Material Selection and Sustainability

Material Selection

Understanding material properties is crucial in design and technology. These properties affect how a material behaves under various conditions and thus determine its suitability for different applications.
Some important properties to consider might include strength, flexibility, hardness, elasticity, and thermal conductivity.
For example, a material with a high degree of flexibility such as rubber would be suitable for a gasket, while a hard and sturdy material like steel would be ideal for a vehicle chassis.
Cost effectiveness is another vital factor in material selection. The materials used need to be affordable and give value for money.
Safety considerations must be acknowledged when selecting a material. Often materials need to be non-toxic, fire-resistant and safe to handle.

Sustainability

Sustainability involves choosing materials that are environmentally friendly and do not deplete natural resources or contribute negatively to the environment.
Materials taken from renewable sources, those that can be regrown or replaced, are generally more sustainable than those from non-renewable sources.
To define sustainability, consider the material’s lifecycle. This includes the impact of its extraction, production, use, and eventual disposal on the environment.
Recycling and reusing materials minimises waste, reduces demand for new materials, and hence promotes sustainability. Choosing materials that are easily recyclable is a good practice.
One should also seek out materials with low carbon footprints, which means they do not create a lot of carbon dioxide or other harmful emissions when produced, used, or disposed of.

Testing and Evaluating

Once a material is selected and a product is made, it is essential to test it to ensure it performs as expected.
Testing may involve applying stress or strain to a material or product, subjecting it to extreme temperatures, or assessing its resistance to wear.
During the evaluation, consider whether the material selected was the best choice based on the performance during testing.
If a material performs well, it indicates that it was a good choice for the product’s design. If not, this implies that another material should be chosen.
The feedback from the testing and evaluating phase can contribute to the improvement of future design decisions.

This is a quick review of the critical concepts regarding Material Selection and Sustainability for Making, Testing and Evaluating. Refer to your textbook for further detail and depth.