The new materials

JJ Shepstone

L.O.’s

• ALL– To be able to describe the simple properties of at

least two new materials• MOST– To describe in detail how ‘velcro’ is made and

works• SOME– To describe how ‘velcro’, ‘kevlar’ and ‘gore-tex’ are

made and used

Gore-Tex• Gore-Tex is a remarkable

multi-layered material in vented by Bob Gore

• He developed an idea from ‘Teflon’ (PTFE) use on non stick cooking pans.

• It was ‘breathable’ in other words gas can permeate through the material but water (liquid i.e. Rain) can not.

• Rain just rolls off! Can you explain why?

Kevlar• This remarkable material was

the result of an ‘accidental’ discovery at Du Pont.

• It is a light weight fibre with a high melting point.

• By making sheets of the polymer and then layer many layers of the sheets they made a flexible material, 5 x stronger than steel!

• How could it make a bullet proof jacket?

• How could you use it to make a pair of furnace handling gloves?

Velcro

• George de Mestral invented this material from Nylon.

• He copied the way natural burrs (seed cases) stuck to hikers’ socks

• Try playing with a piece and see if you can write about how it works.

Velcro on You Tube

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62jhQNyPm3s

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAQqRMDg9jk

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTSDPKktbUk