MATERIALS AND THEIR COMMON USES I

TOPIC: USES OF MATERIALS II

CONTENT

•             Uses of Ceramic 
•             Uses of Glass
•             Uses of Rubber

CERAMIC

All solid objects made from clay, mud, or cement are called ceramics. Ceramics are concerned with clay and clay products, glass and glass products, cement, and plasters. 

USES OF CERAMICS

1.         Ceramics can withstand very high temperatures; they are used in making furnaces.
2.         Ceramics can carry heavy loads. Thus bricks and cement blocks are used to build houses. The walls carry the roof of the building.
3.         Ceramics do not corrode and they are resistant to chemical attack. It can be used to store chemicals and water.
4.         They can be easily moulded and decorated, so can be used for sculpture.
5.         They are good insulators of electricity, so can be used as insulation of high-tension voltages. The insulators between the lines are also ceramic
6.         They last longer e.g. Benin head.

EVALUATION

1.         Explain why ceramics are used in making furnaces
2.         Name three common ceramics and state their properties.

USES OF GLASS

1.       Glass is used for making bottles
2.       It is used for making tumblers and mugs.
3.       It is used for making flower vases.
4.       It is used for making bulbs.
5.      Glass is also used to make eyeglasses, magnifying glasses, and binoculars.
6.    It is also used in mirrors, windscreens of vehicles, television screens, and computer screens.

RUBBER

Raw rubber (Latex) is normally too tough and too hard. It is softened by adding certain chemicals and mixed through until it is in a state in which it can be formed.

There are two types of rubber: natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

NATURAL RUBBERS

Are produced from the latex of rubber trees. Natural rubber deteriorates with age and when it is exposed to sunlight. The process of improving the properties of rubber is called VULCANIZING. This is done by adding sulphur to it together with carbon particles and heating it. Vulcanized rubber is much harder and much more heat resistant than ordinary rubber.

SYNTHETIC RUBBER

These are manufactured from chemicals. They are forms of plastics. Examples include butyl rubber and neoprene. They have better quality than natural rubbers.  They are resistant to sunlight and temperature changes. They do not age, like natural rubbers and they are resistant to chemicals. Rubber products include hoses, pipes, belts, tyres, tubes, footwear, rainwear, and mounting.

USES OF RUBBER

1.       It can be used as an elastic material e.g. for making a catapult.

2.     Rubber is waterproof, so it is used in making sandals and gloves.

3.   Rubber has insulating property i.e. it is an insulator. Thus it is used in covering electrical wires that supply electricity to the iron or kettle.

4.     Rubber can be used as a shock absorber, thus it is used in making bumpers of cars, tyres, and tubes of cars.

EVALUATION

1.          Differentiate between natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

2.          List five examples of rubber products.