Technical Materials
What is a raw material?
Raw materials are obtained directly from nature.
Hard, tough, elastic, malleable, soft, brittle, plastic, or ductile
How is paper made?
It is obtained by forming a paste out of wood and plant fibres. This material is not very sturdy and rips easily, but it is easy to cut, paste and fold.
What is copper used for?
Copper is used in wires, pipes, motor windings, ornaments, coins, and weapons.
What is a natural material?
Raw materials are prepared or refined to obtain natural materials.
What are the three types of conductors and insulators?
Electrical, thermal, and sound
How is cardboard made?
It is made by compressing several layers of paper while it is wet to thicken it and produce a heavier texture.
What is aluminium used for?
Aluminium is used in food packaging. [Not in your textbook: it's also used in cars, airplanes, solar panels, and batteries.]
What is a processed material?
By processing natural materials, we can obtain other types of materials. For example, we can obtain plastic from oil and make paper from wood. These materials are called processed materials.
What type of material conducts heat, electricity, and sound?
Metal
How is plywood made?
It is a man-made wood formed by an odd number of thin wood layers that are laid on top of each other and bonded together with adhesive. Plywood sheets are sturdy and very uniform.
What is the difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals?
Ferrous metals contain mostly iron, while non-ferrous metals do not have iron.
What is an example of a natural plastic?
Rubber or latex
What type of material conducts sound and is an insulator of heat and electricity?
Wood
How is cork made?
It is obtained from the bark of the cork oak. It is a waterproof, lightweight material and a very good insulator of electricity, heat and sound.
What percentage of carbon does iron have?
Iron contains less than 0.1% carbon.
Lycra, nylon, viscose, or polyester
What does ductile mean?
Ductile means that something can easily be shaped into threads or wires, such as nylon.
How is chipboard made?
It is a man-made wood obtained from wood chips that are mixed with resin and then pressed. Chipboard panels can have a thin plastic coating on them, like the ones we see on school desks.
What percentage of carbon does steel have?
Steel has 0.1%-2% carbon.