Assignment 14
14.1 Circle the correct words to complete the text. Look at A opposite to help you.
A lot of rubber is made from latex, a (1) naturalsynthetic polymer which comes from rubber trees.
However, not all rubber comes from trees. Synthetic rubber is a (2) manmadelnatural polymer
with similar properties to latex. Plastics are also polymers. Like rubber, they consist of long chains
of (3) atomsimolecules which form extremely large (4) atoms/molecules.
14.2 Read the extract describing a plastic panel manufacturing process. Then decide whether the
sentences below are true or false, and correct the false sentences. Look at B opposite to help you.
By this stage of the process, the plastic is solid, and has fully cooled. Selected panels can now
undergo quality-control testing, to check they are strong enough to cope with the tough conditions
they will be exposed to in use. Tests include tensile testing, where narrow lengths of panel are
subjected to high tension loads to check they do not stretch or fracture. More tests are carried out
to check the panels resistance to impacts and scratching. Any products that fail the tests are
returned to the beginning of the production process, melted down, and their material is reused.
1. The plastic was heated earlier in the process.
2. The plastic has now set.
3. The plastic is now liquid.
4. To pass one of the tests, the plastic must be an elastomer.
5. The description suggests the plastic is a type of engineering plastic.
6. The material is a thermosetting plastic.
7. The material is a thermoplastic.
14.3 Complete the word puzzle and find the word going across the page. Look at A and B opposite
to help you.
1. a shorter name for polyvinylchloride
2. used for forming melted plastic
Assignment 15
15.1 Decide whether the sentences below are true or false. Then, change one word in each of the
false sentences to correct them. Look at A opposite to help you.
1. Minerals are organic.
2. Minerals can be found in rocks.
3. Silica is a compound containing silicon.
4. Minerals can be metallic or non-metallic.
5. Industrial diamond is an abrasive, metallic mineral.
6. In order to become ceramics, materials must be vitrified.
7. Clay can be fired to produce material with a glass-like structure.
15.2 Use the words and expressions in the box to describe each photo. You will need to use some
words more than once. Look at B opposite to help you.
annealed glass laminated glass safety glass tempered glass toughened glass windscreen 2
15.3 Complete the article about bulletproof glass from a science and technology magazine, using
words from B opposite. Sometimes, more than one word is possible.
"Bulletproof is a loosely used word, suggesting something is totally unbreakable. But technically
speaking, how accurate is the term 'bulletproof glass? Outside of Hollywood movies, can glass
really stop bullets? The answer is, not on its own. But if several (1). sandwiched with a high-
strength polymer to form (2). completely bulletproof, barrier can be obtained.
of glass are glass, a bullet-resistant, if not The technique of sandwiching polymer and glass is
nothing unusual. Car windscreens are made by (3) Unlike the other main type of safety glass- (4)
intact on breaking If a stone hits a windscreen, even though a small section of the glass on the
outside may crack, the polymer behind it will stop the stone, and also ensure the entire piece of
glass doesn't (5) tougher. A stronger polymer is therefore used-often polycarbonate- as well as a
greater number of (6) glass to a polymer, such as polyvinyl butyral (PVB), to form a type of safety
glass. glass- laminated glass remains Bullet-resistant giass uses the same principle, but must be
much of glass and polymer.
