Chapter 8 - Modern Materials

What is the definition of a modern material?

A material that has been designed for a specific purpose or need

A modern material is a material that has been engineered to have improved _________.

properties

What are examples of traditional materials that have been in use for centuries?

Paper, wood, stone, and metals

What is the chemical symbol for Titanium?

Ti

How does the density of titanium compare to that of steel?

Titanium has half the density of steel, making it more lightweight

How does the tensile strength of titanium compare to steel?

Titanium has a similar tensile strength to steel

What is the melting point of titanium in degrees Celsius?

1670°C

What property of titanium makes it suitable for medical implants like hip replacements?

It resists corrosion

How would you classify titanium's ability to conduct heat?

It is a poor conductor of heat

Name a specific sporting goods product often made with titanium.

High performance bicycles

Titanium is an excellent material for sporting and medical applications due to its high

strength-to-weight

What are two key properties of Kevlar?

It is heat resistant and strong

Name two general industries where Kevlar is frequently used.

Aerospace and military

What specific piece of protective equipment for military or law enforcement is made from Kevlar?

Body armour

Besides body armour, name another product that utilizes Kevlar's strength.

Bicycle tyres

What term describes Kevlar's ability to withstand scraping and rubbing?

Good resistance to abrasion

What property describes Kevlar's low likelihood of catching fire?

Low flammability

At approximately what temperature does Kevlar begin to degrade?

500°C

In what form is Polymorph typically supplied?

Small pellets

At what temperature must Polymorph be heated for its pellets to fuse together?

62°C

What is a key property of Polymorph once it has been moulded into shape?

It becomes a very tough polymer

What feature of Polymorph makes it economically and environmentally efficient?

Unused pellets can be re-heated and re-used

For what type of product feature is Polymorph particularly useful in manufacturing?

Awkward shapes such as ergonomic handles

What is a specific manufacturing application for Polymorph related to model making or prototyping?

Making moulds for vacuum forming

What is Graphene's fundamental structure?

It is a single carbon layer material

Theoretically, Graphene is said to be how many times stronger than steel?

100 times stronger

Why is the immense strength of Graphene still considered hypothetical?

We are yet to manufacture it in large enough quantities to prove it.

What three properties could Graphene theoretically provide to body armour?

Bulletproof, invisible, and almost weightless

How are metal foams produced?

By injecting a gas or foaming agent into molten metal

Typically, what percentage of a metal foam's volume is actually metal?

Only 5 - 25%

What key property makes metal foams useful in vehicles for crash protection?

They absorb shock effectively

What do the letters in LCD stand for?

Liquid Crystal Display

LCDs function by using the light-modulating properties of liquid crystals.

modulating

In an LCD, what is used to change the shape of liquid crystals to either block or allow light to pass through?

An electrical charge

What essential component do LCDs require to work that is not needed in OLEDs?

A backlight

What does OLED stand for?

Organic Light-Emitting Diode

What is the primary advantage of OLED technology over LCD in terms of device design?

It allows devices to be thinner and lighter

How do OLEDs produce light differently from LCDs?

In an OLED display, each pixel is its own light source

Besides enabling thinner panels, what two aspects of visual quality do OLEDs improve over LCDs?

Better colour and contrast

What is the characteristic size range of the particles defined as nanomaterials?

1 to 100 nanometres (nm)

What is an oleophobic coating?

A nanomaterial applied to a surface, such as a smartphone screen, to repel oil and greasy fingerprints

What is a hydrophobic material?

A material with a nanomaterial coating applied to its surface to repel water