Manufactures in industry

And
Chemical for consumer

NAMA: MUHAMMAD DANIAL BIN SHAHARUDIN

CLASS: 4 IBNU NAFIZ

NO MAKTAB: 10618

SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY
Uses of Sulphuric Acid

Sulphuric acid is very important industrially, and has many uses including:

the production of fertilisers such as ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate, calcium

superphosphate (Ca(H<2PO4)2), etc.; these are straight fertilisers, as they supply one of the
important elements of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium (NPK);

the manufacture of non-soapy detergents: modern detergents are organic compounds 'sulphonated'
with concentrated sulphuric acid;

the making of artificial silks like rayon: here, the fine threads in the alkaline cellulose solution are
neutralised by passing them through a bath of sulphuric acid;

the cleaning of metals by removing the surface oxide coating: this is called pickling and is important
in preparing articles for electroplating.

its use as an electrolyte inside batteries for cars: most car batteries are made up of lead plates in a
sulphuric acid electrolyte; occasionally, the electrolyte needs to be 'topped up' with distilled water ;
this is because small amounts of hydrogen and oxygen gases are given off by the chemical changes
inside the battery, and therefore the sulphuric acid loses water and becomes too concentrated ; in
the manufacture of drugs, paints, dyes and many other chemicals .

Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid: The Contact Process

 The large-scale manufacture of this acid is extremely important as it is the most common acid
used in industry, with over 1 000 million metric tonnes being produced annually.

It is manufactured by the Contact Process.

Stage 1
Combustion of Sulphur sulphur + oxygen   sulphur dioxide
S (s) + O2 (g) ---> SO2 (g) or
Heating of metal sulphide such as lead(II) sulphide 2PbS(s) + 3O 2(g) ---> 2PbO(s) + 2SO2(g) or
Combustion of hiydrogen sulphide 2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) ---> 2SO2(g) + 2H2O(ce)

 The raw materials are sulphur and air (oxygen). Sulphur dioxide is produced by burning either
sulphur or ores which contain sulphur.
 Purification of sulphur dioxide

1. The sulphur dioxide is then purified, by removing impurities like arsenic compounds which
would otherwise poison the catalyst.
2. It is then passed through an electrostatic dust precipitator, which, as its name implies,
charges dust particles which are then removed by being attracted to oppositely charged
plates.

Stage 2
Formation of Sulphur trioxide sulphur dioxide + oxygen ---> sulphur trioxide 2SO 2 (g) + O2 (g) --->
2SO3 (g) 
Catalyst: vanadium(V) oxide
Temperature: 450°C
Pressure: 2-3 atmospheres

 Sulphur dioxide and air are then washed, dried and passed over a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst
at 450°C and 2-3 atmospheres.
 The reaction is reversible but at these temperatures and pressures, 98% conversion to
sulphur trioxide is achieved:
 This reaction is exothermic, which means it favours a low temperature for high conversion to
sulphur trioxide.

Stage 3
Formation of oleum H2S2O7
sulphur trioxide + concentrated sulphuric acid ¾¾®oleum SO 3(g) + H2SO4(aq) ---> H2S2O7(l)

 The next step is to dissolve the sulphur trioxide produced in concentrated sulphuric acid, to
form oleum, or fuming sulphuric acid.

Stage 4
Formation of Sulphuric acid Oleum + water ---> sulphuric acid H2S207 (1) + H2O (1) ---> 2H2SO4(aq)

 This oleum is then diluted with water to the required strength of acid:
 Although this may seem a roundabout route to take to form the acid, it is necessary because
sulphur trioxide cannot be dissolved directly in water as it reacts too violently, forming tiny
droplets of sulphuric acid which are very difficult to remove.
Uses of ammonia

9.2  The manufacture of ammonia and its salts

Uses of ammonia
Table 3 Uses of ammonia

Use of ammonia Percentage

fertilizers 75

nitric acid 10

solvents 8

nylon and other organic compounds 7

Manufacture of Fertilizers

The main use of ammonia is in the manufacture of fertilizers.

Approximately 75% of all ammonia produced is converted into various ammonium compounds like
ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4, ammonium nitrate NH4NO3, ammonium phosphate (NH4)3PO4
and urea NH2CONH2.

These compounds are called nitrogenous fertilizers.

