NEIL DOMINIC C.

MAHUSAY BSME-3

MODULE 1 ASSIGNMENT

Select three of the following modern items or devices and conduct an Internet search in order to
determine what specific material(s) is (are) used and what specific properties this (these) material(s)
possess(es) in order for the device/item to function properly. Finally, write a short essay in which you
report your findings.

- Cell phone/digital camera batteries

- Cell phone displays
- Solar cells
- Wind turbine blades
- Fuel cells
- Automobile engine blocks (other than cast iron)
- Automobile bodies (other than steel alloys)
- Space telescope mirrors
- Military body armor
- Sports equipment
    - Soccer balls
    - Basketballs
    - Ski poles
    - Ski boots
    - Snowboards
    - Surfboards

Military Body armor

There are two types of materials commonly used for the production of military body armor,
Kevlar and Polyethylene (PE).

PE body armor comes in as a best of both worlds solution. PE armor plates are classified as hard
body armor. They are also used in conjunction with carrier vests. They are quite ideal since they
are up to 15 times as hard as steel, but a lot lighter and more comfortable to wear. An ordinary
PE armor plate can weight anywhere between one and five pounds. In simple terms, PE armor
plates are the lightest rifle-protective plates available.
The plate can get hit by multiple rounds and still be protective since the impact of the bullet is
limited to a small part where it lands. One of the most impressive aspects of PE armor plates is
that they can take multiple hits. Unlike steel or ceramic plates, they do not shatter when hit.
They can, therefore, take multiple hits at the same spot, and still prevent the bullets from going
in.

So long as the bullet threat is not above level III, PE armor plates will offer ample protection. We
had mentioned earlier that PE plates work by melting as a result of the friction created by the
spinning bullet, then cooling down almost immediately to trap the bullet inside.
PE is used in body armor of all protective levels. PE armor plates are thinner and lighter than
Kevlar plates in all protective levels. The process and materials used to manufacture PE body
armor is expensive. PE body armor is, therefore, always expensive than all the others. It is worth
every single cent you pay for it though. 

The only downside of PE armor plates is that they are easily degraded by high temperatures.
Take for instance military personnel, who are often times involved in combat in very hot regions.
The temperatures in some of the deserts can go as high as 50 degrees celcius. Such conditions
would compromise the effectiveness of PE armor plates. Otherwise, PE armor plates are
extremely durable.

Today, you cannot avoid exploring the topic of Kevlar when you start getting into the nitty-gritty
of body armor. Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that has incredibly high tensile strength. Kevlar’s
molecules are unidirectional and parallel to each other. This makes them very tightly bound,
hence the high tensile strength. Kevlar is ideal for making body armor because it is strong,
lightweight, corrosion and rust free, and it absorbs vibrations quite effectively.

Kevlar can be classified into three grades according to its quality. The grades are standard
Kevlar, Kevlar 29, and Kevlar 49. Standard Kevlar is very stiff and is used to make tires. Kevlar 49
is mainly used to make plastic consolidations for bicycles, boats, and airplanes. Kevlar 29 is the
most ideal Kevlar for the manufacture of body armor. It is used to make brake linings, industrial
cables, and asbestos replacements as well.
Kevlar is manufactured by a company known as DuPont. In scientific terms, the material used to
make Kevlar is referred to as poly-para-phenelyne-terephthalamide. This polymer is heated and
pushed through a sieve while hot. The resulting fibers are used to weave super-stiff and high-
tensile sheets or mats that are now called Kevlar.
 

