Materials, Chemistry & Biology

Winter sees a seasonal increase in escapes of water in both domestic and commercial properties due to the freezing of water pipes. The UK Water Regulations state that “All cold water fittings located within the building, but outside the thermal envelope, or those outside the building must be protected against damage by freezing”.

Brasses have been used for many thousands of years and can be used for decorative structures such as the Benin ‘Bronzes’ (actually made of brass) or, more recently, for architectural uses and for plumbing applications.

A biomaterial is a structure that can be used to replace or augment body parts such as bone, teeth, ligaments, cartilage or heart valves. Common biomaterials include: polymers, ceramics, glass-ceramics, stainless steels, and titanium alloys. Biomaterials are classified both according to their biocompatibility (ease of acceptance within the human body) and their mechanical properties, such as: tensile/compressive/shear strength, hardness, toughness, and fatigue resistance.

Iron is one of the most common and important metals on earth and forms the basis of the most widely used group of metallic materials, steels. Steels can be manufactured cheaply, in large volumes, and provide a range of useful mechanical properties; hardness, strength, ease of machinability, heat resistance, corrosion resistance etc. The properties of steel can be altered by the addition or removal of chemical elements or by heat treatment. Hence, the performance and longevity of steel components often relies on correct property specification and manufacture. If, for instance, a steel application requires exemplary corrosion resistance, but the steel has been incorrectly manufactured or specified, the component will be unlikely to perform effectively and may fail prematurely.