Materials and Components

Flashcards summarizing key terms and definitions related to materials and components as covered in the lecture notes.

Natural Material

Derived from plants, animals, or ore; categorized into organic and inorganic materials.

Composite Material

A material made from two or more different materials bonded together, often with improved properties.

Synthetic Material

Material created by humans through chemical processes, often to mimic natural materials.

Smart Material

A material that can react to environmental stimuli without human intervention.

Regenerated Material

Materials that have been reused or processed into a different product.

Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct heat or electrical energy.

Elasticity

The ability of a material to bend or deform and return to its original shape.

Plasticity

The ability of a material to permanently change its form or shape.

Ductility

The ability of a material to be stretched without breaking.

Hardness

The ability of a material to resist scratches and withstand wear.

Durability

The ability of a material to withstand constant wear.

Thermochromic Material

A material that changes color in response to temperature changes.

Piezoelectric Material

A material that generates an electric charge when mechanically deformed.

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA)

An alloy that returns to its original shape when heated.

Alloy

A mixture of metals created to enhance the properties of the original materials.

Low Carbon Steel

A common metal that is a mix of pure iron and carbon, used in various applications.

High Carbon Steel

Steel containing up to 2.5% carbon, known for its hardness, used for cutting tools.

Acrylic

A synthetic polymer known for its clarity and resistance to shattering.

Epoxy Resin

A thermosetting polymer known for excellent adhesive qualities.

Polyamide (Nylon)

A durable synthetic fiber known for its toughness and versatility.

Fibres

Natural or synthetic strands used to create textiles or composite materials.

Synthetic Polymer

A man-made substance composed of long chains of repeating molecular units, used in various applications such as plastics and rubbers.

Thermosetting Polymer

A type of polymer that irreversibly sets when heated or cured, making it ideal for durable applications such as adhesives, coatings, and composite materials.

Surface Coating

A method applied to the surface of a material to enhance its appearance, corrosion resistance, or wear resistance.

Painting

The process of applying pigment to a surface, often used for aesthetics and protection.

Varnishing

A finishing method involving a clear coating to protect wood surfaces and enhance their color and sheen.

Powder Coating

A dry finishing process that uses finely ground particles of pigment and resin, electrostatically charged and sprayed onto a surface.

Plating

A finishing method that involves depositing a layer of material onto a substrate, often metal, to improve appearance and resistance.

Anodizing

An electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant finish.

Sanding

A mechanical finishing method that involves scraping or rubbing the surface to achieve a smooth finish.

Brushing

A method using a brush to apply a coating uniformly, often used for paints and varnishes.

Polishing

A finishing technique that smoothens the surface of a material to achieve a reflective shine.

Welding

A joining process that uses high heat to melt and fuse materials together, typically metals.

Soldering

A process that involves melting a filler metal to join two or more workpieces together, often used in electronics.

Brazing

A joining process similar to soldering but done at higher temperatures, using a filler metal to bond materials, typically without melting the base materials.

Mechanical Fasteners

Devices such as screws, bolts, and nuts used to mechanically secure two or more components together.

Adhesives

Substances used to bond materials together through surface attachment, often providing a strong hold without mechanical fasteners.

Riveting

A mechanical fastening process that uses metal pins (rivets) to hold materials together, often used in metal construction.

Clamping

A method of holding materials together tight enough to provide a secure joint during machining or assembly processes.

Snap-fits

A type of fastening that allows parts to be joined together by mechanical interlocking features, often used in plastic components.

Lap Joint

A simple joint where two materials overlap each other; commonly used in metalworking and woodworking to provide good strength.