As mentioned earlier, Kevlar bulletproof vests are mainly classified as soft body armor. They
provide protection against low to medium velocity firearm rounds. Many of them will not be
able to handle fire from high-velocity rifles. As much as they may be able to stop bullets fired
from some lower caliber rifles, the blunt trauma would be dangerously high. Blunt trauma could
cause injuries to the ribs, heart, or lungs.  There more layers of Kevlar that a bulletproof vest
has, the more protective it is.
To protect against blunt trauma and rifle calibers, Kevlar bulletproof vests are reinforced with
steel or ceramic plates. They become armor plate carriers. However, this makes the body armor
rigid, bulky, uncomfortable, and difficult to conceal. Such body armor is in most cases
impractical for use by ordinary civilians, and uniformed patrol officers. While there are no
restrictions on the kind of body armor one can wear, such heavy body armor is in most cases
used by tactical forces while they are in high-risk environments.

The bottom line is, Kevlar by itself only makes soft body armor. Other materials such as steel,
ceramic and Polyethylene are used to create stronger armor plates that reinforce the soft body
armor. Soft body armor is preferred because it is comfortable to wear and easy to conceal,but
sometimes you need hard armor to stop rifle threats in your situation.
 Despite being such a tough and strong material, Kevlar can be damaged by ultraviolet rays. It
breaks down when exposed to sun rays that have UV radiation. Dry cleaning, bleaching agents,
and frequent washing can also reduce the tensile strength of Kevlar. As such, any body armor
that has Kevlar, has the Kevlar sheets covered with a thick fabric that keeps the sunrays and
moisture away. The body armor should also come with very precise instructions on how to
properly clean it when need be.

BASKETBALLS

The inner bladder is the core of the basketball. It is made from black butyl rubber, a type of
rubber which retains air and gives the bounce characteristic to the basketball.

To create the inner bladder of the basketball, this rubber is melted into flat panels. Then, the
panels are attached to form the shape of a basketball. Afterwards, one inch-sized hole is pierced
in the bladder so that the air filler tube can be installed. 

The inner bladder is inflated and left in that state for 24 hours. This is done for clarifying the
correctness of the inner bladder.
The inner bladder doesn’t have a perfect shape when it is first inflated. With the help of a
machine, the polyester or nylon threads are wrapped around the inner bladder, to create a
spherical shape of the ball. Also, the threads will prevent the ball from being deformed.

Different basketballs use different threads. For example, street basketballs utilize polyester
threads, while professional basketballs feature nylon threads.
The cover of the basketball is usually made from diverse materials. High-quality basketballs
feature quality leather cover, while other balls feature synthetic rubber or regular rubber.

First, the material of choice is unfolded and cut in six isolated panels that will eventually be
wrapped around the basketball. If leather is used, it is stitched together around the ball.
Otherwise, if any type of rubber is used, it is held onto the ball with glue. Then, if the
manufacturer wants to customize the basketball with decals or any other graphical information,
the marking should be applied by hand at this point. The designs are usually applied via stickers
that glue to the ball itself.

After injecting the leather patterns on the ball, the graphics will stick to the ball, so all that is left
is to remove the sticker, leaving the graphic alone.
SURFBOARDS

Surfboards typically start with a polyurethane foam core, a fiberglass outer shell, and polyester
resins. Rather than being mass-produced, a large portion are hand-crafted by individual
surfboard builders. Starting with the foam core, this cement mold is made in two halves. The
inside is lined with a paper that keeps the foam and mold from sticking together. The halves are
clamped together as the mold is heated and, as the polyurethane is poured into the mold, the
heat causes a chemical reaction which forms the white mold.

The next step would be to add the stringer, which is done by cutting the mold in half and gluing
a stringer between the two halves. After the two halves are clamped back together, this step
allows the board to keep from breaking in half. Next, an outline of the board is cut with a saber
saw and smoothed. A power sander is used to remove any ridges and shape the sides. After the
blank has been shaped, it is covered with the fiberglass and resin to form the outer shell.

Once the board has been designed or painted, fiberglass cloth is laid over the surface and cut to
fit. Polyester resin is mixed with a catalyst and the resulting chemical reaction causes the resin
to harden. As the hardening process is taking place, the builder pours it over the fiberglass and
spreads evenly. After a second coat of resin, some sanding, and compressed air, the surfboard is
ready to hit the waves!