Example

Ammonium sulphate (NH4)2SO4

H2SO4(aq) + 2NH3(aq) --->(NH4)2SO4(aq)

Ammonium nitrate NH4NO3

HNO3(aq) + NH3(aq) ---> NH4NO3(aq)

ammonium phosphate (NH4)3PO4

H3PO4(aq) + 3NH3(aq) ---> (NH4)3PO4(aq)

Urea NH2CONH2

CO2(g) + NH3(g) ---> CO(NH2)2(p) + H2O(l)

They are solids for ease in handling and water soluble so that they seep into the soil to be absorbed
by the roots of the plant.

Nitrogen is an essential element for healthy plant growth as we saw earlier with the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrogen is essential for making proteins which are needed for healthy growth of stems and leaves.
The proportion of nitrogen present in a particular fertiliser can be calculated and is usually quoted as
an 'N' value on the fertiliser bag.

Solvent Uses

queous ammonia is used as a degreasing agent, as it is a good solvent of grease and fat.

Many household cleaners boast of the 'power of ammonia' for removing grease stains around the
kitchen.

However, it is wrong, as stated in some commercials, to talk of 'liquid ammonia'.

It is more accurate to say 'ammonia solution', as ammonia does not liquefy until a temperature of
-34 °C is reached.

Characteristic of ammonia

React with acid to form salt and water

As an alkali, ammonia can react with acid to form salt and water.

Example

H2SO4(aq) + 2NH3(aq) ---> (NH4)2SO4(aq)

HNO3(aq) + NH3(aq) ---> NH4NO3(aq)

H3PO4(aq) + 3NH3(aq) ---> (NH4)3PO4(aq)

Ammonia solution react with positive ions

Ammonia dissolve into water to form ammonium and hydroxide ion.

NH3 + H2O ---> NH4+ + OH-

The hydroxide ion can react with many kinds of positive ion to form precipitate.

Example

Mg2+ + 2OH- ---> Mg(OH)2

Fe2+ + 2OH- ---> Fe(OH)2

Al3+ + 3OH- ---> Al(OH)3

Testing for Ammonia Gas

Ammonia is the only common alkaline gas, so it can be identified with moist red litmus paper turning
blue.

However, a more specific chemical test is to hold close to the suspected ammonia, a glass rod
dipped into some concentrated hydrochloric acid.

This will give off fumes of hydrogen chloride gas which, in the presence of ammonia, form a dense,
white 'smoke' of ammonium chloride:

ammonia gas + hydrogen chloride gas ---> ammonium chloride

NH3 (g) + HC1 (g) ---> NH4C1 (s)

In the same way, mixing a gas jar of hydrogen chloride and ammonia gas produces the same dense,
white smoke. The smoke again is the fine-particled solid called ammonium chloride.
9.3 Understanding Alloys
An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals mixed in a certain percentage.

Characteristic of metal

A pure metal has the following characteristics:

Ductile – can be drawn into wires

Malleable – can be made into sheets

High melting and boiling points

High density

High electrical conductivity

Many metal are also soft. Metals like iron and copper also form oxides easily.

As a result, the uses of pure metals are limited, and alloys are made to improve the malleability,
ductileness and hardness of a metal.

A pure metal is composed of layers of atoms which are arranged in an even, orderly and close
manner at fixed positions (see Figure 9.8). Each atom is surrounded by 8-12 atoms.

This arrangement of atoms causes the metal to be very dense with high melting and boiling points.
The strong forces of attraction between atoms require a great amount of heat to overcome.

However, in spite of strong forces of attraction between atoms, the metal is not hard. If a force is
applied on the metal, the layers of atoms can glide and slide on top of each other, causing them to
move to new positions. This allows the metal to be drawn into wires (ductile). (See Figure 9.9.)

The spaces left naturally between layers of metal atoms also make it easy to be beaten into sheets
(malleable).

The formation of alloys occurs when these empty spaces between metal atoms are filled with atoms
of another metal, which may be higher or smaller than the original metal atoms. (Figure 9.10)

The foreign atoms are usually another metal but sometimes a non-metal, like a carbon or silicon is
used.

The foreign atoms filling up the spaces between the atoms of the pure metal help to prevent the
slipping and sliding of atom layers, thus making the metal harder, and less malleable and ductile.
Purpose of Making Alloys

Alloys are made to

increase the hardness of metals.

prevent the corrosion of metals.

improve the beauty and lustre of metals.

Hardness of metals:

Alloys improve the strength of metal.

