Properties and

Structure of Materials
 Metals
 Account for about 2/3 of all elements. Useful properties: strength,
ductility, high melting points, thermal and electrical conductivity
and toughness
 Metallic materials tend to conduct electricity because of free
electrons that can move around within the metal so freely
 Ceramics
 Solid, brittle in nature, can be dense or lightweight. Can serve as
electrically conducive materials
 Superconductors display magnetic properties with more resistance
to high temperature and harsh environments
 Polymeric Solids
 Natural polymers are made of repeating units: monomers.
Synthetic fibers are referred as synthetic polymers
 Cellulose was the first to be chemically modified to make celluloid:
the first plastic to make dentures and eyeglass frames
 Medical Implants
 All nonmagnetic with high densities. Strong and ductile
 Stent and stent grafts (implanted in the blood vessels) require
plasticity for expansion and rigidity to maintain dilation
 Metals (for orthopedic implants) require excellent toughness,
elasticity, rigidity, strength. The ones used for joint replacement
are wear-resistant
 Titanium is very light and less dense. Precious metals and alloys
used in dentistry are gold, silver, platinum. Which possess ductility
and resistance to corrosion.
 Sports Equipment
 Plays vital role in athlete performance
 Cycle frames made with carbon fiber: fine and thinner than human
hair
 Canoes made with polymer Kevlar: 5x as strong as steel which can
be woven from a strong fabric mixed with graphite and fiber glass.
Used in bullet proof vests and in racing steel in racing tires
 Rubber mats (prefabricated synthetic rubber) are seamed together
along the edges of the lanes to increase the springiness of the track
to give protection to the athlete: reducing the amount of rolling
 Sports clothing (polyurethane) combined with other fibers to retain
its shaper which makes it cling to the skin
 Construction supplies for buildings
and furniture

Physical Shape, size, density, specific gravity

Mechanical Strength, elasticity, plasticity, hardness, toughness, ductility,
brittleness, stiffness, impact strength

Thermal Thermal conductivity, thermal resistivity, thermal capacity

Chemical Corrosion resistance, chemical composition, acidity, alkalinity

Optical Color, light reflection, light transmission

Acoustical Sound absorption, transmission, reflection
Physiochemical Hygroscopicity: the ability to attract and hold water molecules
from its surroundings
 Biological
Macromolecules
Living organisms respond to changes in the environment. They grow
and reproduce. These changes are possible because of the presence
of organic compounds

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids, Proteins

 Carbohydrates
 The most abundant biomolecules on earth which provide energy for
cellular respiration. They also serve as structural support in the cell
walls

definition Type Example

Simple sugar Monosaccharides Glucose, fructose, lactose
Double sugars Disaccharides Sucrose, maltose, lactose
Polymers of many Polysaccharides Starch, dextrin, cellulose, pectin, glycogen
Monosaccharaides
 Lipids
 Are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Have long hydrocarbon
chains. They can be fats, oils or hormones. They also exist in our
cell membrane. Lipids and fats are good for storing energy (adipose
tissue). Fats, oils and waxes are considered storage lipids

Fats
constructed from
two kinds of
smaller molecules:
glycerol and fatty
acids
Trans Fatty acids are used in order to
prolong shelf life. Unhealthy fats that
can increase cholesterol. When this
happens, arteries may harden due to
fat build up causing blood pressure to
increase
 Since diet is high in saturated fats
(which can increase bad cholesterol
levels), American Heart Association
recommends a diet of limited intake
of saturated fat < 3 grams
 Nucleic Acids
 Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and phosphates make up nucleic acids
 Nucleotides: building blocks of nucleic acids (nitrogenous base,
phosphate group and sugar)
 Nucleic acid: DNA (long, linear, double stranded) and RNA (short,
single stranded). Both nucleic acids carry the codes for functioning
of the cell: they have the ability to make new cells
 Proteins
 Made up of CHONS. Amino acids make up proteins. Each amino acid
has amino group, carboxyl group and R group (specific side chain)
attached to carbon