AQA A Level · Design and Technology: Product Design 7552
5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 3 written questions with worked solutions. All on Enhancement of materials.
A manufacturer is producing a batch of outdoor garden furniture made from a specific softwood. Which of the following enhancement methods would be most effective for ensuring the timber resists fungal attack and decay when in constant contact with the ground?
In the heat treatment of a high-carbon steel tool, the material is heated to a critical temperature and then rapidly quenched. Why must the material then undergo tempering?
A designer is developing a specialized medical casing that must be biodegradable but also requires specific mechanical stiffness. They are considering Polyactide (PLA). Which enhancement or characteristic of PLA would be a critical limitation if the product were exposed to temperatures exceeding \(60^{\circ}C\)?
In the enhancement of metals, what is the primary purpose of the tempering process after a steel component has been hardened?
A structural component in a marine environment requires case hardening. Which of the following best describes the material requirement and the resulting enhancement?
Compare the use of case hardening and hardening and tempering in terms of the resulting material properties of a low carbon steel component.
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
Explain how the addition of UV stabilisers enhances the performance and longevity of a polymer-based product intended for permanent outdoor use, such as garden furniture.
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
A high-performance mountain bike frame is being designed for professional racing. The designer has opted for 6061-T6 Duralumin (an aluminium alloy) for the main tubes.
(a) Justify the choice of a non-ferrous alloy like Duralumin over low carbon steel, with reference to two specific mechanical properties.
(b) The frame undergoes a heat treatment process to reach the 'T6' temper. Explain the hardening and tempering process and how it modifies the internal structure of the metal to improve performance.
Write your answer out first, then check it against the worked solution.
* The content provided by thinka is generated by AI and may not always be accurate or up-to-date. Please use it as a supplementary resource and verify with official materials.
This page can show you how a good answer looks. It cannot tell you what your answer was missing. thinka marks your written work against the real mark scheme in about 15 seconds.
Want more questions like these? Get a fresh set on this topic, graded as you go.
Practice More