Carbon is added to iron to obtain steel to make it stronger and harder than pure iron. Other metals
like manganese, chromium and tungsten are also added to add to the hardness.

Magnalium is made from aluminium and magnesium to improve the hardness of the pure metals but
at the same time, maintaining their lightness.

To prevent corrosion of metals:

Tin and iron are used vastly in building but they rust easily, thereby causing economical loss. Adding
other metals or non-metals to them can prevent rusting.

Stainless steel is made by adding carbon, chromium and nickel to iron.

Adding phosphorus to bronze also improves the lustre and prevents corrosion of bronze.Beauty and
lustre of metals:

Making alloys also improve the beauty and lustre of metals. They are thus used as decorative items
as they do not tarnish easily.

Stainless steel is used to make forks and spoons.

Copper and antimony added to tin produces pewter, used to make decorative items.
Composition, Characteristic, and Uses of Alloy
Alloy Composition Properties Uses

Cupronickel Cu 75% Hard, strong, resists

Coins
(Coins) Ni 25% corrosion

Al 95%
Aeroplane parts, electric cables, racing
Duralumin Cu 4% Light, strong
bicycles
Mg 1%

Fe 99%
Steel Hard, strong, cheap Vehicles, ships, bridges, buildings
C 1%

Fe73% Kitchen appliances, watches, machine

Cr 18% parts,
Stainless steel Hard, rust resistant
Ni 8%
C 1% knives, forks, spoons

Cu 90% Decorative items, medals, artwork, pots

Bronze Hard, strong, shining
Sn 10% and pans

Decorative items, electrical appliances,

Cu 70% Harder and cheaper than musical
Brass
Zn 30% Cu
instruments, bell, nails, screw, pots

Pb 50%
Snider Low melting point, strong Welding and soldering work
Sn 50%

Sn 91%
Malleable, ductile, rust
Pewter Sb 7% Decorative items, souvenirs
resistant
Cu 2%

Al 70% Tyre rim of racing cars, skeletal body of

Magnalium Light, strong
Mg 30% aeroplanes
9.4 Synthetic Polymer
Polymer is a large molecule that is in the form of a long chain with a high relative molecular mass
(RMM).

It is made up of many smaller units called monomers, which are joined together through a process
called polymerisation. Thus the monomer is actually the repititive unit of a long polymer chain.

picture

There are two types of polymers:

Natural polymers

Synthetic polymerNatural Polymers

These occur naturally in living things. Some examples of natural polymers are:

Natural rubber

Protein in meat, leather, silk, hair and fur

Carbohydrates in cellulose, starch and sugar

Natural polymers are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.

Natural rubber comprises the molecules of the monomer 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, also called
isopropene, joined together to form a long chain, as in:

picture

Protein is obtained by the combination of amino acid molecules which represent the monomer
units.

picture

Carbohydrates are formed through the combination of glucose molecule which act as the monomer.

picture

[edit]Synthetic Polymers
Synthetic polymer is a polymer that is manufactured in industry from chemical substances through
the polymerisation process. Through research, scientists are now able to copy the structure of
natural polymers to produce synthetic polymers.

Plastics, synthetic fibres and elastomers are examples of synthetic polymers.

The raw materials for the manufacture of synthetic polymers are distillates of petroleum.

The two types of polymerisation are:

polymerisation by addition

polymerisation by condensation

Polymerisation by addition involves monomers with >C = C< bonding, where the monomers join
together to make a long chain without losing any simple molecules from it. Examples of polymers
produced through this process are polythene, PVC perspex and other plastics.

Polymerisation by condensation involves the elimination of small molecules like water, methanol,
ammonia or hydrogen chloride during the process. Examples of products of this process are terylene
and nylon-66.s

Plastics

 Plastics are light, strong and do not react with any chemical substances, like acids and alkalis.
They can be made into many shapes and sizes. They are also good insulators of heat and
electricity.

Plastics (Addition ) Structure Uses

Plastic bags, containers and cups

Polythene (polyethylene) picture
–light; cannot tear easily

Polyvinyl chloride or raincoat, pipes, to insulate electric wires

picture
PVC(polychloroethene) –can be coloured; heat resistant

Packaging materials, children toys, ball-point pens,

Polystyrene(polyphenylethene) picture as heat and electric insulators

– light and strong

Perspex (polymethyl2-methyl picture Aeroplane window panes, lenses, car lamp covers
propene)
 –light, strong, translucent, stable towards sunlight

Plastics, bottles, plastic tables and chairs

Polypropene picture
–strong and light

To make non-stick pots and pans

Teflon(polytetrafluoroethene or PTFE) picture –hard, can withstand high temperatures and
corrosives chemicals

Synthetic rubber

 Synthetic rubber is an elastomer or polymer which regains its size original shape after being
pulled or pressed. [Natural rubber is an elastomer too.]

