1. Materials & Components
GCSE Product Design
Materials & Components

2. Wood Wood is a very versatile material
It can be used for many purposes
There are two main types of wood
Hardwoods
Softwoods

3. Hardwoods Timber which comes from deciduous trees.
The word hardwood does not always mean the wood is ‘hard’.
Hardwoods grow slowly, and may take up to 100 years to reach full maturity
This makes them more dense and more expensive than softwoods.

4. Aesthetics of Hardwoods
Colour-
the colours varies
Most can be identified by their colour and pattern of grain
Decay-
Wood is organic so will decay over time
Can be subject to dry rot or attacked by pests making it weak
Knots
Formed where branches grow or where a bud forms weakening timber
Can be an attractive aesthetic feature

5. Aesthetics of Hardwoods
Movement
Splitting
Cupping
Bowing
Warping

6. Properties of Hardwoods
Hardwoods are more fibrous than softwoods
The fibres are small and compact which gives the wood greater mechanical strength and hardness.
The greater the density of wood, the greater its mechanical strength
Mahogany- medium dense hardwood used for furniture
Balsa Wood- lightweight and not very dense hardwood, used for modelling

7. Types of Hardwoods Oak Type Grain Pattern Uses Advantages
Properties
Uses
Advantages
Disadvantages
Oak
Hard
Tough
Durable
High density
High quality Furniture
Garden benches
Boat building
Veneers
Finishes Well
Contains and acid which corrodes steel
Mahogany
Medium Density
Indoor Furniture
Interior woodwork
Window frames
Finishes well
Relatively easy to work
Prone to warping
Some tropical types can be a bit soft and fibrous

8. Types of Hardwoods Beech Ash Type Grain Pattern Uses Advantages
Properties
Uses
Advantages
Disadvantages
Beech
Hard
Tough
Workshop benches
Toys
Indoor furniture
Chopping boards
Finishes Well
Turns well
Prone to warping
Ash
Durable
Flexible
Good Elasticity
Sports equipment
Ladders
Laminated furniture
Tool handles
Can become splintered

9. Softwoods Timber which comes from coniferous trees.
Softwoods grow more quickly than hardwoods and can reach maturity in 30 years.
This makes them less expensive and more sustainable than hardwoods.

10. Aesthetics of Softwoods
Resin-
In softwoods the resin will occasionally leak from the timber.
Resin is sticky and will leave a stain even on a painted surface.
Colour-
Softwoods will vary in colour
Pine will change colour when exposed to sunlight for long periods.
Decay-
Softwoods are often prone to decay
Movement-
Softwoods are also prone to warpping, bowing, cupping and splitting.

11. Properties of Softwoods
The structure of softwood is made up from tube like cells.
This makes soft woods less dense than hardwoods.
If the end grain in exposed and left untreated the timber absorbs water like a sponge.
Softwoods are more prone to
water damage than hardwoods.

12. Types of Softwoods Pine Type Grain Pattern Uses Advantages
Properties
Uses
Advantages
Disadvantages
Pine
Lightweight
Construcional woodwork
Floorboards
Toys
Garden Decking
Nice colou and grain pattern
Grows quickly
Prone to warpping
Knots can fall out and leave holes

13. The Growth of Wood
From spring to Autumn (growing season) the height and girth (thickness) of a tree increases.
Summer growth is responsible for the mechanical strength of timber.
The variations in the look of the cells can be seen as annual rings.
These rings can be counted to see how old the tree is.

14. The Production of Wood The tree is felled (cut down)
It is taken to a saw mill
It is converted ready for seasoning
Time for the timber to dry out
It is then cut into smaller sections of common sizes and shapes.
Most timber is sold ‘Planed all round’ (PAR)

15. Manufactured Board Manufactured boards are man-made
Waste wood is used to make MDF and Chipboard
Other manufactured boards (eg plywood) are layers of veneers glued together.
Nowadays Manufactured Boards is used much more in furniture and construction that solid timber
The Mass production of furniture is almost entirely based around a range of manufactured boards.

16. Advantages disadvantages of manufactured board

17. Types of Manufactured board

18. Types of Manufactured board

19. Types of Manufactured board

20. Types of Manufactured board