Composite Materials

Composite materials are enhanced materials. They are made by combining two or more different materials. Examples include glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CRP).

Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP)

Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) is glass fibre matting covered in a smooth resin which sets rigid with a gloss finish.
This material can be easily coloured and complex shapes can be formed.
Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) is lightweight, waterproof, chemically resistant, corrosion-resistant, heat resistant and has a good strength to weight ratio.

Uses of GRP

This material is widely used in boat hulls, car bodies, storage tanks and seating.
However, the material is very labour intensive to produce.

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is cloth woven matting with individual interlacing strands that provides an aesthetically pleasing pattern.
This carbon fibre can be coloured, arranged in different patterns and decorated with decals.
CFRP is strong, waterproof, expensive, chemically resistant, corrosion-resistant, heat resistant and has a good strength to weight ratio.

Uses of CFRP

This material is widely used in sports cars, supercars, sports equipment, boats, musical instruments and prosthetics.
However, the material is very labour intensive to produce.

1Core Technical Principles

1.1New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1Industry

1.1.2Enterprise

1.1.3Sustainability

1.1.4People

1.1.5Culture & Society

1.1.6Environment

1.1.7Production Techniques & Systems

1.1.8Emerging Technologies & Design

1.1.9End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies

1.2Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1Fossil Fuels & Nuclear

1.2.2Renewable Energy

1.2.3Energy Storage Systems

1.3Developments in New Materials

1.3.1Modern Materials

1.3.2Smart Materials

1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials

1.3.4Composite Materials

1.3.5Technical Textiles

1.4Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1Inputs

1.4.2Processes

1.4.3Outputs

1.4.4Looped Systems

1.5Mechanical Devices

1.5.1Types of Movement

1.5.2Levers

1.5.3Linkages

1.5.4Rotary Systems

1.5.5End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices

1.6Materials Categories

1.6.1Timbers

1.6.2Metals & Alloys

1.6.3Metals & Alloys 2

1.6.4Polymers

1.6.5Polymer Types

1.6.6Textiles

1.6.7Textile Types: Fibres

1.6.8Textile Types: Weave

1.6.9Paper & Boards

1.7Material Properties

1.7.1Physical & Working Properties

1.7.2End of Topic Test - Materials

1.7.3Exam-Style Questions - Materials

2Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1Selection of Materials

2.1.1Paper & Boards

2.1.2Working with Paper & Boards

2.2Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.2Cardboard & Paper

2.3Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.2Paper & Board: The Six Rs

2.3.3Social Issues

2.4Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1Paper & Board

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Paper & Board

2.5Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1Paper & Board: Properties of Materials

2.5.2Paper & Board: Modification of Materials

2.5.3Paper & Board: Shape & Form

2.6Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1Paper & Board: Forms

2.6.2Paper & Board: Types

2.6.3Paper & Board: Sizes

2.6.4Paper & Board: Standards Components

2.7Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.2Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production

2.8Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes

2.8.2Paper & Board: Quality Control

2.9Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.2End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

3Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1Timber Based Materials

3.1.2Timber: Environment & Ethics

3.2Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.2Timber

3.3Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.2Timber: The Six Rs

3.3.3Timber: Social Issues

3.3.4Exam-Style Questions - Timber

3.4Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1Timber

3.4.2Timber: Processing & Seasoning

3.4.3Manufactured Board

3.4.4End of Topic Test - Timber

3.5Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1Timber: Properties of Materials

3.5.2Timber: Modification of Materials

3.5.3Timber: Shape & Form

3.5.4Timber: Shape & Form 2

3.6Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.7Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1Timber: Scales of Production

3.8Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes

3.8.2Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 2

3.8.3Timber: Quality Control

3.9Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1Timber: Surface Treatments

3.9.2Timber: Finishes

3.9.3End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

4Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1Metal-Based Materials

4.1.2Ferrous Metals

4.1.3Non-Ferrous Metals

4.1.4Alloys

4.1.5Metals: Environment & Ethics

4.2Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.3Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1Metals: Ecological Footprint

4.3.2Metals: Social Footprint

4.3.3Metals: The Six R's

4.3.4Metals: Social Issues

4.4Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1Origins of Metal

4.4.2Processing Metals

4.5Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1Types of Metal Alloys

4.5.2Alloying Elements

4.5.3Properties & Benefits

4.5.4Processing & Fabrication

4.5.5Applications of Alloys

4.5.6Metal Alloys in Industry

4.5.7Applications of Metal Alloys

4.6Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1Properties of Metals

4.6.2Modification of Metals

4.6.3Metals: Shape & Form

4.7Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1Metals: Scales of Production

4.8Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1Metals: Tools

4.8.2Metals: Tools & Equipment

4.8.3Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes

4.8.4Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process

4.9Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1Metals: Quality Control

4.9.2Metals: Quality Control Processes

4.10Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1Metals: Surface Treatments

4.10.2Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals

4.10.3Metals: Finishes

4.10.4Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals

5Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1Polymers

5.1.1Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics

5.1.2Polymers: Environment & Ethics

5.1.3Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties

5.1.4Polymers: Forces & Stresses

5.1.5Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint

5.1.6Polymers: The Six R's

5.2Polymer Categories

5.2.1Categories of Polymers

5.2.2Thermoforming Polymers

5.2.3Thermosetting Polymers

5.3Polymer Forms

5.3.1Polymers: Stock Forms

5.3.2Polymers: Shape & Form

5.4Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1Polymers: Scales of Production

5.4.2Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes

5.4.3Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance

5.4.4Polymers: Finishes

6Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1Textile Materials

6.1.1Origin of Textiles

6.1.2Textile Industry

6.2Selection of Materials

6.2.1Natural Fibres

6.2.2Synthetic Fibres

6.2.3Environmental Concerns

6.2.4Environmental Impact

6.2.5Ethical Challenges

6.3Forces & Stresses

6.3.1Forces & Stresses

6.4Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1Ecological Footprint

6.4.2Social Footprint

6.4.3Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints

6.4.4The Six R's

6.4.5Labour Conditions

6.4.6Social Issues

6.4.7Addressing Social Issues

7Designing & Making Principles

7.1Investigation & Data

7.1.1Iterative Design

7.1.2Primary & Secondary Data

7.1.3Market Research

7.1.4Ergonomics

7.1.5Specifications

7.1.6End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data

7.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Specifications

7.2Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1Challenges

7.2.2Your Research

7.3The Work of Others

7.3.1Designers

7.3.2Architects

7.3.3Product Design

7.3.4Industrial Designers

7.3.5Product Design Companies

7.3.6Textile Design Companies

7.3.7End of Topic Test - The Work of Others

7.4Design Strategies

7.4.1Design Strategies

7.5Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1Design Communication

7.6Prototype Development

7.6.1Prototype Development

7.7Selection of Materials

7.7.1Materials

7.8Tolerances

7.8.1Tolerances

7.9Material Management

7.9.1Managing Material

7.9.2Tools

7.10Specialist Equipment

7.10.1Health & Safety

7.11Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.2Surface Finishes

7.11.3End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

Jump to other topics