 Examples of synthetic rubber are neoprene and styrene-butadiene(SBR).

Synthetic rubber (Addition )

It is used to make 
Neoprene picture * rubber gloves and 
* to insulate electric wires.

SBR is used to make 

* tyres, 
Styrene-butadiene or SBR picture
* soles of shoes and 
* mechanical belts.

Synthetic Fibre

 Nylon and terylene are synthetic fibres which undergo the condensation polymerisation
process.

 These fibres resemble natural fibres but more resistant to stress and chemicals, and more
long-lasting.
  In both cases, water is eliminated during the polymerisation process.

Nylon

Picture Nylon is used to make

 umbrellas

 curtains

 socks

 carpets

 nylon string and rope

 toothbrush

 comb and so on

Terylene

Picture Terylene is used to make

 fishing nets

 clothes (quick-dry, non-iron)

 cassette and video tapes

Issue in using synthetic polymer

 Synthetic polymers have multiple uses in daily life because of the following properties:

1. Light and strong

2. Cheap

3. Withstand corrosion and chemical reaction

4. Withstand action of water

 Synthetic polymers are also used to replace natural polymers such as cotton, silk and rubber.

 However, synthetic polymers cause environmental pollution.

1. Most polymers are not biodegradable . Polymers cannot be decomposed biologically or

naturally by bacteria or fungi as in the case of other garbage. Thus, the disposal of polymers
has resulted in environmental pollution because they remain in the environment forever.
 2. Plastic containers and bottles strewn around become good breeding places for mosquitoes
which cause dengue fever, or malaria.

3. The open burning of plastics gives rise to poisonous and acidic gases like carbon monoxide,
hydrogen chloride and hydrogen cyanide. These are harmful to the environment as they
cause acid rain.

4. Burning of plastics can also produce carbon dioxide, too much of this gas in the atmosphere
leads to the `green house effect'.

 The raw materials used to manufacture synthetic polymers are petroleum and its by-
products. Petroleum is a non-renewable source of fuel which is fast diminishing from the
earth's crust.

 This problem can be overcome by the following ways:

1. Recycling polymers: Plastics can be decomposed by heating them without oxygen at 700°C.
This process is called pyrolysis. The products of this process are then recycled into new
products.

2. Inventing biodegradable polymers: Such polymers should be mixed with substances that can
be decomposed by bacteria (to become biodegradable) or light (to become
photodegradable) .

9.5 Ceramics
Uses of Glass and Ceramics

 The raw materials used in the making of glass and ceramic materials are obtained from the
earth's crust. Silica or silicon(IV) dioxide, SiO2, form the most important component of glass and
ceramics.
 In the SiO2 molecule, each silicon atom is held in a tetrahedral structure by four oxygen atoms.
 Each oxygen atom is held by two silicon atoms. This is repeated until a giant three-
dimensional molecule results.[

Properties of glass and ceramic:

 Both have the following properties:

1. Hard and brittle

2. Do not conduct heat electricity
3. Inactive towards chemical reactions
 4. Weak when pressure is applied
5. Can be cleaned easily
Glass

 It is a mixture of two or more types of metallic silicates but the main component is silicon(IV)
dioxide.
 Glass has the following properties:

1. Transparent and not porous

2. Inactive chemically
3. Can be cleaned easily
4. Good insulators of heat and electricity
5. Hard but brittle
6. Can withstand compression but not pressure

 Due to the above reasons and the low cost involved to produce glass, it is used in industry to
make bottles, cooking utensils, plates and bowls, laboratory apparatus (such as conical flask,
beakers and test tubes), window panes, bulbs and others.
 Different types of glass can be obtained depending on the composition of substances in it.
[edit]Soda lime glass:

 This is obtained when limestone (CaCO3) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) are mixed with
molten silica and cooled down.
 It is also known as soft glass as it has a low melting point.
 Most glass produced is soda lime glass. But it breaks easily, thus it is mainly used to make
kitchen utensils.
Lead glass:

