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Materials and their properties (updated Oct)

Metals
1. Ferrous
  1. CAST IRON
    1. Pros
      1. Strong
      2. Tough
      3. Stiff
      4. Cheap
      5. Easily Machined
      6. Easily Recycled
    2. Cons
      1. Rusts
      2. High Density
      3. Poor Toughness
        Can be alloyed to improve
    3. Uses
      1. Brake Discs
      2. Machine Tools
  2. MILD STEEL
    1. Pros
      1. Strong
      2. Stiff
      3. Tough
      4. Very Cheap
      5. Malleable
      6. Easily Recycled (magnetic)
    2. Cons
      1. High Density
      2. Poor Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
    3. Uses
      1. Large Structures
        Bridges
        Buildings
        Oil Rigs
      2. Car Body Panels
      3. Trains
      4. Machine Tools
      5. Pressure Vessels
    4. Process
      1. Metal Forming
        Die Casting
        Rolling is important for structures like I-beams
        Easily Extruded for pipes, tubes, wire
      2. Readily Machined
      3. Joining
        Suitable for most
        Not suitable for soldering or brazing
  3. STAINLESS STEEL
    1. Pros
      1. Corrosion Resistant
      2. Strong
      3. Tough
      4. Ductile
      5. Stiff
      6. Cheap
      7. Malleable
      8. Easily Recycled (magnetic)
    2. Cons
      1. Expensive
      2. High Density
      3. Poor Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
    3. Uses
      1. Cutlery
      2. Chemical Plant and Surgical Instruments
    4. Process
      1. Metal Forming
        Usually Wrought
        Not Cast
        Powder Metal Forming
      2. Joining
        Suitable for most
        Not suitable for soldering or brazing
2. Non Ferrous
  1. BRASS
    1. Pros
      1. Reasonably Strong
      2. Corrosion Resistant
      3. Easy to Shape
    2. Cons
      1. Expensive
    3. Uses
      1. Ornamental Fittings
      2. Plumbing Fittings
      3. Screws
      4. Bullets
    4. Process
      1. Readily Machined
      2. Soldering and Brazing
      3. Readily Extruded as quite soft
  2. COPPER
    1. Pros
      1. Electrical Conductivity
      2. Corrosion Resistant
      3. Ductile
      4. Malleable
    2. Cons
      1. Expensive
      2. Low Strength
    3. Uses
      1. Electrical Wire
      2. Domestic Water Pipes
      3. Coins
    4. Process
      1. Metel Forming
        Easily Cast
        Readily Extruded because soft
      2. Readily Machined
      3. Soldering and Brazing for electrical connection and pipe
  3. ALUMINIUM
    1. Pros
      1. Lightweight
      2. Durable
      3. Corrosion Resistant
      4. Stiff
      5. Ductile
      6. Malleable
      7. Easy to recycle
    2. Cons
      1. Difficult to Weld
    3. Uses
      1. Aircraft
      2. Bicycles
      3. Car Engines
      4. Space Frame car bodies
      5. Drinks Cans
      6. Window Frames
    4. Process
      1. Metal Forming
        Easy with most
        Difficulties with oxidising in powder process
        Rolling (foil)
        Die Casting common
        Readily Extruded
        Sheet Forming (cars)
      2. Machining
        Soft, so easily machined
      3. Joining
        Suitable for most
        Difficult to arc-weld and an inert gas is needed
  4. TITANIUM
    1. Pros
      1. Strong, even at high temps
      2. Hard Wearing
      3. Non Corrosive
      4. Light Weight
      5. Stiff
      6. Chemically Inert in Human Body
    2. Cons
      1. Expensive
      2. Chemically reactive when hot
      3. Difficult to Shape
    3. Uses
      1. Surgical Implants
      2. Performance Bicycles
      3. Fan Blades for Aircraft
    4. Process
      1. Metal Forming
        Special Die Casting Process Needed Because Reactive
        Forging for Aircraft
      2. Arc Welding only with inert gas or in vacuum
Polymers
1. Thermosetting/thermosets
  1. Characteristics
    1. Harder
    2. Stronger
    3. When Heated
      1. permanently hard
      2. pressure can be applied to cure
      3. degeneration if heated excessively
      4. Toxic Fumes
    4. Brittle
    5. Better stability
2. Thermoplastic/thermoplasts
  1. Characteristics
    1. Soft
    2. Ductile
    3. Flexible
    4. Can be manufactured on a branch
    5. Sensitive to temperature
    6. When Heated
      1. Soften
      2. Eventually Liquify
      3. Reversible and can be repeated
      4. No toxic fumes
  2. Polythene
    1. Pros
      1. High Density
      2. Resistant to Chemicals
      3. Tough
      4. Cheap
      5. Flexible
      6. Electrical Resistance
      7. Transparent
      8. Easily Coloured
    2. Uses
      1. Dustbins
      2. Water and Gas Pipes
      3. Carrier Bags
      4. Food Packaging
      5. Sandwich Boxes
    3. Process
      1. Polymer Forming
        Most suitable, injection moulding most common
        Extruded for pipes
        Rotational moulding for large products (i.e. dustbins)
        Blow Moulding for bottles
        Vacuum forming for packaging
      2. Machining
        Soft so easily machined
        Usually formed to near-net-shape so little cutting needed
        No polishing needed
      3. Joining
        Adhesive bonding most common
        Friction welding for pipes
  3. Nylon
    1. Pros
      1. Strong
      2. Lightweight
      3. Used for broad range of products
      4. Easily made as a fibre
      5. Good heat resistance <250°
    2. Uses
      1. Clothes
      2. Fishing Line
      3. Small Gears
      4. Zip Fasteners
      5. Power Tool Cases
Composites
1. GRP GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC
  1. Properties
    1. Not Brittle
    2. Ductile
    3. Chemical Resistance
  2. Uses
    1. Aerospace
    2. Automotive
    3. Underwater
  3. Sheets of glass fibre laid at right angles sandwiched between a plastic
    1. Usually done in a mould and left to cure
2. Reinforced Concrete
Ceramics
1. Types
  1. Clay Mineral
  2. Glass
  3. Cement
2. Properties
  1. Good Insulators
  2. Poor Conductors
  3. Hard
  4. Brittle
  5. Resistant to
    1. High Temperatures
    2. Harsh Environments

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Materials and their properties (updated Oct)

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	Created by Billie Juniper about 9 years ago

	Copied by T Andrews about 8 years ago