Compliant Materials

3.1.2 Compliant Materials Product Design AQA A-Level

What is a compliant material

What is a compliant material

A material that can be easily worked using basic hand tools

What are the four types of compliant materials

Paper

Board

Foam

Film

How is paper made

Plant fibres are converted into a pulp before being pressed and rolled into sheet form

What are the generic properties of paper

Comes from a sustainable source

Available in a wide range of finishes, colours and weights

Easily recyclable as paper products have short lifecycles

What are the 5 types of paper

Treated paper

Layout paper

Bleedproof paper

Cartridge paper

Watercolour paper

What are the properties and uses of treated paper

High quality paper available in a range of thicknesses and finishes

Used for printing high quality images and graphics

What are the properties and uses of layout paper

A strong paper with a degree of transparency

Used in the production of technical drawings and as overlays when tracing designs

What are the properties and uses of bleedproof paper

Coated on one side to prevent ink bleeding

Used with markers

What are the properties and uses of cartridge paper

Available in a range of finishes and weights

Used for quality drawings and graphics

What are the properties and uses of watercolour paper

An extremely heavyweight paper produced from cellulose and cotton fibres

Used in water based drawings as it does not distort with water

What is cardboard

Any multi-layered paper product

What is the generic properties of cardboard

Inexpensive

Can be scored, cut and folded into a net

Can be mass produced using die cutting

Can be easily printed on using flexography

Increased rigidity

Why is cardboard being inexpensive good

Important in a mass-produced disposable product

Why is cardboards increased rigidity useful

Makes it suitable for packaging boxes

What are the 5 types of cardboard

Corrugated card

Duplex board

Laminated / foil-backed card

Metal effect card

Mountboard

What are the properties and uses of corrugated card

Smooth on both sides with flutes inside to increase rigidity and shock absorption, easily printed on with flexography

Used in transportation boxes

What are the properties and uses of duplex board

Card with one high quality face suitable for printing onto and one natural card face

Used in the production of cereal and dried food boxes

What are the properties and uses of laminated / foil-backed card

Card with aluminium foil or metallised polyester film on one side for decoration / hygiene. difficult to recycle

Used in the production of drink cartons and food packaging

What are the properties and uses of metal effect card

Card with a metallic finish applied to one side

Used in the production of packaging and gift boxes

What are the properties and uses of mountboard

Card with greater than 1mm thick with high quality faces for displaying photographs or sketches

Ideal for model making

What is foam

A lightweight polymer construction with air pockets used for model making

What are the generic properties of foam

Lightweight cellular construction

Cushions impact due to elasticity of material

Easily workable with simple hand tools

Lack of grain structure means finish is uniform and stable

What are the 3 types of foam

Foamboard

Plastazote foam

Styrofoam

What are the properties and uses of foamboard

Two external layers of high quality gloss card with expanded foam centre for lightweight and rigidity, available in a bright white finish for aesthetics

Used for 3D architectural modelling and displays for printed graphics

What are the properties and uses of plastazote foam

A close celled polyethylene foam available in a wide range of colours

Used for model and prop making

What are the properties and uses of styrofoam

An easily shaped polystyrene foam with lightweight and fine surface finish

Used extensively in quick concept generation by designers

What is film

Thin flexible polymer materials used for hygeine / aesthetic purposes

What are the generic properties of foam

Thin flexible sheet material

Produced using calendaring

Used in packaging for aesthetic appeal

What is the name of the film

Cellulose Acetate

What are the properties and uses of cellulose acetate

Easily printed on and die cut film

Used in transport and packaging for its bright colours and clear windows

What is a polymer sheet

Polymer sheets are used in packaging and product design due to their flexibility and weather resitance

What are the generic properties of polymer sheets

Thin flexible sheet material

Produced using calendaring

Moisture and weather resistant

What are the 4 types of polymer sheets

Fluted polypropylene sheet

Translucent polypropylene sheet

Low density polyethylene sheet

Polyactide sheet and film

What are the properties and uses of fluted polypropylene sheet

Low density, rigid structure of polymer with hollow box section channels running between two thin polymer sheets, weather resistant and suitable external use

Suitable for printing on using flexography

What are the properties and uses of translucent polypropylene sheet

Flexible polymer, chemically resistant, easily laser cut, suitable for repeat bending

Used in packaging

What are the properties and uses of low density polyethylene sheet

A low density polymer sheet, chemically resistant, suitable for flexographic printing

Used in carrier bags

What are the properties and uses of polyactide sheet and film

A biodegradable alternative to low density polyethylene sheet

What are the properties and uses of moulded paper pulp

Made from recycled paper with water added to break down the fibres, reformed using heat and pressure to press into a mould, fully compostable meaning can be thrown into a compost bin, can be printed on once formed

Used in packaging such as egg boxes and to support electronic products as a replacement for expanded polystyrene.