Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
Qualification
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit number and title
Unit 22: Materials Science
Learning aim A: Understand the classification and properties of different materials.
Assignment title Classification of materials
Assessor
Issue date
Hand in deadline
You are an apprentice materials science technician working for the global
company 3M. Each year the company organises a competition for all of the
apprentice scientists that it trains across the world. You are representing
the UK division of 3M in the European heat and the successful winner will go
Vocational Scenario or on to a world final. The ultimate winner will be offered a sponsorship to
Context cover the costs of studying for a degree in materials science. Your first task
in the competition is to classify some unknown materials by testing their
macro and microscopic properties. You will have to provide a report that
uses your experimental data (primary and secondary) to justify what group
you would classify each material into.
Using your lesson notes and research you have carried out into materials
and their properties, produce a report for the judging panel that includes:
The classification of FOUR unknown materials on the basis of their
macroscopic properties. Examine the macroscopic properties of
each material (ie melting point, boiling point, strength, toughness,
malleability, electrical and thermal conductivity, density and
biodegradability) and from this determine the classification into
one of the following groups:
o metals and alloys
o glass
o polymers
Task o ceramics
o carbon allotropes
o composites