C10: MATERIALS Flashcards
What is an alloy?
a mixture of a metal with small amounts of other elements
Steels:
-main metal
-other elements
-uses
-main metal: iron
-other elements: carbon (stainless steel - chromium and nickel)
-uses: cutlery, construction, cars
Gold alloys:
-main metal
-other elements
-uses
-main metal: gold
-other elements: silver/copper/zinc
-uses: jewellery
How many carats pure gold?
24 carat
How do you calculate the % of gold in an alloy?
(no. of carats/24) x 100
Brass:
-main metal
-other elements
-uses
-main metal: copper
-other elements: zinc
-uses: brass instruments, brass pins in plugs
Bronze:
-main metal
-other elements
-uses
-main metal: copper
-other elements: tin
-uses: statues, coins
What is corrosion?
the destruction of materials (esp metals) by chemical reactions with water/O2
What is rusting?
corrosion when iron or steel reacts with oxygen and water
What is the word equation for rusting?
iron + oxygen –> iron oxide
What needs to be present for rusting to occur?
water
What are the 2 methods of preventing corrosion?
-protective layer
-sacrificial protection
Protective layer:
-how it works
-examples
-acts as a barrier which stops it reacting with O2 and water
-examples: paint, oil, plastic, any less reactive metal
Sacrificial protection:
-how it works
-examples
-zinc often used to coat iron nails because it is more reactive so any water and O2 that comes into contact with the nail reacts with the zinc and not with the iron
-examples: any more reactive metal
Clay
-soft when dug up out of the ground so it can be moulded into different shapes
-when fired at high temps it hardens to form a clay ceramic
-ideal for making pottery and bricks
Glass (properties)
-transparent
-can be moulded when hot
-brittle when thin
What are the 2 types of glass
-soda-lime glass
-borosilicate glass
How is soda-lime glass made?
-made by heating a mixture of limestone, sand and sodium carbonate
-when mixture cools it comes out as glass
How is borosilicate glass made?
-made by heating a mixture of sand and boron trioxide
-when mixture cools it comes out as glass
What are composites?
a material made from two or more different materials with contrasting properties
What are the components of composite materials?
-the reinforcement (fibres/fragments of a material)
-the matrix (acts as a binder and holds reinforcement together)
What are some examples of composites?
-fibreglass
-carbon fibre
-concrete
-wood
Fibreglass:
-reinforcement
-matrix
-properties
-uses
-reinforcement: glass fibres
-matrix: polymer
-properties: low density, very strong
-uses: skis, boats, surfboards
Carbon fibres:
-reinforcement
-matrix
-properties
-uses
-reinforcement: carbon fibres/nanotubes
-matrix: polymer
-properties: strong, light
-uses: aerospace, sports car manufacturing