AQA ------ Energies, Materials, Systems and Devices

Question 1

What is a modern material?

Answer 1

A new invention or one that has been recently discovered.

Question 2

What are Biodegradable Polymers made from?

Answer 2

Vegetable Starches usually Corn-Starch

Question 3

What are common Biodegradable polymers and a use for each?

Answer 3

• (PLA) = Polylactic Acid, used for 3D Printing Filament.
• (PHB) = Polyhydroxybutyrate / Biopol, used for plastic products.
• (PCL) = Polycaprolacoane / Polymorph, used for manufacturing aawkward shaped such as ergonomics.

Question 4

What is Polymorph?

Answer 4

An item which can take multiple forms.

Question 5

At what temperature does poly-morph and cool-morph melt?

Answer 5

Poly-Morph - 62 degrees

Cool-Morph - 42 degrees

Question 6

Titanium is an element, it is commonly mixed with other alloys; why?

Answer 6

^ It is relatively lightweight, tough and stiff with a low density.
^ It has excellent corrosion resistance making it very versatile.
^ Titanium does not react with the human body

Question 7

What is fibre optic and what are its uses?

Answer 7

Fibre optic cables carry light down a thin glass core, the uses of it are cable TV and broadband infrastructure, endoscopes and microelectronics and novelty goods.

Question 8

What is Graphene?

Answer 8

It was accidentally discovered in 2004, it is one atom thick and has strength 200x steel, it is flexible, transparent, impermeable and highly electrically conductible.

Question 9

How small are nano-materials

Answer 9

They are around the same size as a DNA molecule, they range from 1 to 1000 nano-metres.

Question 10

How is metal foam created?

Answer 10

Gas is injected into liquid aluminium or titanium

Question 11

What are smart materials?

Answer 11

They are materials which change properties and characteristics to respond to external stimulus.

Question 12

What does a thermochromic material react to?

Answer 12

Thermal changes in the enviroment.

Question 13

What does a photochromic material react to?

Answer 13

Ultra-Violet light changes in the enviroment.

Question 14

What does a hydrochromic material react to?

Answer 14

Water (moisture) changes in the enviroment.

Question 15

What does a piezoelectricmaterial react to?

Answer 15

Movement, stress ore electricity changes.

Question 16

What does litmus paper react to?

Answer 16

pH changes

Question 17

What does shape memory alloy (SMA) react to?

Answer 17

Heat or electricity

Question 18

What does polycaprolactone react to?

Answer 18

Heat

Question 19

What does Quantum Tunnelling Composite react to?

Answer 19

Pressure

Question 20

What does nanomaterial react to?

Answer 20

Various stimulus

Question 21

What are the types of reinforced plastic?

Answer 21

GRP & CRP

Question 22

What is GRP?

Answer 22

Glass Reinforced Plastic

Question 23

What is CRP?

Answer 23

Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic

Question 24

What is Gore-Tex?

Answer 24

A waterproof yet breathable fabric membrane

Question 25

How does Gore-Tex work?

Answer 25

It has 150 million holes per cm^2 - This means water droplets are too big to pass through. - Perspiration an still escape in the form of water vapour.

Question 26

What is an Aramid?

Answer 26

Aramids are particularly tough fibres made from modified polymide.

Question 27

What do Aramids offer?

Answer 27

- Cut and tear resistance - Flame proofing - Thermal insulation - High strength - A hard wearing finish

Question 28

What is the name for an Aromatic Polymide?

Answer 28

An Aramid

Question 29

How big is a microfibre?

Answer 29

Less than one denier thick - one fifth the width of a human hair.

Question 30

What are the disadvantages of microfibre?

Answer 30

- Flammable unless treated - Synthetic and not renewable - Takes many years to decompose - Growing evidence relating it to oceanic polution