ASH PINE

SOFTWOODS
MAHOGANY CHIPBOARD

MAN MADE
HARDWOOD
WOODS

WOODS
OAK MDF PLYWOOD

BEECH
HARDBOARD

RESISTANT
MATERIALS
METALS

ALUMINIUM
POLYMERS

NON-FERROUS UREA
METALS FORMALDEHYDE

COPPER ZINC THERMOSET THERMOPLASTICS

POLYESTER
BRASS (ALLOY)
RESIN HIGH-IMPACT
POLYSTYRENE (HIPS)
FERROUS
METALS ACRYLONITRILE-
CARBON BUTADIENE-STYRENE
(ABS)
POLYVINYL
STEEL CHLORIDE (PVC)

STAINLESS
MILD STEEL ACRYLIC POLYETHENE
STEEL

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Thermoplastics
 Made up of long chains of molecules that
are tangled together and have no fixed
pattern
 When heated they become soft and can be
bent, pressed or formed into different
shapes. As the cool they become stiff again.
 This process can be repeated many times.
 Thermoplastics have a “memory” and when
reheated will try to return to their original
shape. This is known as “plastic memory”
 Examples are acrylic, polyethene, polyvinyl
chloride (PVC), high-impact polystyrene
(HIPS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Thermosetting plastics

 These are made up from long chains of mol-

ecules that are cross linked.
 This means they have a very rigid molecular
structure.
 They will soften when heated but only the
first time.
 They can be shaped the first time, but then
are set due to their rigid molecular struc-
ture.
 They cannot be reheated and reshaped like
thermoplastics.
 Two examples are polyester resin and urea
formaldehyde.

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Acrylic
Properties Uses
 Good impact strength  Ornamental fish tanks
(tends not to shatter but  Baths and bathroom furni-
to break into large pieces) ture
 Lightweight  Car indicator covers / re-
 Good electrical insulator flectors
 durable

Advantages Disadvantages
 Can be recycled  Relatively soft
 Excellent environmental  Scratches easily
stability  Poor chemical resistance
 Polishes and finishes well
 Available in numerous col-
ours

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Polyethene
Properties Uses
 Tough  Drawer bottoms
 Resistant to chemicals  Cabinet backs
 Soft and flexible  Smoothing out uneven
 Good electrical insulator floors
 Lightweight internal door
cladding

Advantages Disadvantages
 Cheapest of all manufac-  Not very strong as it has
tured boards no grain

Aesthetics
 Side very smooth and underside textured

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Properties Uses
 Good chemical resistance  Pipes
 Weather resistant  Rainwater pipes and
 Lightweight guttering

 Good electrical insulator  Bottles

 Stiff  Shoe soles

 Hard  Window frames and fas-

cias
 Tough
 Water beds
 Waterproof
 Swimming pool toys
 Durable
 Electrical insulation tape

Advantages Disadvantages
 Can be recycled  Very expensive to recycle
 Relatively cheap to manu-  Dangerous fumes given off
facture when burnt

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
High impact polystyrene (HIPS)

Properties Uses
 Tough  Food appliances

 High impact strength  Toys

 Rigid  Cutlery
 DVD and CD cases
 Good electrical insulator

Advantages Disadvantages
 Available in numerous col-  Expensive
ours  Limited flexibility
 Can be machined and  Will not biodegrade
painted
 Can be recycled

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
Properties Uses
 High impact strength  Kitchenware
 Tough  Camera cases
 Scratch resistant  Toys
 Lightweight  Car components
 Durable  Telephone cases
 Good resistance to chemi-
cals

Advantages Disadvantages
 Available in numerous col-  Relatively expensive when
ours compared to polystyrene

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Polyester Resin
Properties Uses
 Good electrical insulator  Casting
 Hard  Encapsulation for biologi-
 Brittle cal specimens

 Good heat and chemical  Boat hulls with fibreglass

resistance  Model figures
 Resists UV radiation  Adhesives
 Filler materials

Advantages
 Can be mixed with pig-
ments to achieve a range
of colours
 Good resistance to water
Disadvantages
 Contracts on curing
 Can cause excess heat
when too much catalyst is
used

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT

 MATERIALS FACTSHEET
Urea Formaldehyde
Properties Uses
 Stiff  Tableware
 Hard  Worktop laminates
 Brittle  Buttons
 Scratch resistant  Electrical casings
 Stain resistant
 High tensile strength

Advantages Disadvantages
 Can be coloured  Toxic fumes given off when
 High surface hardness it cures.

MATERIALS GCSE RESISTANT MATERIALS @PENYRHEOLDT