C4-7 Materials and their uses

Different materials have many different jobs depending on their properties.

What are the properties of a material due to?

• Structure and bonding

• State of matter

• Melting and boiling point

• Chemical reactivity

Polymers are really adaptable, they are flexible, easily moulded, less dense than traditional materials and often cheaper too.

Which of the following shows the main drawback from using polymers?

• Conductors of both heat and electricity

• Degrade over time

• Inert when cold

• At best they are semi-conductors

Ceramics are great insulators as well as being strong, hard wearing and unreactive.

What drawbacks are associated with using ceramics?

• malleable

• ductile

• brittle

• complex

Metals have many properties explained by their structure.

Which of the following is NOT a property of metals?

• malleable

• ductile

• insulators

• lustrous

Composite materials have different properties depending on the matrix/binder and the reinforcement.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of a composite material?

• flexible

• malleable

• lustrous

• expensive

Which of the following shows a polymer?

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Which of the following shows a metal?

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Which of the following shows a composite material?

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From the materials listed below, and using data in the table, which material would be the most suitable for a furnace?

• Aluminium:

• glass

• iron

• olive il

From the materials listed below, and using data in the table, which material would be the most suitable for a car windscreen?

• Aluminium:

• glass

• iron

• olive il