Name the 6 factors that influence material choice.
Cost & Availability, Aesthetics, Sustainability, Social Footprint, Properties & Characteristics, Functional Performance.
What are the main factors of aesthetics to be considered?
Colour, form, feel, shape, touch & style
How might the choice of material impact the cost of a product?
People may be willing to pay more for it, stock forms may cause more waste, a new/rare material will be more expensive, bulk buying, may be difficult to work with
What are the 3 types of outsourcing?
Onshore, nearshore and offshore (global)
What are the benefits of outsourcing?
Cost efficient, businesses can focus on what they’re good at, access to specialists, global reach, enhanced productivity/efficiency
What are the negatives of outsourcing?
Dependant on suppliers (could mess up JIT), communication issues can occur, loss of work for local producers, larger producers may have power over smaller ones
What are mechanical properties?
How the material reacts to forces on it. These include strength, flexibility, fatigue limit and elasticity.
What are chemical properties?
How the material reacts & changes when in contact with other substances. These include hygroscopy (water absorption), corrosion resistance and reactivity.
What are physical properties?
The handling characteristics. These include density, conductivity, melting point, flammability and optical & acoustic properties.
What are manufacturing properties?
Processing properties; required for the material to change into a required shape. These include formability, machinability and fusibility (how easily it melts).
What social factors may need to be considered when choosing materials?
-Working conditions
-Maintaining traditional & local materials
-Inclusive design
-Emissions
What cultural factors may need to be considered when choosing materials?
-May remove local/cultural resource related to community traditions.
-May cause offence when inappropriately culturally appropriated.
How is MDF made?
Wood fibres (often recycled) are compressed into a solid board with 2 smooth faces. Often made from waste/recycled timbers.
What are the main properties of MDF?
Cheap and eco friendly but absorbs moisture easily.
What products might be made from MDF?
Flat-pack furniture and school desks.
How is block board made?
Timber battens are placed parallel to each other and glued between veneer panels at high pressure.
What are the characteristics of block board?
Attractive smooth surface, stronger & cheaper than plywood, durable but susceptible to moisture damage.
What products might use block board?
Table tops, furniture & load bearing shelves.
How is plywood made?
An odd number of veneer layers are glued & compressed at 90° to each other.
What are the properties of plywood?
Good strength in all directions, no grain weakness, easy to cut & finish.
What products might use plywood?
Indoor furniture and floorboards.
What is the difference between strength, hardness & toughness?
Hardness is resistance to wear, strength is resistance to external forces and toughness is resistance to sudden impacts.
What are the main differences between high and low-carbon steel?
High-carbon steel is stronger, more brittle, more expensive and harder. Both corrode without protection.
What are the uses of low carbon steel?
Nuts & bolts, bike frames, piping and bed frames.
