acetate
A chemical formed from reactions with acetic acid.
allotrope
A distinct form of an allotropic element, which can exist in different forms depending on molecular structure. For example, diamond and graphite are two allotropes of carbon.
anisotropy
Having different physical or visual properties along different axes.
antimicrobial
Capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms.
biomimicry
The deliberate imitation of biological processes in the solving of engineering or other complex problems.
bioplastic
Plastic derived from renewable sources such as vegetable fats, starch, proteins or microbes.
brogueing
Punching a pattern of holes into a material such as leather, as in brogue shoes.
bse
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. An infectious disease found in the nervous systems of cattle, which can be spread to humans and other animals through the food chain.
calendering
The use of rollers to make a material, typically paper, smooth and glossy at the final stage of manufacture.
carat
A measure of the purity of gold, with 24 carats equalling pure gold.
CFCS/HCFCS
Chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Volatile organic compounds containing the elements chlorine, fluorine, (hydrogen) and carbon. Once widely used, they have been phased out due to their damaging effects on the ozone layer.
cites
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention: an agreement in place since 1975 to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild.
Class 1 fire retardant
England and Wales Building Regulations classify fireretardant materials as Class O or Class 1, with Class O the stricter standard. One or other may be legally required depending on the specific usage.
commodity polymer
An everyday plastic used in high volumes at low cost. They are often used in packaging and disposable items.
composite
Material made from different components to combine their different properties. For example, concrete – a mixture of stones and cement.
deal
Softwood from coniferous trees when in use as a building material. Can also refer to a plank of such wood.
die-cutting
The process of cutting shapes from a thin, soft material, such as leather or card, using a metal die or cutter.
dioxins
Highly toxic by-products of a number of industrial processes, including the production of pvc.
Able to be bent, deformed or drawn into a wire by stretching.
electrospinning
The use of an electric charge to draw fibres from a polymer solution.
engineering polymer
A plastic with superior mechanical or thermal properties to everyday commodity polymers. They are used in smaller volumes and are more expensive to produce.
esters
Plastics, including polyester, derived from the chemicals of the ester group. ‘Polyester’ commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although it can technically refer to any of this group.
ethylenes
Plastics, including polythene (polyethylene), derived from the chemical ethylene, also known as ethene. They are the most commonly used group of plastics.
ferrous
Containing or consisting of iron.
forestry stewardship
The management and care
of forests as natural resources, to ensure their long-term health and productivity.
grain
Can refer to the direction, texture or pattern produced by wood fibres.
hardwood
Wood from angiosperm (flowering) trees such as beech or oak.
heartwood
Wood from the inner part of a branch that has naturally become resistant to decay. Once formed it is effectively dead. Also known as duramen. See also sapwood.
high-performance polymer
A particularly hard-wearing and temperature-resistant plastic, used for specialized applications. Superior to both commodity polymers and engineering polymers.
hygroscope
An instrument used to measure humidity.
lamination
The binding together of two or more thin layers of different substances to combine their properties.
monomer
The simpler chemicals whose molecules are linked together to form polymers.
nanotechnology
The manipulation of matter on an atomic or molecular scale.
nitrate
A chemical formed from reactions with nitric acid.
non-ferrous
Not containing iron.
optical lithography
A printing process in which a pattern of light is projected on to a surface, causing a chemical to either bind to it or be etched from it in that pattern. Used in the production of printed electronic circuits and silicon chips. Also known as photolithography.
petrochemical
Any chemical product derived from petroleum.
piezoelectrics
The production of an electrical charge by placing certain materials, such as crystals, under mechanical stress.
A species that is among the first to recolonize a damaged ecosystem, such as birch trees at the end of the last ice age.
Poisson ratio
The ratio of a material’s expansion (or contraction) along two axes to its compression (or extension) along a third axis when a force is applied to it. Ranging between -1 and 0.5, a high value indicates significant outward expansion. Cork has a value of 0, indicating that it does not expand outwards at all when compressed. Named after Siméon Poisson.
polymer
A substance that has a molecular structure built up from a large number of similar units bonded together. Examples include plastics and proteins. See also: commodity polymer, engineering polymer, high-performance polymer and ultra polymer.
polymerization
The process of producing a polymer from simpler chemical units, known an monomers.
press-forming
A technique in which sheets of a heated material, such as PVC, are formed against a solid mould in a mechanical press.
quarter cutting
A method of cutting boards from logs that begins with dividing the log in four lengthways, so that the grain in the resulting planks is more evenly distributed. Also known as quarter
sawing.
rare earth elements (REES)
A set of 17 elements, mostly from the lanthanide group, with a number of high-tech applications. While the elements themselves are not generally rare, forms of their ores at concentrations high enough to be mined are much harder to find.
retting
The use of water and microbes to remove a natural fibre from its stem, as used with hemp and flax.
sapwood
Wood from the outer part of a branch, which in a living tree is still growing. Also known as alburnum. See also heartwood.
Shore hardness
The hardness of a material as defined on a scale devised by Albert F. Shore.
softwood
Wood from gymnosperm (non-flowering) trees such as conifers.
spin coating
A process used to apply a
thin film to a flat, solid surface. The film is applied in liquid form and spun at high speed until the surface is coated to the desired thickness.
steam bending
A technique in which steam is applied to wood, making it temporarily pliable. It is then bent or moulded into shape and held until it hardens.
styrenes
Plastics, including polystyrene, derived from the chemical styrene, also known as vinyl benzene or phenyl ethane.
superalloy
An alloy, usually of nickel, nickel-iron or cobalt, that possesses excellent strength, stability and resistance to corrosion.
tensile strength
The maximum stress that a material can withstand while being pulled before it breaks.
thermoplastic
A plastic which becomes pliable or mouldable when heated, and returns to a rigid state when cooled. Also called a thermosoftening plastic. See also thermoset.
thermoset
A plastic which, once set or ‘cured’, cannot be melted back into a soft or liquid state. Also called a thermosetting plastic. See also thermoplastic.
ultra polymer
A loose term for plastics whose properties are considered or marketed as superior to other high-performance polymers.
urethanes
Plastics, including polyurethane, derived from the chemical urethane (also known as carbamate) linked with other organic compounds.
UV rays
Ultraviolet rays. Electromagnetic rays with a wavelength shorter than visible light and longer than x-rays. They are a component of sunlight and harmful to human skin when exposed in large quantities.
veneer
A thin surface layer of decorative, fine wood glued to a cheaper base. It can also refer to any fine sheet of wood, such as those used
to make plywood.
vinyl chlorides
Plastics, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), derived from the chemical vinyl chloride, also known as vinyl chloride monomer, vcm or chloroethene.
VOCS
See volatile organic compounds.
volatile organic compounds
Any of a diverse range of organic compounds that are gases at room temperature. They can be harmful if released in poorly ventilated areas, for example in paint fumes.