English For Engineering: Modern Building Materials: Classification

ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERING
Modern Building Materials: Classification
Materials are solid substances of which manufactured products are made. A variety of
materials are used in different products. Basic types of materials range from wood,
which has been used for thousands of years, to composite materials, which are still
under development.
Materials belong to two groups: (1) natural materials and (2) extracted materials.
Natural materials, which include stone, wood, and wool, are used much as they occur in
nature. Extracted materials, such as plastics, alloys (metal mixtures), and ceramics, are
created through the processing of various natural substances.
Natural materials generally are used as they are found, except for being cleaned, cut, or
processed in a simple way that does not use much energy. Natural materials include
stone and biological materials. Certain types of rock are extremely strong and hard, and
are therefore used as building stone. There are two types of building stone—crushed
stone and dimension stone. Biological materials are substances that develop as part of
a plant or animal. Common plant materials include wood and various fibers such as
cotton. Animal materials include leather and fibers such as wool. Wood is a valuable
biological material because of its strength, toughness, and low density. Theseproperties
make wood an excellent material for thousands of products, including houses, sailboats,
furniture, baseball bats, and railroad ties.
Extracted materials are created through processes that expend a great deal of energy
or alter the microstructure of the substances used to make the materials. Extracted
materials include ceramics, metals and their alloys, plastics, rubber, composite
materials, and semiconductors. Ceramics include such everyday materials as brick,
cement, glass, and porcelain. These materials are made from mineral compounds
called silicates, including clay, feldspar, silica, and talc. People have used such metals
as copper, gold, iron, and silver for thousands of years to make various practical and
decorative objects. Today, metals are important in all aspects of construction and
manufacturing. Plastics are synthetic materials made up primarily of long chains of
molecules called polymers. There are two basic types of plastics: (1) thermosetting
plastics (usual called thermosets) and (2) thermoplastics. Rubber is made up of
elastomers, polymers that stretch easily to several times their length and then return to
their original shape.
Engineers may artificially combine various materials to create a new composite
material. Many composite materials contain a large amount of one substance to which
fibers, flakes, or layers of another substance are added. Semiconductors are materials
that conduct electricity better than insulators, but not as well as conductors, at room
temperature.
1.) Choose the right word or word-combination:
1. Natural materials, which include stone, wood, and … are used much as they occur in nature.
a) alloys b) wool c) plastics
2. Biological materials are substances that … as part of a plant or animal.
a) are formed b) grew c) develop
3. Wood is a valuable biological material because of its strength, toughness, and low….
a) stiffness b) density c) creep
4. Plastics are synthetic materials made up primarily of … called polymers.
a) long chains of molecules b) mineral compounds c) biological materials
5. Engineers may artificially combine various materials to create a new composite material.
a) primarily b) easily c) artificially
2). Complete the sentences.
1. Basic types of materials range from wood to ….
2. Natural materials, which include stone, wood, and wool, are used much as they…
3. Certain types of rock are extremely strong and hard, and are therefore used as ….
4. These properties make wood an excellent material for thousands of ….
5. Today, metals are important in all aspects of …
6. People have used such metals as copper, gold, iron, and silver for thousands of years to make
3). Insert the right words: (develop, cement, electricity, thermoplastics, are used, processes,
various natural substances)
1. A variety of materials … in different products.
2. Extracted materials, such as plastics, alloys and ceramics, are created through the processing of….
3. Biological materials are substances that … as part of a plant or animal.
4. Extracted materials are created through … that expend a great deal of energy or alter the
microstructure of the substances used to make the materials.
5. Ceramics include such everyday materials as brick, …, glass, and porcelain.
6. There are two basic types of plastics: (1) thermosetting plastics and (2) …
7. Semiconductors are materials that conduct … better than insulators, but not as well as conductors, at
room temperature.

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ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERING

Modern Building Materials: Classification

a) alloys b) wool c) plastics

2. Biological materials are substances that … as part of a plant or animal.

a) are formed b) grew c) develop

a) stiffness b) density c) creep

4. Plastics are synthetic materials made up primarily of … called polymers.

a) long chains of molecules b) mineral compounds c) biological materials

a) primarily b) easily c) artificially

2). Complete the sentences.

1. Basic types of materials range from wood to ….

4. These properties make wood an excellent material for thousands of ….

5. Today, metals are important in all aspects of …

1. A variety of materials … in different products.

3. Biological materials are substances that … as part of a plant or animal.

5. Ceramics include such everyday materials as brick, …, glass, and porcelain.

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