Topic 4: Raw material to final

product

Essential idea: Materials are selected for manufacturing products based on

their properties
Concepts and principles:

Physical properties: mass, weight, volume, density, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity,
thermal expansion and hardness
Mechanical properties: tensile and compressive strength, stiffness, toughness, ductility, elasticity,
plasticity, Youngs modulus, stress and strain
Aesthetic characteristics: taste, smell, appearance and texture
Properties of smart materials: piezo electricity, shape memory, photochromicity, magnetorheostatic, electro-rheostatic and thermoelectricity.
Essential understanding:
Design contexts where physical properties, mechanical properties and/or aesthetic characteristics
are important
Design contexts where properties of smart materials are exploited
Using stress/strain graphs and material selection charts to identify appropriate materials.
Nature of design:
The rapid pace of scientific discovery and new technologies has had a major impact on material
science, giving designers many more materials from which to choose for their products. These new
materials have given scope for smart new products or enhanced classic designs. Choosing the
right material is a complex and difficult task with physical, aesthetic, mechanical and appropriate
properties to consider. Environmental, moral and ethical issues surrounding choice of materials for
use in any product, service or system also need to be considered. (2.1)

Materials are selected for manufacturing products based on their

properties
Hydrophobic, low
electrical resistivity
ductile and malleable
with high density.

Hydrophobic, low
electrical resistivity
ductile and malleable
with high density.

Absorbent, low
electrical resistivity
ductile and medium
tensile strentgh with
low density.

Physical properties
Design contexts where physical properties characteristics
are important.
Knowledge of the properties of materials is an essential understanding for
design select, use and apply specific materials to any given situation.
Physical properties:
These properties tend to be the characteristic of materials that can be identified through
testing that is considered to be non-destructive, although some deformation is required to
test hardness. This exception is often why hardness is often catergorised as a mechanical
property.

mass:
weight:
volume:
density:
electrical resistivity:
thermal conductivity:
thermal expansion:
hardness:

Physical properties:
weight:- relates to the amount of matter that is contained with a specific material.
It is is often confused with weight understandably as we use Kg to measure it. Mass
is a constant whereas weight may vary depending upon where it is being
measured.

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TYP
E:
Metals may be
used for

CO

Windows-

appliances,

ability for

which have to

SMART
MATERIAL

Physical properties:
mass: relies on mass and gravitational forces to provide measurable value. Weight
is technically measure as a force, which is the Newton, ie a mass of 1 Kg is
equivalent to 9.8 Newtons [on earth].

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The metals
The mass may
The mass of

mass must be
be used for

the timber
CO

light enough to
table tops- the

may be

be portable,

SMART
MATERIAL

Physical properties:
volume: is the quantity of three-dimensional space enclosed by some closed boundary, for
example, the space that a substance solid, liquid, gas, or shape occupies or contains

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The volume
The volume

may be used

CO

Metal boxes or
may be used

for glass

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trunks, also
for timber

containers or

SMART
MATERIAL

Physical properties:
density: is the mass per unit volume of a material. Its importance is in portability in terms of
a products weight and size. Design contexts include, pre-packaged food (instant noodles) is sold
by weight and volume, packaging foams.

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Timber

Density for

floorboards,

metals in
Glass panes

NTE must be able

metal sheets

XT:

for

to be

SMART
MATERIAL

Physical properties:
electrical resistivity:

This is a measure of a materials ability to conduct electricity. A

material with a low resistivity will conduct electricity well.

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Glass
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appliances
XT:

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Physical properties:
thermal conductivity:

A measure of how fast heat is conducted through a slab of material

with a given temperature difference across the slab.

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Lunchboxes
Glass doors

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Physical properties:
thermal expansion:

A measure of the degree of increase in dimensions when an object is

heated. This can be measured by an increase in length, area or volume.

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Windows

Road

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expanders
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Physical properties:
hardness: is defined as the resistance a material offers to penetration or scratching. Ceramic
floor tiles are extremely hard and resistant to scratching or cutting devices, e.g. drill bit, cutting
tools, screwdrivers, files, abrasive papers & cutting knives. Hardness should be considered with
the mechanical property of brittleness and toughness.

