Design Technology - chapter 5

polymers

a substance or fibre that has a molecular structure made up of much smaller units which are bonded together; can be natural or manufactured

natural polymers

polymers made from natural sources such as corn starch

manufactured polymers

synthetic polymers are artifical fibres derived from oil, coal, minerals, or petrochemicals

thermoforming polymers

polymers that can be softened by heating, shaped and set over and over again

thermosetting polymers

polymers that can only be heated and shaped once

fibre

a fine hair-like structure

cellulosic fibres

natural fibres from plant-based sources

seeds or stem- cotton, linen, hemp, jute

wood pulp- viscose, rayon, cellulose-based fibres

protein fibres

natural fibres from animal-based sources

hair or fleece of sheep or goat- wool

synthetic

derived from petrochemicals or man-made

microfibres

an extremely fine, specially engineered fibre