Using materials cont……………………………………………

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS AND THEIR USES

Copy and complete the table below on materials, their physical properties and uses

MATERIALS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES APPLICATIONS/USES

Wood • Hard • Furniture
• Poor absorbency • Building construction
• Elastic • Boat construction
• High tensile
strength/strong
Paper • Good absorbency • Filter papers
• Opaque • Printing and writing
• Lightweight • Packaging material
• Flexible • Toilet paper and
• Biodegradable napkins
Plastic • Flexible • Packaging materials
• Water proof • Rain coats
• High tensile strength • Building construction
• Flexible
Cotton • Absorbs moisture • Textiles e.g t-shirts,
• Soft underwear, socks,
• Elastic dresses and shirts
• Flexible • Medical dressing
• Diapers and sanitary
towels
Polyester • Water proof • Making tents
• Strong • Textiles e.g shirts,
• Easy to dye trousers, skirts and
• Chemical resistant sportswear
• Wrinkle resistant • Ropes
• Seat belts
Wool • Soft and smooth • Textile e.g sweaters,
• Elastic suits, trousers, skirts
• Absorbs moisture and dress
• Durable
• Resistant to wear and
tear
Silk • Strong • Textiles e.g dresses,
• Absorbs moisture blouses, scarves, ties
• Elastic and lingerie
• Soft
• Lightweight
Nylon • High tensile strength • Ropes
• Water proof • Curtains
• High tensile • Fishing nets
strength/strong
• Chemical resistant
Polythene • Flexible • Packaging materials
 • High tensile • Used in construction
strength/strong
• Water resistant
• Lightweight
Sisal • Absorbs moisture • Making ropes
• High tensile strength • Making handicraft
• Lightweight such as baskets, hats
• Biodegradable and other decorative
• Not elastic items
• Strong
• Durable
Rubber • Elastic • Car tyres
• Soft • Condoms
• Durable • Gloves
• Water proof • Rubber bands
Glass • Brittle • Making window and
• Water proof door shutters
• Fire proof
• Chemical resistant
polytetrafluoroethene • Low tensile strength • Maing frying pan
• High melting point handles
• High tensile
strength/strong
• Durable

THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF MATERIALS AND THEIR USES

The molecular structure of materials plays a crucial role in determining their properties and uses.

Material Structure Applications/uses

Metals Have crystalline structure Construction
where atoms are arranged in Electrical wiring
regular, repeating pattern. Packaging
Jewelries
Polymers Are long chains of repeating Packaging
molecular units called Clothing
monomers Automotive parts
Medical devices
Ceramics Have a crystalline structure but Pottery
with ionic and covalent bonds. Tiles
Bricks
Biomedical implants
Aerospace components
Glass Has amorphous structure with Windows
no long-range order, making it Bottles
transparent and brittle Fiber optics
Laboratory equipments

Composites Made from two or different Construction

materials combined together. Sports equipments
 Aerospace components
Automotive components

BUILDING MATERIALS

Are any materials used for construction purposes.

Examples of building materials

These include; wood, metals (iron, aluminium), bricks, cement, stones, concrete, clay.

The choice of building materials is based on their cost effective for building project.

Building material are generally categorized into two;

• Natural materials
• Synthetic/artificial materials

Material Category Reason Properties Applications/uses

Burned Synthetic Man-made • Fir resistant • Constructing walls
bricks • Hard
• Durable
• Strong

Glass Synthetic Man-made • Strong • Window and door

• Fire resistant shutters
• High melting point
• Strong
• Transparent
Iron bars Synthetic Man-made • high melting point • Window and door
• strong shutters
• malleable • Door and window
• ductile frames
• good thermal • Constructing bridges
conductivity
• good electrical
conductivity
Aluminium Synthetic Man-made • high melting point • Used for roofing
sheets • strong
• malleable
• ductile
• good heat
conductivity
• good electrical
conductivity
• Bright appearance
 • Durable
• Corrosion
resistant
Concrete Synthetic Man-made • Hard • Constructing walls
blocks • High tensile
strength
• High compressive
strength
• Fire resistant
• durable
Wood Natural God-made, • Hard • Door and window
exist in • Durable shutters
nature, its • High tensile • Door and window
formation strength/strong frames
is not • Lightweight when
influenced dry
by man • Renewable
• Chemical resistant
• Absorbs
sound/sound
proof
Plastics Synthetic Man-made • Water proof • Plumbing pipes
• Chemical resistant • Thermal insulation
• Flexible in walls
• Poor electrical and • Window and door
thermal frames
conductivity • Waterproofing
• Durable basements,
• Lightweight foundation

Grass Natural God-made; • Easily catches fire • Used for roofing

hence • Easily attacked by
exists in termites
nature • Absorbs heat
• Absorbs water
• Lightweight when
dry

Side effect of the material on the environment and their mitigation

Burned bricks

• Leads to deforestation. Mitigation by planting trees that grow faster

Glass

• Can cut if improperly disposed. Mitigation by recycling

Iron bars
 • Deletes soil fertility. Mitigation by recycling

Aluminium sheets

• Depletes soil fertility. Mitigation by recycling

Concrete blocks

• Generates waste materials. Mitigation By recycling

Wood

• Easily attacked by termites. Mitigating by oiling

Plastics

• Can cause air pollution when burned. Mitigation by recycling

Grass

• Process of obtaining grass contributes to habitat loss. Mitigation by use of other alternative
resources e.g polythene

Natural and synthetic processes of making polymers

Poly: many

Mer: parts/units

A polymer is a long chain of small units/parts.

The small units/parts are called monomers

Polymers are categorized as;

Natural polymers

Synthetic polymers

Polymer Category; Reason Applications/uses

Polythene Synthetic; man-made Packaging
Polyvinyl chloride Synthetic; man-made Plumbing pipes
(PVC)
Starch Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Energy giving
Rubber Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Car tyres
Proteins Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Body building
Silk Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Night clothes
Wool Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Sweater, clothes
Polyester Synthetic; man-made Clothes
Polytetrafluoroethene Synthetic; man-made Pan handles
Polystyrene Synthetic; man-made Food packaging materials

Cotton Natural; God-made, hence exists in nature Clothes, pajamas

Common materials that can pollute the environment and which materials can be recycled