwoods.
- DIS: Not that strong
- AD: Knot free, Resistant to insect attacks
- Uses: Outdoor uses e.g Timber Cladding, Fencing
- Properties: Light, Knot free, Reddish Brown, Weak, Naturally oily, Easy to work with
- Pine
- Hardwood
Manufactured Boards
- MDF
- Properties: Smooth surface, Easily Machined, Painted or stained. Available in water or fire resistant form, often veneered or painted to improve appearance.
- Uses: Furniture and interior
- AD: Easy to cut, shape and Drill,
- DIS: Can be easily damaged, can be harmful to health when it being sanded or cut
- COST: Cheap
- DIS: Can be easily damaged, can be harmful to health when it being sanded or cut
- AD: Easy to cut, shape and Drill,
- Uses: Furniture and interior
- Properties: Smooth surface, Easily Machined, Painted or stained. Available in water or fire resistant form, often veneered or painted to improve appearance.
- Chipboard
- Properties: Made from chips of wood glued together with urea formaldehyde. Usually Veneered with an attractive hardwood or covered in plastic laminate.
- Uses: Kitchen and bedroom furniture, Shelving and general DIY Work
- DIS:All except High Density tends to soak up water and breakdown/swell
- COST: Cheap
- AD: Strong, Easy to use.
- DIS:All except High Density tends to soak up water and breakdown/swell
- Uses: Kitchen and bedroom furniture, Shelving and general DIY Work
- Properties: Made from chips of wood glued together with urea formaldehyde. Usually Veneered with an attractive hardwood or covered in plastic laminate.
- Veneer
- Properties: Thin,Flexible
- Uses: Indoor and outdoor use. Is stuck onto other manmade products to improve aesthetics.
- AD
- DIS
- COST
- DIS
- AD
- Uses: Indoor and outdoor use. Is stuck onto other manmade products to improve aesthetics.
- Properties: Thin,Flexible
- MDF
Metal
- Ferrous
- Mild Steel
- Cost: Cheap
- DIS: Weak, Cannot be heat treated
- AD: Light, Affordable, Ductile
- Uses: Nuts, Bolts, Screws, Stool legs, Washing Machines Car bodies.
- Properties: Common, Soft, Strong, Rusts easily, Cannot be hardened or tempered.
- Uses: Nuts, Bolts, Screws, Stool legs, Washing Machines Car bodies.
- AD: Light, Affordable, Ductile
- DIS: Weak, Cannot be heat treated
- Cost: Cheap
- Stainless steel
- DIS: Very Expensive
- AD: Resistant to rust and scratching
- Properties: Hard, Will not Rust
- Uses: Sinks, Kettles, Medical Equipment, Cutlery
- Properties: Hard, Will not Rust
- Cost: Expensive
- AD: Resistant to rust and scratching
- DIS: Very Expensive
- Carbon steel
- Properties: Strong, Difficult to Form, Weld and Cut. Often hardened and tempered using heat treatment.
- Uses: Nails and screws, Bicycle wheel rims, metal chains wire ropes, screwdriver blades, engine parts
- AD: Good wear resistance, affordable, ductile
- DIS: Low tensile strength
- Cost: Cheap
- DIS: Low tensile strength
- AD: Good wear resistance, affordable, ductile
- Uses: Nails and screws, Bicycle wheel rims, metal chains wire ropes, screwdriver blades, engine parts
- Properties: Strong, Difficult to Form, Weld and Cut. Often hardened and tempered using heat treatment.
- Mild Steel
- Non-ferrous
- Aluminium
- Uses: Window frames, Saucepans, Cooking Foil, Airplanes
- Properties: Light, Soft, Easily shaped, silver in colour, good conductor of heat and electricity, corrosion resistant, polishes well.
- AD: Abundant,good conducter
- DIS: Not very strong
- Cost Expensive
- DIS: Not very strong
- Uses: Window frames, Saucepans, Cooking Foil, Airplanes
- Brass
- Cost Varies depending on alloy properties.
- DIS: high maintenance due to oxidation
- AD: High quality look
- Properties: Heavy, quite hard and strong, Yellow in Colour, Malleable, Ductile, Corrosion Resistant
- Uses: Electrical Parts, Door Handles, Bathroom fittings, Accessories Instruments
- Properties: Heavy, quite hard and strong, Yellow in Colour, Malleable, Ductile, Corrosion Resistant
- AD: High quality look
- DIS: high maintenance due to oxidation
- Cost Varies depending on alloy properties.
- Copper
- Cost: Expensive
- DIS: Water acidity sometimes effects the use of copper pipes
- AD: Corrosion resistant, Light, Durable
- Uses: Water Pipes, Wires, Cisterns
- Properties: Tough, Easily Shaped and soldered, relatively soft, malleable and ductile, Good conductor of heat and electricity.
- Uses: Water Pipes, Wires, Cisterns
- AD: Corrosion resistant, Light, Durable
- DIS: Water acidity sometimes effects the use of copper pipes
- Cost: Expensive
- Aluminium
- Ferrous
Information
- Description
- All Metals, Plastics and Woods for GCSE
- Created by
- Olivia Morrow
- Views
- 9
- Rating