Polymer Types

Polymer Types: Thermoforming

Thermoforming plastics are commonly used in everyday objects such as water bottles. They could even be used in some of your GCSE projects.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

These polymers are clear or coloured with a smooth finish.
These polymers are easily blow moulded, can be recycled and have good chemical resistance.
They are commonly used in products such as food wraps, bottles and food packaging.
Triangular recycle logo number 1.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

These polymers are opaque, coloured or textured.
These polymers are lightweight, chemical resistant and rip-resistant.
They are commonly used in products such as milk bottles, hard hats, wheelie bins and pipes.
Triangular recycle logo number 2.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

PVC polymers can be coloured with a gloss finish.
They are available in sheets or a rigid shape such as a pipe.
PVC polymers are chemically resistant, flexible, tough and easily extruded.
They are commonly used in products such as pipes, insulating tape, air mattresses and raincoats.
Triangular recycle logo number 3.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE polymers can be coloured with a smooth finish.
They are available in sheets or a clear thin to a thick film.
These polymers have excellent strength to weight ratio.
They are very flexible and can be blow moulded and extruded easily.
They are commonly used in products such as carrier bags, bin liners, plastic food wraps and pipes.
Triangular recycle logo number 4.

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Polymer Types: Thermoforming

Thermoforming plastics are commonly used in everyday objects such as water bottles. They could even be used in some of your GCSE projects.

Polypropylene (PP)

These polymers can be coloured in sheets or shapes.
They are very flexible, tough, lightweight, food safe and easily cleaned.
They are commonly used in products such as medical products, kitchen products and rope.
Triangular recycle logo number 5.

Polypropylene (PP)

High Impact Polystyrene Sheet (HIPS)

These polymers can be flat, clear or coloured sheets.
They are very flexible, tough, impact-resistant, lightweight, food safe and vacuum forms well.
These polymers give off a toxic fume when burnt.
They are commonly used in products such as food containers, chocolate box in-trays, egg boxes and yoghurt pots.
Triangular recycle logo number 6.

High Impact Polystyrene Sheet (HIPS)

Acrylic – Poly-methyl Meth Acrylate (PMMA)

These polymers are very versatile, coloured with a smooth finish.
They are tough but brittle when thin, easily scratched, formed and joined.
These polymers are in sheet, tube or bar form.
They are commonly used in school workshops for laser cutting and line bending.
Other products include car lights, display stands, modern bathtubs, hats and gloves.
Triangular recycle logo number 7.

Acrylic – Poly-methyl Meth Acrylate (PMMA)

Polymer Types: Thermosetting

Thermosetting plastics are commonly used in everyday objects such as electrical fittings. They could even be used in some of your GCSE projects.

Epoxy Resin (ER - Araldite)

These resins are made up of two parts: resin and a hardener, which are mixed together.
These polymers set clear with a smooth finish.
This resin is stronger than other adhesives, can join multiple materials and has a good chemical and heat resistance.
They are commonly used for bonding materials together, electric circuit boards and waterproof coatings.

Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)

These polymers are smooth, available in a variety of shapes and in many colours.
These polymers are food safe, hygienic, lightweight but brittle.
They are commonly used for kitchenware, worktops and flat-pack furniture.

Urea Formaldehyde (UF)

These polymers are mainly white, versatile and smooth.
These polymers are heat resistant, good electrical insulators, hard, brittle and easily moulded.
They are commonly used for electrical fittings, casings, handles and buttons.

Polyester Resin (PR)

These resins are made up of two parts: resin and a hardener, which are mixed together.
These polymers set clear with a smooth finish and can be coloured.
This resin is strong, heat resistant and a good electrical insulator.
They are commonly used for flooring, fibreglass lamination and paperweights.

Phenol Formaldehyde (PF)

These polymers have a limited colour range with a high gloss finish.
These polymers were formerly known as Bakelite.
They are very rigid, hard and brittle.
They are excellent electrical insulators with good chemical resistance.
They are commonly used for electrical components, mechanical parts, castings and old Bakelite electrical products.

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

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