Materials and their uses

Question 1

Polymers - properties (5)

Answer 1

• Polymers are really adaptable - for example, some are flexible, so they can be bent without breaking and can be easily moulded into almost any shape.
• They’re often cheaper than most other materials, and
• they also tend to be less dense than most metals or ceramics, so they’re often used when designing products that need to have a low mass.
• They’re also thermal and electrical insulators.
• But, polymers can degrade over time, so polymer products don’t always last as long as those made from other materials.

Question 2

Ceramics - properties (5)

Answer 2

• Ceramics, like polymers, are insulators of heat and electricity.
• They’re much more brittle
• and stiff than most other materials, but they’re also
• strong and hard wearing.
  -They don’t degrade or corrode like other materials can, so they can last longer - that’s why we use glass in windows instead of clear plastic.

Question 3

Metals - properties

Answer 3

• Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity - which can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on what the material is needed for.
• They generally have high melting points.
• They’re malleable, so they can be formed into a variety of shapes.
• Some metals corrode easily, but products made from corrosion resistant metals can last for a very long time.
• Metals are usually less brittle than either ceramics or some polymers, so they’re likely to deform but stay in one piece where other materials may shatter.