Developments in New Materials
Below is a collection of revision 'flashcards' that cover the exact key terms found in the UK GCSE curriculum Design and Technology syllabus. Take your time to learn and remember the terms on each flash card. Real world examples are also provided for use in written exam answers!
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Modern Materials
Glossary of Key Terms
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Graphene
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Metal Foams
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Titanium
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LCD displays
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Nanomaterials
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice structure. It is the basic building block of other carbon allotropes, such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes. Graphene is incredibly strong, lightweight, and flexible, with excellent electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity properties. It is also transparent, impermeable to gases, and chemically inert. These exceptional properties make graphene a highly promising material for a wide range of applications, including electronics, energy storage, composites, sensors, biomedical devices, and more. Graphene's discovery has sparked significant interest and research due to its potential to revolutionize various industries and technologies.
Metal foams are lightweight materials composed of metal or metal alloys with a porous structure, resembling a sponge or foam. They are created through various processes, such as powder metallurgy, liquid metal infiltration, or foaming agents. Metal foams exhibit unique properties, including low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent energy absorption, thermal insulation, and sound damping capabilities. These properties make them suitable for a wide range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, construction, biomedical, and defense industries. Metal foams are used in structural components, heat exchangers, impact-resistant materials, and acoustic insulation, among other applications, where their lightweight and multifunctional properties offer significant advantages.
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol "Ti" and atomic number 22. It is a strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant metal with a silver-gray color. Titanium is commonly found in nature as a mineral oxide, primarily in the form of rutile and ilmenite. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for use in aerospace, automotive, marine, and medical applications. Titanium is also biocompatible, non-toxic, and resistant to corrosion from seawater and many chemicals, making it suitable for implants, prosthetics, and surgical instruments in the medical field. Due to its excellent properties, titanium is considered a valuable material in various industries, where it is used in aircraft components, spacecraft, sporting equipment, jewelry, and architectural structures, among other applications.
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen is a flat-panel display technology that uses liquid crystals to produce images. It consists of several layers, including two polarized glass sheets with electrodes and a liquid crystal solution sandwiched between them. The liquid crystals can be controlled electronically to allow or block the passage of light through them, creating images or text. LCD screens are commonly used in devices such as computer monitors, televisions, smartphones, tablets, and digital watches, due to their thin profile, low power consumption, and ability to display high-quality images and videos. They are known for their sharpness, brightness, and color accuracy, making them popular choices for various consumer electronics.
Nanomaterials are materials with structures or features at the nanoscale, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers in size. These materials can be composed of nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, or other nanostructures. Due to their small size, nanomaterials often exhibit unique and enhanced properties such as increased strength, conductivity, optical or magnetic properties. Nanomaterials find applications in a wide range of fields, including electronics, medicine, energy, environmental care, and consumer products. Examples of nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes, quantum dots, nanoporous materials, and nanocomposites. Their versatility and potential for innovation make nanomaterials an area of active research and development with promising future applications.
Smart Materials
Glossary of Key Terms
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Thermochromic pigments
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Photochromic pigments
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Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs)
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Thermochromic pigments are substances that change color in response to changes in temperature. These pigments contain molecules or particles that undergo a reversible color change when heated or cooled. At certain temperatures, the molecular structure of the pigment alters, causing a shift in its absorption or reflection of light, resulting in a change in color. Thermochromic pigments are commonly used in various applications, such as temperature-sensitive packaging, novelty items, mood rings, thermometers, and color-changing textiles. They offer visual indicators of temperature changes and find use in security printing, smart materials, and consumer products where temperature monitoring or aesthetic effects are desired.
Photochromic pigments are substances that change color when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as sunlight. These pigments contain molecules or compounds that undergo a reversible chemical reaction when illuminated by UV radiation, causing a change in their molecular structure and resulting in a visible color change. When the UV light source is removed, the photochromic pigments gradually revert to their original colorless state. Photochromic pigments are commonly used in various applications, including sunglasses lenses, transition lenses, photochromic paints, inks, and coatings, as well as novelty items and color-changing materials. They provide a dynamic and interactive element to products, offering light-responsive color effects that adapt to changes in ambient light conditions.
