section 3

• Define density

  Mass per unit volume, how compact material is
• Define fusibility

  Ability of material to be converted through heat into liquid state & combined with another material before cooling as one material
• Define elasticity

  Ability to return to original shape after being compressed or stretched
• Properties of bleed proof paper

  Coated to stop solvent-based markers staining through page. Deeper colours are achieved as ink stays on surface.

  Uses: used with marker pens for design ideas & final designs
• Properties of cartridge paper

  Completely opaque & more expensive than photocopier paper

  Uses: pencil & ink drawings, sketching, water colour
• Properties of grid paper

  Has faint lines often in light blue ink. Lines printed darker for use under plain paper as drawing guide.

  Uses: graphical, scientific, mathematical diagrams, particularly with light box as drawing guide
• Properties of layout paper

  Semi-translucent, takes pencil & most media well. Some inks can smear on heavily coated papers

  Uses: creating sketches & working ideas, copying & tracing images with variety of media
• Properties of tracing paper

  Translucent, takes pencil & most colours well.

  Uses: copying & tracing images. Used with light box, overlays for design adaptations & working drawing
• Board thickness unita

  Microns
• Properties of corrugated cardboard (fibreboard)

  Strong, lightweight, rigid perpendicular to corrugations, insulative & easily printed on

  Uses: packaging, boxes, impact protection
• Properties of duplex board

  Stiff, lightweight coatings to improve functionality

  Uses: cheaper version of white card used for packaging boxes. Often given waxy coating & used for food/drink containers
• Properties of foil lined board


  Stiff, foil reflects heat & water, oil-resistant coating

  Uses: takeaway containers, lids, retain heat longer
• Properties of foam board

  Quite thick (3-10mm), lightweight, rigid, can crease/crack under pressure, expanded polystyrene centre

  Uses: architectural models, model making, prototyping, mounting & framing of photographs & art work
• Properties ink jet card

  Medium to thick card, treated to hold high quality photo image. Ink dries on surface to create deeper colours.

  Uses: high quality photographic images
• Properties of solid white board

  Stiff board, holds colour well, easily cut & creased

  Uses: greeting cards, packaging, advertising, hot foil stamping & embossing
• Properties of ash wood

  Flexible, tough, shock resistant, laminates well

  Uses: sports equipment, tool handles, gymnasium floors
• Properties of beech wood

  Fine finish, tough, durable

  Uses: children's toys & models, furniture, veneers
• Properties of mahogany

  Easily worked, durable, finishes well

  Uses: high end furniture, joinery, veneers
• Oak

  Tough, hard & durable, high quality finish possible

  Uses: flooring, furniture, railway sleepers, veneers
• Properties of Balsa

  Very soft & spongey, very lightweight but can snap in thin sections

  Uses: prototyping, modelling - especially model aircraft
• Common hardwoods

  Ash, beech, mahogany, oak, balsa
• Common softwoods

  Larch, pine, spruce, redwood, cedar
• Properties of redwood

  Easy to work & machines well, some rot resistance

  Uses: outdoor furniture, beams, decking
• Properties of cedar

  Easy to work, blunts tools, naturally rot resistant

  Uses: outdoor furniture p, fences, cladding
• Properties of larch

  Durable, tough, good water resistance, good surface finish, machines well,issues with loose knots

  Uses: exterior cladding, flooring, machined mouldings, furniture, joinery
• Properties of pine

  Lightweight, easy to work, can split& be resinous near knots

  Uses: interior construction, exterior of treated, cheaper furniture, decking
• Properties of spruce

  Easy to work, high stiffness to weight ratio, variable results when staining

  Uses: construction, furniture, musical instruments
• Properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF)

  Rigid, stable, good value, smooth & easy to finish surface, very absorbant - not good in high humidity or damp,areas

  Uses: flat pack furniture, toys, kitchen units & internal construction
• Properties of plywood

  Very stable in all directions - alternate layering at 90 degrees, thin & flexible version available

  Uses: furniture, shelving, toys, construction. Interior, exterior & marine grades available for greater water resistant
• Properties of chipboard

  Good compressive strength, not water resistant unless treated, good value, prone to chipping on edges & corners. Frequently covered in laminate: melamine formaldehyde

  Uses: flooring, low-end furniture, kitchen units & worktops
• Define ferrous metal

  Made up of cast iron & steel, iron is produced from its ore in a blast furnace to produce pig iron, which is converted into steel by adding carbon.
• Properties of low carbon steel

  Mild steel - carbon (0.05%-0.3%)

  Tough, ductile, easily machined, formed, brazed, welded

  Uses: construction girders, screws, nails, hits, bolts, car bodies, bike frames
• Common ferrous metals

  Low carbon steel, high carbon steel, cast iron
• Properties of high carbon steel

  Tool steel - carbon (0.6%-1.5%)

  Less ductile, harder than mild steel due to higher carbon content, very hard wearing, keeps an edge well

  Uses: garden/workshop tools, blades, scissors, wood/metal cutting tools
• Properties of cast iron

  Carbon (2.4-4%)

  Hard, brittle in thin sections, easily cast into complex shapes, some types = hard to machine

  Uses: kitchen pots & pans, machine bases & bodies, vices, manhole covers, post boxes
• Define non-ferrous metals

  Doesn't contain iron, don't rust but can oxidise eg. Copper turns deep turquoise (verdigris) from layer of patina
• Common non-ferrous metals


  Aluminium, copper, tin, zinc
• Properties of aluminium


  Lightweight, high strength to weight ratio, ductile, difficult to weld

  Uses: pots & pans, sports car body panels, bike frames, drink cans, foil or take-away trays
• Properties of copper

  Ductile, malleable, good electrical conductor - easily joined by soldering

  Uses: plumbing supplies, electrical cables, bespoke roofing, guttering
• Properties of tin

  Soft, malleable, ductile, good electrical conductor

  Uses: can production - preserve contents, soft solder, alloyed with copper to form bronze