Category: Materials and the Environment: Eco-Informed Material Choice

Appendix – Useful numbers and conversions

CONTENTS A1 Introduction A.1 Introduction Quantitative analysis needs numbers. Many of those needed to understand and quantify eco-aspects of material production and use are presented in the Chapters of the text. ■ Table 2.1: approximate efficiency factors for energy conversion and the associated CO2 emission per useful MJ. ■ Table 6.5: the energy content of […]

Flexible polymer foam

The material. Polymer foams are made by the controlled expansion and solidification of a liquid or melt through a blowing agent; physical, chemi­cal, or mechanical blowing agents are possible. The resulting cellular mate­rial has a lower density, stiffness, and strength than the parent material, by an amount that depends on its relative density—the volume fraction […]

Rigid polymer foam

The material. Polymer foams are made by the controlled expansion and solidification of a liquid or melted through a blowing agent; physical, chem­ical, or mechanical blowing agents are possible. The resulting cellular mate­rial has a lower density, stiffness, and strength than the parent material, by an amount that depends on its relative density—the volume fraction […]

Hybrids: composites, foams, and natural materials

Composites are one of the great material developments of the 20th century. Those with the highest stiffness and strength are made with continuous fibers of glass, carbon, or Kevlar (an aramid) embedded in a thermosetting resin (polyester or epoxy). The fibers carry the mechanical loads, whereas the matrix material transmits loads to the fibers, provides […]