Metals - OCRProperties

Metals come from an ore that is mined from the ground. Metals can be used for all methods of production, from bespoke pieces of jewellery to mass-produced cars.

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Properties

There are many products that are made from metal. These products are used daily either at home or in a Design and Technology workshop. Designers need to give great consideration to the purpose of their product and select materials that have appropriate for this purpose.

is a lightweight but strong material that does not when exposed to water. This makes it ideal for drinks cans or the frames of greenhouses, which are exposed to all types of weather and are typically constructed by homeowners.

Titanium is a strong, stiff material with low and has good resistance to . As a result, it is a material that is commonly used for spectacle frames, and medical devices such as hip joints, as it is strong but is light in comparison to its size.

A close-up view of a titanium hip replacement lying on a metal surface.
Image caption,
Titanium hip joint replacement

Cooking utensils such as knives and pans are mostly made of metal. is the likely choice of metal for making both pans and knives. Between 10.5 per cent and 27 per cent of is added to to produce an of stainless steel. The chromium produces an oxide layer on the outer surface of the steel and prevents .

Pans made from stainless steel usually have a polished and can be classed as non-stick if they have a special on the inside. , is the coating that is most common, but other coatings such as and are also popular.

Some hands moving two fried eggs with a spatula from a black non-stick pan to a plate.
Image caption,
Non-stick pan

Some pans are made from as it conducts heat very well, but these are expensive because of the cost of copper as a . Aluminium can also be used for making pans as it heats up evenly, avoiding ‘hot spots’ on the base, with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) being a common non-stick coating.