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a class of metallic materials that have the ability to return to a predetermined shape or form when subjected to specific temperature changes or mechanical stress. This unique property is known as the shape memory effect. SMAs undergo a reversible phase transformation between two crystal structures, typically austenite and martensite, in response to changes in temperature or mechanical loading. When the SMA is deformed at a lower temperature (below its transition temperature), it retains this new shape. However, upon heating above its transition temperature, the SMA reverts to its original shape due to the rearrangement of its crystal structure. This property makes SMAs suitable for various applications, including actuators, sensors, medical devices, aerospace components, and consumer products, where precise shape control and deformation recovery are required.
Composite Materials
Glossary of Key Terms
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Glass Reinforced Polymers (GRP)
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Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CRP)
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Glass reinforced polymer (GRP), also known as fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) or fiberglass, is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with glass fibers. The polymer matrix, typically epoxy, polyester, or vinyl ester resin, binds the glass fibers together, providing strength and rigidity to the composite. The glass fibers, usually in the form of woven mats or rovings, serve as the reinforcement, imparting mechanical properties such as stiffness, tensile strength, and impact resistance to the composite. GRP is known for its lightweight, corrosion resistance, durability, and versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including construction, automotive, marine, aerospace, and sporting goods. It is commonly used to manufacture products such as boat hulls, automobile body panels, pipes, tanks, building panels, and wind turbine blades, among others, where high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance are desired.
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a composite material consisting of a polymer matrix reinforced with carbon fibers. The polymer matrix, often epoxy resin, binds the carbon fibers together, providing structural support and protection. Carbon fibers, composed primarily of carbon atoms aligned in a crystalline structure, serve as the reinforcement, imparting exceptional mechanical properties to the composite, including high strength, stiffness, and low weight. CFRP is renowned for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and durability, making it a preferred material in aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, and other high-performance applications. It is commonly used to manufacture aircraft components, automotive body parts, bicycle frames, sports equipment, and structural elements where lightweight and high strength are critical requirements.
Technical Textiles
Glossary of Key Terms
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Conductive fabrics
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Fire-resistant fabrics
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Kevlar
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Microfibres
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Conductive fabrics are textile materials infused with conductive elements, such as metals, carbon, or conductive polymers, that enable the transmission of electrical signals or currents across their surface. These fabrics possess properties that allow them to conduct electricity, making them suitable for use in electronic applications and wearable technology. Conductive fabrics are often used in the development of smart textiles, wearable sensors, electromagnetic shielding, flexible circuits, and heating elements, among other applications. They offer versatility, flexibility, and comfort, making them ideal for integrating electronics into clothing, accessories, and other textile-based products.
Fire-resistant fabrics are textile materials designed to resist ignition, combustion, and propagation of flames when exposed to heat or flames. These fabrics are treated with flame-retardant chemicals or manufactured using inherently flame-resistant fibers to reduce their flammability and prevent them from catching fire easily. Fire-resistant fabrics are commonly used in various applications where fire safety is critical, such as protective clothing for firefighters, Formula 1 uniforms, industrial workwear, upholstery, curtains, and building materials. They provide an additional layer of protection against the risk of fire-related injuries or property damage, helping to mitigate the spread of flames and reduce the severity of fire incidents.
Kevlar is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional strength, toughness, and heat resistance. It is a type of aramid fiber, belonging to a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. Developed by DuPont in the 1960s, Kevlar is highly regarded for its use in protective clothing, such as bulletproof vests, helmets, gloves, and body armor, due to its ability to withstand high-impact forces and resist penetration by projectiles. Kevlar fibers are also used in various other applications, including aerospace, automotive, marine, sporting goods, and industrial reinforcement, where lightweight and high-strength materials are required. Additionally, Kevlar is resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and flame, making it a versatile material for a wide range of demanding environments and applications.
Microfibers are ultra-fine synthetic fibers, typically made from polyester or nylon, with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers (µm). They are engineered to be much thinner than natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, allowing them to have a greater surface area and higher density. Microfibers are commonly used in the production of textiles, including clothing, upholstery, cleaning cloths, and towels, due to their softness, durability, and moisture-wicking properties. They are also utilized in various other applications, such as filtration, medical textiles, and electronics, where their small size and versatility offer advantages. However, microfibers have raised environmental concerns due to their propensity to shed during washing and enter waterways, potentially causing pollution and harm to aquatic ecosystems.