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Materials (Plastics (Thermoplastics (Examples of Thermoplastics: (HDPE - A…

- - - - HDPE - A strong and stiff plastic, HDPE is used in pipes, bowls, milk cartons and buckets. It softens at 120-130°C
      - Acrylic (Polymethyl-Methacrylate) - Hard and comes either transparent or opaque. Can be died to different colours which makes it useful for display signs, roof lights and machine guards. Acrylic is also used in baths
      - HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) - Used in packaging, vacuum forming projects and school projects, it softens at the very low temperature of 95°C
  - - - Polyester Resin - Comprised of a resin and a hardener mixed together, Polyester Resin is often reinforced with glass fibres. It is used in car bodies, boats and encapsulations and - when laminated - forms Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) castings.
      - Latex - made from naturally occurring rubber which is liquefied in water, Latex is used mainly in clothing.
      - Melamine Formaldehyde - heat resistant and relatively hard, MF is used in tableware, worktops, electrical installations and decorative laminates
- - - - MDF - Stands for Medium Density Fibreboard, MDF is easily machined, painted or stained. Very cheap to use as backings for low quality furniture, it has a smooth and even surface and can be bought water / fire resistant as well as veneered. Common uses are in LQ furniture and interior panelling for homes.
      - Chipboard - Made from wood chips glued together with urea formaldehyde. It is often veneered or laminated with plastic. Common uses are in kitchen or bedroom furniture, shelving and cheaper DIY projects.
  - - - Hardwoods come from deciduous (broad-leafed) trees as they are generally slow growing and thus produce a very fine grain.
      - Examples
        
        Beech - A light-coloured hardwood with a fine grain. It is very hard but relatively easy to work with. Common uses are furniture, toys and tool handles.
        
        Oak - One of the strongest hardwoods, oak is a light brown colour. It has an open grain and is very hard but still quite easy to work with. Common uses are in high quality furniture, supporting beams in buildings and veneers on cheaper woods / man-made boards.
        
        Mahogany - A pretty hard wood in terms of hardwoods, mahogany is a luxurious rich brown colour. Used in high quality furniture and household accessories, Mahogany is also relatively expensive due to it being a tropical wood.
    - - Softwoods come from coniferous trees as they are fast growing and thus produce a coarse grain.
      - Examples
        
        Scots Pine - A straight-grained but knotty softwood, Scots pine is light-coloured and strong but still easy to work with. It is also far cheaper than most hardwoods, due to the fast rate of growth. It is used in DIY work and construction projects / joinery.
        
        Red Cedar - Has a straight grain with a medium to coarse texture. Often has quite a few knots. It is easy to work with but also easy to dent and scratch, with the colour being yellowish to redish-brown. Common uses are mainly in boat building as older trees have inherent rot resistance.
- - - - Iron - rusts easily and is very malleable, Iron is another pure metal that isn't really used outside of an alloy. Used to be used for varying blacksmithing uses, and pig iron is still used in manhole covers today
      - Titanium - strong, light and has a low density with a high melting point, titanium is used in slight alloy forms in aerospace to make bodies stronger. It is also highly resistant and is thus sometimes used in jewellery
      - Gold - a pure metal, 24 carat gold is often too soft for any use, so is often formed into a slight alloy. Gold in its purer forms is used in circuitry as it is a superconductor and also - obviously - as currency
  - - - Brass - A hard yellowish metal, brass is 65% copper and 35% zinc. Often cast or machined and then chromium plated, its main use is plumbing accessories and some building / DIY components
      - Stainless Steel - made up of 16% chromium, 0.15% carbon and the remainder is comprised of mainly iron with some nickle and/or manganese. It is used in cutlery and piping, as well as for scaffolding
      - Pewter - Made of 92% tin, 6% antimony and 2% copper. Can be polished up to a mirror finish and has a low melting point. It is used for drinking tankards, jewellery, picture frames and decorative gifts
- - - - Tracing Paper - Hard and translucent, with a weight of 50g per m square. Takes spirit based marker pens well. Often used in the initial stages of designs.
      - Cartridge Paper - Tough and lightly textured it is often a light cream colour. Takes colouring pencils well, it is a general purpose sketching and note-taking paper with a weight of 100-135g per m square.
  - - - Solid White Board - Strong, high quality board made from bleached wood pulp rather than pulp paper. Far more expensive than other types of board but excellent for printing onto. Used for book covers and high quality packaging (e.g. for mobile phones).
      - Corrugated Board - Made up of the liner board and the medium (the fluted sheet in the middle). Available in single wall, double wall, etc. and also very strong for its weight. Used for large cartons - often for transportation.