Man-Made Materials

By: Brandon Tanner May 20th, 2013

Man made materials each has been specially made to solve or to be used for certain task. But many materials are specially made all the way down to its molecules. Many common synthetic materials are synthetic diamonds, fiber glass, gallium arsenide, and nylon. Synthetic diamonds are a semiconductor and are a copy of natural diamonds down to its molecular structure by the produces chemical vapor deposition process which grows diamond crystals one carbon atom at a at a time. A synthetic diamond is the same atomic structure as natural diamond, also including the same physical properties. Synthetic diamonds offer excellent thermal conductivity and electric insulator properties; which is why they are used for high electrical purposes like a power station or electric fence. The carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Thanks to strong covalent bonding between atoms a synthetic diamond is known a super material because of its many properties.

Fiber glass is a strong light weight material and its a favorite material for its easy and inexpensive molding process. Fiber glass is made of very fine fibers of glass. Thanks to fiber glasses resistant to heat and fire it is a favored material in home construction and other various materials. The fibers are an amorphous material with but it doesnt have a crystalline structure.

The plastic within the fiberglass is made up of long chained polymers. Because the fiber glass is woven it is much stronger. Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) is a crystalline compound semiconductor; which is a mixture of the elements Gallium and Arsenic. GaAs id used in many high end electronics like: ultra high radio components and in fast electronic switching applications. The usefulness of GaAs devices is they do not produce as much noise as other devices do. Gallium Arsenide is very resistant to heat and radiation damage. GaAs has a Zinc blende Lattice which has 2 different atoms at each lattice point.

Nylon is a thermoplastic, silky material used in tooth brushes and military parachutes. Nylon belongs to the polymers family and is the most common kind of polymer. It is made of repeating units linked by amid bonds. Nylon is used for both industrial and conventional uses and its determined by the molding process. Nylon is very resistant to chemical agents so it is preferred to be used by the military for various projects.

Bibliography
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=lighting.pr_what_are http://www.logitech.uk.com/applications/gallium-arsenide.aspx http://www.e6.com/wps/wcm/connect/e6_content_en/home/the+power+of+supermaterials/synthetic +diamonds+extreme+properties http://www.engr.utk.edu/mse/Textiles/Nylon%20fibers.htm