Materials

Materials Metal Wood Plastic Glass Fibre

Physical properties
Mass/weight Lighter than Natural – heavy Light weight Heavy
wood and glass Man-made - light
Electrical Low – free flow High High High – current Natural –
resistivity of electrons doesn’t flow. low(conductor)
Thermal High – absorb Low Low – insulator Low - insulator Natural – high
conductivity heat Synthetic - low
Thermal High – bonds Expand when it High Soda line – Natural – burn
expansion are weak has moisture then high thermal not melt.
shrink when shock Synthetic – burn
water reduces Borosilicate – and melt
low thermal
shock
Hardness Some can get Depends on grain Crystalline – low Tempered
Scratch and scratches like pattern, finish Amorphous – glass - High
dynamic aluminium, lead high
Stainless steel
has high
hardness

Mechanical properties
Tensile strength High Less than steel High but less Low Natural – low
than steel Synthetic - high
Compressive High High but lower High
strength than steel
Toughness High – change High High High than steel
shape instead of
breaking.
Ductility High Low
Elasticity High – more Viscoelastic – Not elastic Low elasticity Natural – Low
than rubber exhibit properties then steel, Synthetic - high
of plastic and copper or
elastic rubber
Plasticity Plastic It doesn’t go
deformation through plastic
occurs deformation
but shatters
with force.
Young’s modulus
Stress and strain
Brittleness High – One
fracture and
shatters
Applications Furniture Windows, food Apparel –
and chemical furnishings –
containers, bedsheets,
lenses, curtains and
protective tablecloths
layering solar
panels, optical
fibre
Lead glass –
electrical
equipment
Environment Can be recycled Very harmful Can be
but man-made recycled –
ones can’t be. cullet but
manufacturing
uses a lot of
energy.
Manufacturing -Die casting -Vacuum bags
processes -Sheet forming -Resin transfer
-Sand casting moulding
-Forging -Compression
-Hand tools moulding
-Machining -Injection
-Extrusion moulding
-Rotational
moulding

Composite – weaving, moulding or lamination.

Textile –
 Rapid prototyping

FDM

SLA

SLS