What are the common timbers, metals and plastics used in products, and what are they used for?
Named materials and their uses: natural timbers (hardwoods and softwoods) and manufactured boards (MDF, plywood, chipboard), ferrous and non-ferrous metals (mild steel, aluminium, copper, brass), and thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics (acrylic, polypropylene, ABS, polythene, urea formaldehyde).
A focused answer to the SQA National 5 Design and Manufacture content on named materials, covering natural timbers and manufactured boards, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics, with typical product uses for each.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to know named materials within each category and what they are used for. You should be able to choose a sensible material for a product and back it up. This builds on the properties dot point: here the properties are attached to real, named materials.
Timbers
Manufactured boards come in large flat sheets with no knots or grain direction, so they machine accurately and are ideal for flat-pack and mass-produced furniture, though many are weakened by water.
Metals
Ferrous metals contain iron and are usually magnetic and prone to rust unless protected. Mild steel is the common example: cheap, strong and easily worked, used for car bodies, tools and structures, but it must be painted or coated to stop corrosion.
Non-ferrous metals contain no iron, so they do not rust. Examples:
- Aluminium: light, soft, corrosion-resistant; used for drinks cans, window frames and aircraft parts.
- Copper: excellent electrical and thermal conductor, ductile; used for wiring and pipes.
- Brass (an alloy of copper and zinc): hard, corrosion-resistant, attractive; used for fittings, taps and ornaments.
Plastics
The crucial National 5 difference: thermoplastics can be reshaped by heat (and recycled), while thermosets cannot.
Try this
Q1. Name one hardwood and one softwood. [1 mark]
- Cue. Hardwood: oak, beech or mahogany. Softwood: pine or spruce.
Q2. State why aluminium is used for drinks cans. [1 mark]
- Cue. It is light, corrosion-resistant (does not rust) and easily formed.
Q3. Describe one advantage and one drawback of using MDF for furniture. [2 marks]
- Cue. Advantage: smooth, uniform sheets that machine easily and take a painted finish. Drawback: weaker and heavier than some timbers and damaged by water.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA-style Describe4 marksDescribe the difference between a thermoplastic and a thermosetting plastic, giving a use for each.Show worked answer →
Award up to 2 marks each for the two types (property plus use), to a maximum of 4. A thermoplastic softens when heated and can be reshaped and recycled many times, for example acrylic used for signs or polypropylene used for food containers (2). A thermosetting plastic sets hard permanently when first formed and does not soften again when heated, for example urea formaldehyde used for electrical fittings and plug casings (2). The key difference is that thermoplastics can be reshaped by heat while thermosets cannot. Markers reward the heat behaviour of each plus a sensible named use.
SQA-style Explain3 marksExplain why a manufactured board such as MDF might be chosen instead of natural timber for a flat-pack cabinet.Show worked answer →
Award up to 3 marks for explained points. MDF comes in large, flat, uniform sheets with no knots or grain direction, so it is easy to cut accurately and gives a smooth surface for a painted or veneered finish (1). It is cheaper than many natural timbers and is more stable, so it does not warp or split the way solid wood can (1). It is well suited to flat-pack and machine manufacture because its consistent properties make automated cutting and drilling reliable (1). A drawback is that it is weaker and heavier than some timbers and is damaged by water, but for a dry indoor cabinet the advantages win. Markers reward reasons linked to the product.
Related dot points
- The main categories of material (timbers, metals, polymers/plastics) and the physical and mechanical properties that decide suitability: strength, hardness, toughness, durability, elasticity, plasticity, malleability, ductility, density, conductivity and corrosion resistance.
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