Materials

Quiz

• What is the difference between a softwood and a hardwood?
• What is meant by the term alloy ?
• What advantages does kiln drying have over air drying?
• What does Hygroscopic mean?
• Give 2 physical properties of ABS?

Answers

• 1. Softwood Trees: Evergreen, Leaves are needle like, Produce seeds in cones. Hardwood Trees: Usually Deciduous (Drop leaves in Winter), Leaves are broad, Produce flowers then seeds in a fruit.
• 2. Alloys are mixtures of more than 1 metal to form a new one

Answers

• 3. Moisture content of the air can be controlled and is fast allowing a turnover of wood in days rather than years.
• 4. This means it will absorb or lose water
• 5. Chemical resistant, impact resistant, tough, degrades in UV light

If you could design your own material

What are Composite Materials?

Examples
Concrete, Carbon fibre, Kevlar, MDF and GRP

Kayaks are made using Glass Reinforced Plastic
Research and describe the steps involved in producing a GRP moulding.

Mark scheme 2014

Use in Industry clip

Examples of other

Key benefits provided by using composites in product design?