Manufacturing Materials
Selecting the most suitable material for your project is very important. Carefully consider the physical properties, working properties, cost and sustainability of each material.
Wood- properties and applications
Softwoods
Softwoods come from coniferous trees. These often have needles, and stay green all year round - they do not lose leaves in the autumn. Softwoods tend to grow quicker which means that they are cheaper to buy as they will quickly be replenished.
Softwood | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Pine | Pale coloured with aestheticallyRefers to the way a product looks and feels, especially in a pleasing manner. pleasing grain | Lightweight and easy to form | Used for furniture and decking |
Cedar | Lightweight and pale colour | More expensive than pine but not as strong | Used for fencing and decking |
1 of 2
Hardwood
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees, which have large flat leaves that drop in the autumn. Hardwoods tend to grow slowly so are therefore more expensive as they take longer to be replenished.
Hardwood | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Beech | Slight pink tint, close grain | Tough, durable and smooth to finish | Used for handles on tools and furniture |
Mahogany | Dark-reddish colour, very close grain | Cuts and polishes easily, gives a fine finish | Used for high-quality furniture |
Oak | Moderate-brown colour with unique and attractive grain markings | Tough and durable, polishes well | Used for quality furniture |
1 of 3
Manufactured boards 鈥 overview
Manufactured boards are usually made from timber waste and adhesive.
Manufactured Board: | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) | Smooth and light brown | Smooth and easy to finish, absorbs moisture so not suitable for outdoor use | Used for general carpentry work and flat-pack furniture |
Plywood | Layers of VeneerA thin layer of real wood glued over another board to improve the materials appearance. glued at 90 degree angles for strength, aesthetically pleasing outer layer | Easy to cut and finish, can be stained or painted | Used for furniture, shelving, construction and toys |
1 of 2
Metals
Ferrous metals - properties and applications
Ferrous Metal | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Mild steel | An Alloya mixture of two or more elements, at least one is a metal. Many are mixtures of two or more metals and create a new material with improved properties that is grey and smooth, rusts if not protected | Ductileable to be drawn out into a thin wire, not brittle and tough, easy to form | Used for bike frames and fixings like nuts, bolts, screws and nails |
Stainless steel | CorrodeThe deterioration of a material, usually a metal or metal alloy. Often by water and oxygen but other chemicals can cause corrosion, eg rusting. resistant (will not rust), tough, resists wear | Difficult to cut | Used for kitchenware such as cutlery, pots, pans and sinks |
Ferrous metals
1 of 2
Non-ferrous metals - properties and applications
Non-Ferrous Metal | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Aluminium | Light grey with a matt finish | Lightweight but strong and ductile | Used for drink cans, kitchen utensils and some parts in transport |
Copper | Rose coloured, polishes well but can oxidise to a green colour | Good Electrical conductormaterials which allow electrical current to flow through them easily. Metals are generally good electrical conductors., can be polished, welds easily | Used for plumbing parts and electrical wires |
Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron and are not magnetic. They do not rust.
Alloys
An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals to create a new material with improved properties.
Some examples of alloys include: brass and stainless steel.
- Brass is made from a mixture of copper and zinc. Brass is commonly used to make electrical components and instruments.
- Stainless steel is made from a mixture of carbon and iron. Stainless steel is often used for kitchen utensils and cutlery.
Non-ferrous metals
1 of 2
Plastics
Thermoplastics - properties and applications
Thermoplastics can be reformed when heated, and therefore can often be recycled.
Thermoplastic | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Acrylic | Hard, BrittleHard but easily broken, cracked, or snapped., shiny, available in a wide range of colours | Resists weather well, can be cut, folded and polished well, scratches easily | Used for car lights, display signs and baths |
Rigid Polystyrene | Available in a wide range of colours | Lightweight, and can be easily shaped | Used for food containers and cheap toys |
Thermoplastics can be reformed or reshaped when heated, and can often be recycled.
Thermosetting - properties and applications
Thermosetting plastic can only be formed once as it cannot be reheated and therefore cannot be recycled.
Thermosetting plastic | Physical Properties | Working Properties | Uses |
---|---|---|---|
Polyester resin (PR) | A resin and a hardener, sets clear and smooth | Strong, heat resistant and good Electrical InsulatorMaterials which are poor conductors and do not allow electricity to flow through them easily. | Used for garden furniture and glass reinforced boats and cars |
Plastics
1 of 3
More on Manufacturing
Find out more by working through a topic
- count4 of 4
- count1 of 4
- count2 of 4