Materials & Properties

What is cartridge paper most commonly used for in design work?

• •Making rigid structural packaging for heavy goods
• •Printing large-run promotional leaflets and packaging
• ✓Sketching and drawing due to its thick, textured surface
• •Waterproofing outdoor signage and display boards

Give one commercial use of thermochromic pigments.

• •Electrical switches that open a circuit when the light level falls
• ✓Mood rings, baby spoons and kettle heat indicators that signal safe/unsafe temperatures
• •Solar panels that generate electricity from changing colour in sunlight
• •Structural aircraft components that harden at high altitude temperatures

Which of the following is a natural plant-based textile fibre?

• •Acrylic
• ✓Cotton
• •Nylon
• •Polyester

Why is layout paper used by designers for early concept sketches?

• •It is coated to resist marker bleed, keeping sketches sharp-edged
• •It is recycled paper, making it the most sustainable option for studios
• •It is the thickest paper available, giving a durable drawing surface
• ✓It is thin and semi-transparent, allowing tracing and overlaying of ideas

What is a photochromic material?

• •Material that changes colour reversibly with temperature changes
• •Material that conducts electricity when compressed
• ✓Material that darkens when exposed to UV light, then clears
• •Material that returns to its shape after being deformed

Which property makes wool suitable for cold-weather clothing?

• •It has the lowest mass per unit area of any natural fibre available
• •It is completely waterproof and repels rain without any treatment
• ✓Its crimped fibres trap air, providing excellent thermal insulation
• •Its smooth surface reflects UV radiation away from the wearer's skin