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GCSE Design and Technology · key term
A material made of large molecules containing many repeating units. The plastics used in products are polymer-based materials.
Used by AQA
Paper 1
Revise: PolymersThe plastics used for bottles, electrical fittings and display stands are polymer-based materials. A polymer consists of large molecules containing many repeating units. Different polymers have different combinations of properties, so choosing a plastic means more than choosing its colour or shape.
Use AQA’s category names: thermoforming and thermosetting. Learn the full polymer names as well as their abbreviations.
Do not confuse hardness with toughness: a hard polymer can still be brittle.
Heat resistance does not identify the category on its own. The key distinction is whether the polymer can be softened and reshaped after it has set.
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