Enhancing the properties of polymers
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how polymer material properties can be enhanced.
Key learning points
- Combining materials creates improved properties, compared to the individual materials alone.
- Material properties can be modified with the use of heat and/or additives.
- Reinforcing techniques can improve material performance.
Keywords
Properties - words used to describe how a material appears (physical/characteristic) or behaves when worked (working/mechanical)
Combine - to join two or more things to create something new
Modify - to change something to make it perform differently
Reinforce - to make something stronger
Structural integrity - how well something stays together and holds up without breaking
Common misconception
A material's properties are fixed and cannot be changed.
Many materials can be altered after they are made to improve their properties, e.g. strength.
Teacher tip
Use existing products to demonstrate altering material properties.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Materials are chosen based on their physical and working ...
Q2.Which of the following is a working/mechanical property of a material?
Q3.The ability of a material to resist breaking when a force is applied is called ...
Q4.Match each material with its primary working/mechanical property:
elasticity
toughness
electrical conductivity
hardness
Q5.Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Q6.Put the following materials in order of increasing hardness (from least to most hard):
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main job of the matrix in a composite material?
Q2.What is the purpose of adding additives to polymers during production?
Q3.Which process sets polymer resin from a liquid to a solid?
Q4.How can chemical treatments be used to enhance polymer materials?
Q5.What does 'structural integrity' refer to in materials and structures?
Q6.Match the following structural integrity techniques to their definitions:
additional tabs used to reinforce corners
wall-to-wall additional material
adding a softer polymer to stress-points
raised features to prevent collapse
a fluted layer used to provide strength
hexagonal arrangement to spread load evenly in all directions
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Enhancing the properties of polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Enhancing the properties of polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 design and technology lessons from the Polymers unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.