Happy Families

“Material properties”

Card game

Amanda Griffiths

Brian Russell

Yes

Made fromknitted cotton

fabric

StrongAbsorbant

Hard-wearingWashable

T-shirt

Easily broken down into

fibres

XNo

ProteinCalcium

Melts easilyCan be grated

Cheese Made from milk

Food products

cannot be recycled

Yes

Toy duck

Made from blow-moulding polypropylene

High impact strength

Thermoplastic

Range of colours

Flexible

Easily re-melted to form new

material

XNo

Playing cards Made from laminated cardboard

Easily printed on

Wipe clean

Durable

Easily cut

Too difficult to separate the

paper fibres from the plastic lamination

Yes

Scooter

Made from aluminium

Lightweight

Does not rust

Lightweight

Malleable

Aluminium is easily re-melted once separated

from plastic components

XNo

Skateboard

deck Made from plywood

Strong

Flexible

Suitable for lots of finishes

The glue layers in plywood make it

unrealistic to recycle the wood

fibres

XNo

Oven-proof dish Made from

earthenware clay then glazed

Heat resistant

Non-absorbent when glazed

Easily moulded

Once fired in a kiln ceramics

cannot be recycled

XNo

HardwearingNon-absorbantEasily cleaned

Crockery

Made fromporclain claythen glazed

Once fired in a kiln ceramics

cannot be recycled

Cycling shortsMade from Elastane (Lycra)

Stretchy

Washable

Yes

Textile fibres can be broken

down and reused

Pizza boxMade from corrugated cardboard

Yes

Strong & light

Easily printed

Good insulator

Cheap

Easy to cut out

Easily broken down so the fibres can be reused to produce

low grade card

Yes

Carrier bag Made from low density polyethylene (polythene)

Lightweight

Flexible

Easily re-melted to form new

material

Yes

Garden seatMade from

teak

Very durable

Hardwood

Very resistant to moisture

Wood fibres can be broken down

to form wood pulp although rarely done

Yes

Food can Made from tinplate (tin

plated steel)

Resistant to corrosion

Easy to shape and bend

Malleable

Once melted down the steel

part can be recycled

Yes

Jumper

Soft

Warm

Absorbent

Crease resistant

Made from knitted wool

yarn

Wool fibres are easily re-used for making into other products

XNo

OmeletteMade from

eggs

Protein

Set when heated

Add colour and flavour to other

foods

Food products cannot be recycled

Yes

Photo frameMade from

die-cast pewter (which is mainly tin)

Low melting point

Easy to cast

Can be polished

Resistant to corrosion

Easily re-melted to form new

products

Yes

Drinks bottleMade from

PET (Polyethylene Terepthalate)

Easy to blow-mould

Flexible

Durable

Thermoplastic

Easily re-melted to form new

material

Yes

Candle stick Made from wrought iron

Very strong

Ferrous metal

Will rust unless coated

Easily re-melted to form new

material

XNo

Kitchen unitMade from melamine

coated chipboard

Cheap

Manufactured board

Needs coating to become

durable

Glue content and the protective

coating makes it difficult to recycle

Drinks cartonAluminium foil-coated

card

XNo

Easy to print on

Easy to manufacture

Cheap

Water-proof

Too difficult to separate the paper

fibres from the aluminium lamination