NOTES

• Modern materials:

  • New and improved materials are constantly being discovered and developed
  • Modern materials can help to solve design issues, technical constraints, environmental issues
• What is a modern material?

  • Modern materials are new inventions or one that has been relatively recently discovered
  • A material or element may also be used or combined in a way that is different from its normal function
  • It might be blended, coated, alloyed or treated to improve its functional or aesthetic properties
• Biodegradable polymers:

  • Biodegradable polymers are made from vegetable starches, often corn-starch
  • Common varieties include:
  • Polylactic acid (PLA) commonly used in 3D printing filament
  • Polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) under the trade name Biopol
  • Polycaprolactone (PCL) known as Polymorph
• Polymorph and Coolmorph:

  • Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a low temperature, hand-mouldable polymer
  • Polymorph fuses at 62°C, although Coolmorph bonds together at just 42°C making it easier to use
  • They are both biodegradable, non-toxic and can be coloured
  • They are ideal for modelling as they can be shaped using only hand pressure
  • They can be reused and remoulded multiple times
• Flexible MDF:

  • Flexible MDF allows for the creation of natural curves
  • It is commonly used in the design of shop fittings and bespoke commercial projects
  • Routed or machined grooves enable the material to bend
• Titanium:

  • Although a chemical element, titanium is commonly alloyed with other metals
  • It is relatively lightweight, tough and stiff with low density
  • It has excellent corrosion resistance making it very versatile
  • Titanium does not react with the human body, making it ideal for medical applications
• Fibre optics:

  • Fibre optic cables carry light down a thin glass core
  • Uses include:
  • Cable TV and broadband infrastructure
  • Medical applications using endoscopes to allow doctors to see into the body
  • Fun optoelectronics and novelty goods
• Graphene:

  • Graphene was accidentally discovered in 2004
  • Research into the uses of graphene is currently active in many areas including: flexible electronics, biomedicine, energy storage and composite materials
  • Scientists are very optimistic about its future applications
• Liquid Crystal Display (LCD):

  • LCDs come in monochrome and full colour versions
  • Screens can be very small and lightweight
  • Bespoke monochrome layouts can be achieved
  • They have very low power consumption
  • LCDs do not emit light, so they require back lighting
• Nanomaterials:

  • A grain of sand is roughly one million times larger than a nanometre
  • Nanomaterials range from 1 to 1000 nanometres
• Metal foam:

  • Metal foams are very lightweight compared to solid metals
  • As little as 25% of the mass of the solid metal is used
  • The air pockets are made by injecting gas into liquid aluminium or titanium
  • They are 100% recyclable