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Cars
Tabletop

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Mechanical properties
Design contexts where physical properties characteristics
are important.
Knowledge of the properties of materials is an essential understanding for
design select, use and apply specific materials to any given situation.
Mechanical properties:
These properties tend to be the characteristic of materials that can be identified through
testing that is considered to be non-destructive, although some deformation is required to
test hardness. This exception is often why hardness is often catergorised as a mechanical
property.

Tensile strength:
Compressive Strength:
Stiffness:
Toughness:
Ductility:
Elasticity:
Plasticity:
Youngs modulus: stress and strain

Mechanical properties:
Tensile strength: the ability of a material to withstand pulling forces. Tensile strength is
important in selecting materials for ropes and cables

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Mechanical properties:
Compressive strength: the ability of a material to withstand being pushed or squashed.
Compressive strength is important in selecting materials for structural materials

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Glass floors (at
CO
Timber

tourist

floorboards

attractions)

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METAL

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Mechanical properties:
Stiffness: is the resistance of an elastic body to deflection by an applied force. This property
is an important consideration for an airplane wing or a downhill skateboard, where maintaining
shape is crucial to performance.

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Mechanical properties:
Toughness: is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without
fracturing. One definition of material toughness is the amount of energy per unit volume that a
material can absorb before rupturing. It is also defined as a material's resistance to fracture
when stressed.

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Mechanical properties:
Ductility: able to be deformed without losing toughness; pliable, not brittle .
1. capable of being hammered out thin, as certain metals; malleable.
2. capable of being drawn out into wire or threads, as gold.
3. able to undergo change of form without breaking.
4. capable of being molded or shaped; plastic

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Mechanical properties:
Elasticity: 1. the state or quality of being elastic. Flexibility; resilience; adaptability: a
statement with a great elasticity of meaning. Buoyancy; ability to resist or overcome depression.
Physics: the property of a substance that enables it to change its length, volume, or shape in
direct response to a force effecting such a change and to recover its original form upon the
removal of the force.

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Mechanical properties:
Plasticity: The ability of a material to be changed in shape permanently by external blows or
pressure, without cracking or breaking (e.g. plasticine). Some materials are more plastic when
heated, e.g plastic. This is important in plastic moulded products and casting of metals.

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Physical properties:
Youngs modulus: stress and strain

STRE
E = SS
=

STRAI
N

Stress: force

Stress is defined as the force per unit area of

a material.
i.e. Stress = force / cross sectional area:

Strain: deformation after force

is applied

STRESS

Strain is defined as extension per unit

length.
Strain = extension / original length

STRAIN

Youngs modulus, also known as the

tensile modulus or elastic modulus,
is a measure of the stiffness of an elastic
material and is a quantity used to
characterize materials. It is defined as
the ratio of the stress (force per unit
area) along an axis to the strain (ratio of
deformation over initial length) along
that axis in the range of stress.

FRACTURE POINT
PLASTIC REGION

STRESS

ELASTIC REGION

YEILD POINT

STRAIN

TASK: Click on the image and

follow the tutorial: This will be
useful for your next IA and DP
next year

Aesthetic Characteristics
Design contexts where physical properties characteristics
are important.
Knowledge of the properties of materials is an essential understanding for
design select, use and apply specific materials to any given situation.
Aesthetic Characteristics:
Some aesthetic characteristics are only relevant to food, while others can be applied to
more than one material group. Although these properties activate peoples senses,
responses to them vary from one individual to another, and they are difficult to
quantify scientifically, unlike the other properties.

taste:
smell:
appearance:
texture:

Aesthetic Characteristics:
Taste: the ability to detect the flavour of substances such as food and poisons. Stainless steel
pots are used in preference to aluminium, as there can be tastes associated with this material
especially when used at temperature. Wine if often stored in oak, so that the woody flavours
flow into the liquids

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Aesthetic Characteristics:
Smell: can be used in design- fresh bread provides a homely feel or make you feel hungry. Smell
has particular ability to evoke memory.

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Aesthetic Characteristics:
Appearance: is the visual impact that a designed object purveys to the user, viewer or
observer. Appearance has the ability to communicate a message a meaning about a design.
This is known as product semantics or semiotics. Appearance can have generate a visual appeal
or something more ethereal using form, shape & colour.

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Aesthetic Characteristics:
Texture: relate to the tactile elements of designed products and environments. Texture can
both functional, emotive as well as instructional. Visually impaired can be informed of surface
with strategically placed textural indicators, texture can increase grip, and texture can reflect a
refract light in an architectural setting.

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