 This is formed when a mixture of lead(II) oxide, sodium oxide and silica is heated together.
 Lead glass of better quality contains a higher percentage of PbO.
 Its refractive index and density being high, it has a glittering and attractive surface, thus it is
also called crystal glass.
Borosilicate glass:

 Boron oxide (B2O3) and sodium carbonate is added to molten silica to obtain borosilicate glass
or pyrex..
 The presence of B2O3 makes the glass able to withstand high temperatures and chemical
reaction. It does not break easily, thus it is used to make laboratory apparatus and cooking
utensils.
Fused silicate glass:

 Sand (silica) is heated until it melts at 1700°C, and the viscous liquid is cooled immediately.
This produces a transparent solid with an uneven arrangement of atoms, called fused silicate
glass.
 This glass cannot expand or contract easily when there are temperature changes. But it
cannot become misshapen because of its high melting point.
 It is known as quartz glass.
Summary
Glass Composition Properties Uses
• Low melting point
(700°C)
SiO2 – 70%
• Mouldable into shapes Glass containers, Glass panes, Mirrors,
Na20 – 15%
Soda lime,glass Lamps and bulbs, Plates and bowls
CaO – 10% • Cheap
Bottles
Others – 4% • Breakable

• Can withstand high heat

• High density and
refractive index
• Glittering surface Containers for drinks and fruit
SiO2 – 70%
Lead glass
Na20 – 20% • Soft Decorative glass and lamps
(crystal)
PbO – 10% Crystal glassware Lenses for spectacles
• Low melting point
(600°C)
• Resistant to high heat
SiO2 – 80%
and chemical reaction
Glass apparatus in laboratories
Borosilicate glass B203 – 13% • Does not break easily
(Pyrex) Na2O – 4% Cooking utensils
• Allows infra-red rays
Al203 – 2%
but not ultra-violet rays
• High melting point
(1700°C) 
Scientific apparatus like lenses on
• Expensive
SiO2 – 99% spectrometer
Fused silicate • Allows ultraviolet light
glass 6203 - 1% Optical lenses
to pass through
Laboratory apparatus
• Difficult to melt or
mould into shape
Ceramics

 Ceramic is a substance that is made from clay and hardened by heat in a furnace maintained
at a high temperature.
 Clay is composed of aluminosilicate with sand and iron(III) oxide as impurities. Iron(III) oxide,
Fe203, gives a reddish colour to the clay.
 Kaolin, or clay in its pure form, is white in colour. It consists of crystals of hydrated
aluminosilicate with the formula Al2Si2O7.2H2O or Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O.
 The different classes of ceramic include:
Group Composition
Quartz – SiO2

Calcite – CaCO3
Mixture of CaSiO3 and aluminium silicate
Aluminium oxide – Al2O3

Silicon dioxide – SiO2

Magnesium oxide – MgO
Silicon nitride – Si3N4

Silicon carbide – SiC

Boron nitride – BN
Boron carbide – B4C3

 The preparation of ceramic objects involves 3 stages:

1. A layer of water exists between the aluminosilicate crystals. This gives it a plastic-like
property when wet. Thus the clay is first wet to make it soft before it is shaped.
2. The shaped object is then dried. At this stage, the product can still be reshaped by adding
more water.
3. The dried object is heated to a temperature of 1000°C in a furnace. The product of this stage
cannot be softened with water or reshaped.

 The surface of ceramic object is usually coated with a layer of mineral or metallic silicate and
baked again in the furnace to produce a shining and impervious ceramic object.
 The properties of ceramics include the following:

1. Hard
2. Strong but brittle
3. Chemically inactive
4. Poor conductor of heat and electricity
 5. High melting point – heat resistant
6. Cannot be compressed easily

 The differences between the properties of ceramics, metals and non-metals are given below.
Property Metals Non-metals Ceramic
Hard but malleable and
Hardness Soft and brittle Hard but brittle
ductile
Density High Low Average
Melting point High Low Very high
Resistance to heat High Low Very high
Heat and Electrical
Good conductor Good insulator Good insulator
conductivity
Chemical reactions Corrodes Corrodes Stable, does not corrode
New Uses of Glass and Ceramics

 The latest use of glass is to make photochromic glass and conducting glass while ceramics is
used to produce superconductors and car engine blocks.
[edit]Photochromic glass

 Photochromic glass is very sensitive to light. It darkens in the presence of bright light and
lightens when the amount of sunlight lessens.
 The glass is produced by adding silver chloride (or silver bromide) and some copper(II)
chloride to normal glass.
 Silver halides decompose to silver and its halogen when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Thus we
have:

It is the silver which makes the glass become dark.

