Other Materials

Edexcel – Product Design: Graphics

Other Materials

• Composites• Modern materials and products• Smart Materials

Composites

• Carbon fibre– Sports equipment– Excellent strength to weight ratio– Very expensive, only available in black, hard to recycle

• Glass reinforced plastics (GRP)– Vehicle bodies– Excellent strength to weight ratio– Expensive, high quality mould needed

• Medium density fibreboard (MDF)– Flat pack furniture– Consistent in all directions– Heavier, dulls blades quicker

Composites

• Carbon fibre

• Glass reinforced plastics (GRP)

• Medium density fibreboard (MDF)

Modern materials and products

• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)– Digital watches and TV’s– Goes dark when a voltage applied– In TV’s has RGB layers

• Phosphorescent pigments– “Glow in the dark”– Absorb energy from light and stores– Releases slowly at night

• Electroluminescent (E.L.) lighting– Used for LCD backlighting and advertisements– Converts electrical energy into light– Waterproof and highly visible

Modern materials and products

• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)

• Phosphorescent pigments

• Electroluminescent (E.L.) lighting

Smart Materials

• Thermochromic liquid crystals/film– Forehead thermometers– Reacts to temperature

• Piezoelectric crystals– Converts movement into electricity and back– Used in inkjet printers to push out ink

• Smart ink– Also known as electronic ink (or e-ink)– Kindle– Displays only use energy when the display is refreshed

• Radio frequency identification (RFID)– A method of identification– Uses tags to store and track data– Used in libraries, factories etc

Smart Materials

• Thermochromic liquid crystals/film

• Smart ink

• Radio frequency identification (RFID)

Task

• Work on your own or in pairs:

1. Put down the heading you are given2. Write a brief description for each material3. Find images of example products4. Advantages and disadvantages of each

materialA. CompositesB. Modern materials and

productsC. Smart Materials