Materials Science Quiz

Sustainability

• Sustainability means not causing permanent harm to the environment and not using up finite resources.
• All products have a carbon footprint.
• Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2 and methane) released by a product throughout its lifecycle (making, using, recycling, and disposing).
• Transportation and manufacture release CO2.
• Higher carbon footprint means greater contribution to global warming.

Problem

• Making new products releases emissions harmful to the environment.
• When a product wears out, it creates waste, causing pollution.
• Making new products pollutes further.

Solution

• Use recycled materials to make products.
• Design products that last longer, or are not designed to become obsolete.
• This helps avoid a "planned obsolescence" which wastes materials and energy for replacement.

Culture

• Fashion trends lead to products becoming obsolete, impacting the environment negatively.
• New technologies can offend people, for instance, if using animal products in material.

Society and People

• Social Footprint includes taking care of employees during design and manufacture of products.
• Firms are morally obligated to ensure working conditions and health are not negatively impacted by product design and manufacture.

Environment

• Continuous Improvement is important for products to reduce environmental impact.
• Manufacturers try to improve products, using more renewable resources.
• Using unsustainable/un-recyclable materials is harmful, including using resources located in rainforests.
• Manufacturing products uses energy and creates pollution.
• Product disposal in landfills is harmful to the environment.
• Using products can also contribute to environmental damage.

Industry

• Stages of manufacturing include input, process, and output.
• Input = raw materials, tools, and equipment; Process = what happens to these to create an output.
• Examples of manufacturing processes include using automation through machines.
• Automation increases production speed and reduces human error.
• Smart technology in manufacturing is important as it allows machines to connect with other machines and sensors in factories. - This can monitor and receive data such as stock levels in real-time.

Automation

• Machines used in manufacturing do tasks automatically.
• This increases production speed, and reduces human error.
• Machines are faster than humans, and can operate 24/7 whereas humans can only work for a set period of time.

Smart Technology

• Smart technology in manufacturing is where machines are connected to other machines and sensors in factories to share data.
• These machines can operate without human input, and can receive data including stock levels.
• IoT is also related to manufacturing.

Innovations in business

• Crowdfunding = fundraising for business ideas.
• Virtual Marketing and Virtual Retail = promotion and selling of products via the internet.

Technology

• Modern materials with desirable properties are created via new/improved manufacturing processes.
• Examples include graphene, which is a thin layer of graphite that's strong and lightweight, and metal foams, which are light and strong under compression.
• These are used in cars, and may replace traditional components in the future in this industry.

Composites

• Composites are combinations of two or more materials that work together.
• Composites often provide properties that surpass those of the individual materials.

Technical Textiles

• Technical textiles are designed for specific functions.
• Examples include bulletproof vests and fire-resistant materials to use by firefighters.
• Micro encapsulation of chemicals can be coated in protective shells and used in different ways, such as perfumes or mosquito repellents.

Electronics Systems

• Systems contain input, process, and output.
• A signal passes from one stage to the next, changing in some way with each stage.
• These stages can be from input, (turning legs to make a bike move) to the output, (the rear wheel making the bike move).
• Circuit: combination of different components.

Process Devices:

• These make decisions in an electronic system and process input to determine output.
• Integrated Circuits simplify systems as they contain many separate components.
• Microcontrollers combine a processor, memory and one or more inputs and outputs.

Mechanical Devices

• These devices transform input motion and force into output.
• Types include linear, oscillating and rotary motion.
• They use mechanical advantage to make jobs easier, changing magnitude and direction.
• Types of levers, linkages, and rotary components are included.

Mechanical Systems:

• Components - Levers, Linkages, gears, cams.
• They all use mechanisms which transform motion, input force to an output.
• Mechanical devices and systems are ways to gain mechanical advantage.

Energy:

• Renewable energy sources are often used because they are not finite.
• Renewable energy includes wind, solar, tidal and hydroelectric power.
• Non-renewable sources are finite, such as fossil fuels, and are used up faster than they can be replaced. - Examples include coal, oil, and gas used to make electricity.
• Nuclear power is also a source of energy, but waste products are dangerous - This process heats water until it turns to steam and spins turbines.

Materials:

• Materials Properties affect a product's functionality, e.g. strength, density and durability.
• Synthetic materials are less absorbent than natural fibres.
• Natural fibres can be strong but can absorb water and rot easily.
• Wood is a natural material that can be used with tools to be formed into many kinds of items.

Manufacturing:

• Manufacturing processes, ecological and social footprints, include: Deforestation, mining, drilling and farming.
• Ecological and Social footprints mean that materials manufacturing has a negative effect on the environment, contributing to pollution, destruction of natural habitats and climate change.
• This refers to deforestation, mining, drilling, farming.

Tolerances:

• Tolerances are specifications indicating the acceptable margin of error. - These are needed to ensure quality control in manufacturing.
• Tolerances are used for measurement to ensure that components, tools and systems match their specifications.
• Tolerances for manufacturing tolerances give a range of possible values that are acceptable in product design and manufacture.

Prototype development:

• Prototypes are full-sized working models of products intended for use in testing and production.
• Prototypes use the materials and methods planned for the final product, to see if it functions.
• Prototypes allow to test and assess if design meets specifications.

Testing Prototypes:

• Testing a prototype helps establish if it satisfies specified requirements.
• It also verifies if the prototype can satisfy customer needs (and if they are pleased).
• Testing provides more efficient production and reduces risk.

Production Aids

• Production aids include tools to help in the production process, like jigs, reference points, and templates.
• Templates save time when manufacturing as each measured aspect is the same for every product.
• Jigs are used on machines, and include markings of specific locations and dimensions.
• Reference points and lines are used for measuring and are specified locations in an object used for measuring others.

Safety Precautions:

• Safety precautions include wearing protective clothing and using equipment correctly when using tools and machines for manufacture, to avoid injury and risk.
• For example: using goggles and facemasks when dealing with hazardous materials.
• Risk assessments for manufacturing processes (e.g. CNC and laser cutting/etching);
• Materials, processes and equipment must meet safety regulations and conditions.

Test your knowledge on the properties and uses of various materials in this engaging quiz. From carbon nanotubes to synthetic fibers, explore the fascinating world of materials science. Match composite materials with their properties and identify the characteristics of different types of wood.