 When there is a decrease in light, silver chloride is formed again:

Therefore the glass lightens.

Conducting glass

 Conducting glass is a type of glass which can conduct electricity. It is obtained by coating a
thin layer of a conducting material around the glass, usually indium tin(IV) oxide or ITO.
 Conducting glass can also be obtained by embedding thin gold strips into a piece of glass.
This is used to make the front windows of aeroplanes which tend to mist at very high heights. By
passing an electric current through this glass (containing gold as conductors), the water of
condensation will dry up.
 Superconductors are electrical conductors which have almost zero (0) electrical resistance.
Therefore, this conductor minimises the loss of electrical energy through heat.
 Perovsite is a type of ceramic superconductor composed of itrium oxide, copper oxide and
barium oxide.
 Superconductors are also used to make magnets which are light but thousands of times
stronger than the normal magnet.
 Car Engine Block--When clay is heated with magnesium oxide, the ceramic that is produced
has a high resistance to heat. This material is used to build the engine blocks in cars as they can
withstand high temperatures.

9.6 Composite Materials

 Composite materials are substances which contain 2 or more materials that combine to
produce new substances with different physical properties from the original substances.

 They are used to make various substances in daily life because of the following reasons:

1. Metals corrode and are ductile and malleable

2. Glass and ceramics break easily

3. Metals are good conductors but have high resistance, leading to loss of electrical energy as
heat

4. Plastics and glass can withstand heat to certain level only.

 Composite materials have been created to overcome these problems and to make materials
stronger, more long-lasting and light for specific purposes.

 Some composite materials and their components are:

Uses of Composite Material

Reinforced concrete

concrete (cement, sand, stones), steel

 Ordinary concrete is strong but heavy. Concrete pillars must be big to support the weight.
They take up space and cannot withstand stress for example from earthquakes.

 Steel pillars are too expensive and can rust.

 Reinforced concrete, containing steel rods in the concrete pillars, can make them stronger
and able to support larger loads. It also does not rust.

Optical fibre

SiO2, Na2CO3, CaO

 This is a fine transparent glass tube that is made of molten glass. Glass cannot conduct
electricity or electronic data in the form of electrons. But optical fibre allows light to be
transmitted through the tube so that data is transmitted at a faster rate.

 In telecommunications, light has replaced electrons as the transmitter of signals. This light
transmits signals through optical fibre and the field is called optoelectronics.

 Optical fibre is also used in the medical field as

1. laser to do operation

2. endoscope to examine the internal organs of patients

Photochromic glass

glass, AgCl (or AgBr

 Glass is transparent and not sensitive towards light.

 Photochromic glass contains AgCI or AgBr which causes the glass to darken in sunlight and
lighten in the absence of sunlight. (See 9.5.)

 It is used to make photochromic lenses of spectacles and protects our eyes from extreme
sunlight.

Plastic reinforced with glass

fibreglass and polyster resin

 While plastic is light and hard, it is brittle. Glass is harder than plastic but breaks easily. Thus
fibre glass is obtained by adding a polyster resin to molten glass. It cannot be compressed
easily and is more tensile than the original materials.

 Fibre glass is light, withstands corrosion, can be cast into different shapes, is impervious to
water, not very flammable, not brittle and stronger than even steel.
  It is used to make racquets, construction panels, electrical appliances, pipes, and water
tanks.

Superconductor

Itrium oxide (Y203), BaCO3, CuO

 It is a substance with almost nil resistance. Thus it saves electricity.

 Copper shows superconductor properties only at -270°C. Thus the superconductor, a

mixture of CuO, Y203, and BaO, results in a ceramic called perovskite or YBCO. All the
materials used to make this composite substance are not electrical conductors in their
original forms, but as a superconductor, it conducts electricity without loss of energy. (See
9.5.)

Composite Materials to Fulfill Specific Needs

 Composite materials are needed in various fields, for example:

1. In the medical field: to replace organs in the form of plastic composite organs.

2. Car parts now use composite materials instead of iron and steel. This increases the speed of
the car (car is lighter) and saves on fuel consumption.

3. Stronger buildings are built by using reinforced concrete.