Properties
Specification Point 9.38C:
Compare, using data, the physical properties of glass and clay ceramics, polymers, composites and metals
Glass Ceramics
- Usually made by heating limestone, sand and sodium carbonate.
- Transparent and strong but brittle, especially when in thin sheets.
- Can be moulded into shapes.
- Poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Clay Ceramics
- Usually made from decomposed rock.
- Opaque, soft and malleable when extracted from the ground.
- Hardened when heated to high temperatures, becomes brittle after heating.
- Poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Polymers
- Can be tailor designed to have specific properties for specific uses.
- Can be made opaque or transparent.
- Usually tough and flexible, some specialist polymers can be brittle.
- Poor conductor of heat and electricity.
Composites
- Made from two components: reinforcement and matrix.
- The matrix is what binds the reinforcement together.
- Common examples include fibreglass and steel reinforced concrete.
Diagram showing the structure of carbon fibre composite
Metals
- Shiny, malleable and ductile so can be hammered into different shapes.
- Can be mixed with other elements to form alloys, which have different properties to the elements they contain.
- Corrosion resistant metals can be produced which last longer than other metals.
- Good conductors of heat and electricity.
Author: Morgan
Morgan’s passion for the Periodic Table begun on his 10th birthday when he received his first Chemistry set. After studying the subject at university he went on to become a fully fledged Chemistry teacher, and now works in an international school in Madrid! In his spare time he helps create our fantastic resources to help you ace your exams.