Material Properties and their meanings Strength the ability

Material Properties and their meanings • • • Strength – the ability to withstand forces without breaking Hardness – Ability to withstand scratching and abrasion Toughness – hard to break or snap Elasticity – can stretch or bend then return to it’s original shape Malleability – can be bent or shaped Ductility – can be drawn (pulled) into long wires Conductivity – ability to let heat or electricity flow through Fusibility – have a low melting point Density – mass per unit volume Absorbency – good at soaking up moisture

Year 10 GCSE Research Task Material Properties Use the internet to find 4 different products. Paste a picture of each product onto a MS Power. Point presentation, one product per slide. 1. Identify the material used to make each of them. Is it finished in any way? (Painted, varnished, waxed, etc. ) 2. Explain why the material’s properties are suitable for use in the product. 3. Suggest a different material that could be used to make the product and it still remain functional. Explain why you have chosen this alternative. 4. Print off all 4 slides to one A 4 page. (Ask if you don’t know how to do this!)

Example Wooden Spoon from Wilkos Material – Beech (Hardwood) Finish – No finish Properties – Beech is a hardwood that is tough and easy to shape. It is not Thermally conductive so heat will not travel from the hot food up the handle to the users hands. Beech is a wood that has hardness and strength so will be long lasting. It will also not lose it’s shape when heated. Alternative material – A thermosetting polymer such as Melamine Formaldehyde would be suitable as it has many of the properties of beech whilst also being able to be coloured to make it look more attractive.