This document provides vocabulary definitions and examples of properties and processes related to materials. It defines terms like brittle, ductile, elastic, plastic, durable, malleable, tough, smooth, rolling, extrusion, casting, and forging. It then discusses natural materials like wood, glass, and metal. It also covers synthetic materials like foam and plastics. The last paragraph notes that understanding materials can help make the best choice for different building projects.

1. Mongolian University of Science and
Technology
School of Foreign Languages

3. Vocabulary
Properties and processes
Look at the definitions of new words.
brittle-easily broken. Glass is brittle.
dense- heavy in relation to size. Hard rock, such as granite, is dense
ductile-(of metal) can be stretched and yet retain its strength. Copper is ductile.
elastic- will spring back to its original shape when stretched. Rubber is elastic.
plastic- will keep its new shape when stretched or bent. A copper wire is plastic.
durable- lasting a long time, not wearing out
malleable- able to be hammered into shape
tough- can withstand cracking under shock
smooth- having an even surface
rolling- is used to turn ductile materials like copper and aluminum into sheet
extrusion- is useful for creating a long piece with a complex profile. A
compressive force pushes the material through a hole to shape it. This process
works with both ductile and brittle materials.
casting – iron is heavy metal, and its also brittle when cast. In casting, it’s heated
to 12600C and poured into useful shapes such as frying pans.
forging- is one of the oldest industrial processes. Hammers or weights force
malleable material into the desired shape.

4. Unit 2A Materials technology
Reading
Construction Basics: Understanding your materials
Many kinds of building materials are available today, and they all have different properties.
Understanding these materials can help you make the best choice for your project.
Natural materials are always popular options. These include wood, glass, and
metal. Wood is a good insulator. But it only has moderate tensile strength. Glass is a
transparent material suitable for windows. But it is also very brittle. Metals are useful for
the frameworks of structures. They are great conductors and have lots of luster. Their high
ductility and hardness are other benefits.
Synthetic materials like foam and plastics are becoming increasingly popular.
Foam is light and is a great insulator. Plastics are also very light and malleable. They are
durable and easy to maintain. But they are also expensive. Certain building materials work
better for certain situations. Making the right choices will save your time and money in the
long run.
Reading
Read this page from the website of Abel Construction Co. Then, complete
the table using information from the passage.

5. Vocabulary
Match the words (1-6) with the definitions (A-F).
1. ____ malleable 4. ____ insulator
2. ____ natural 5. ____ ductility
3. ____ plastic 6. ____ luster
a. material’s ductility to not break
b. coming from nature, such as wood
c. a material that contains heat or electricity
d. The brightness or shine of a metal
e. Easily shaped or bent
f. a common synthetic material
Check () the sentence that uses the underlined parts correctly.
1. ___ a. Cotton is a synthetic material.
___ b. Glass is brittle and can shatter.
2. ___ a. You can stretch rubber because it has very low tensile strength.
___ b. Foam retains heat well and is a good conductor.
3. ___ a. Most glass is transparent.
___ b. Metals have low levels of hardness.
4. ___ a. The cost of plastics is relatively low.
___ b. The right choice of materials reduces expenses.
5. ___ a. Metal is used to make electrical equipment because of its good conductivity.
___ b. Wood is a suitable material for a window pane.

6. Listening
Listen to a conversation between an engineer and her client. Mark the following
statements as true (T) or false (F).
1. ____ The client wants to use synthetic materials.
2. ____ The engineer recommends steel over wood.
3. ____ The client has little money for the project.
Listen again and complete the conversation between a client and an engineer.
C: Hi Beth. I’m calling regarding the building materials for the new park swing set.
E: Okay. What can I do for you?
C: I need advice on materials for the framework. I want to use 1. ____ materials.
E: Well, your two main options are wood and steel.
C: Which do you recommend?
E: Steel’s ductility makes it a 2. ____ ____. And it’s not 3. ____, so it won’t break
from frequent use.
C: Is it more expensive than wood?
E: Yes, it does cost more. Is that 4. ____ ____?
C: Somewhat. I’m 5. ____ ____ ____ ____.
E: Well, wood is cheaper. But it absorbs moisture over time. This reduces its 6. ____.
C: So is steel the better value?
E: Yes. At least in the long term. It’s very durable and requires less maintenance than
wood.

7. Speaking
8. With a partner, act out the roles below, based on task 7. Then switch roles.
USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS:
What can I do for you?
I need advice on materials for the ….
Which do you recommend?
Student A: You are building a new swing set. Ask Student B questions to find
out: -options for materials – recommendations - costs
Student B: You are an industrial engineer. Answer Student A’s questions.
Writing
Use the webpage and the conversation from Task above to complete the client’s
notes.
Materials for project
Options: _____________________________________
Benefits/Drawbacks of each material:
_______________________________________________
Better value: _____________________________________

8. Unit 2B Materials in Processes
Look at the pictures. Use two words from the list to say why each
material has been used.
cheap flexible light stiff strong
1. Nylon rope
Example: Because it’s strong and flexible.
2. steel beam
3. paper hat 4. Carbon fiber bicycle frame
5. rubber tire
Can you name one other construction material that fits each of the fives
descriptions in the exercise?

9. Speaking
Discussing a stress- strain curve
Match the diagrams with the materials.
a. b. c. d.
1. low carbon steel 2. glass plate 3. wood (pine) 4. copper
Match each description with the correct material and graph shown above.
a. The graph is linear right up to the breaking point. It is not as strong as steel, and it is
more brittle than wood.
b. The graph is linear at first, then there is a sharp change and the graph curves. It is
stronger than wood and is the stiffest of these materials.
c. The graph is non-linear. The material reaches its tensile strength, and then it forms a
neck. The stress measured by the original area falls until the material breaks at the
neck. The material is the most ductile.
d. The graph is linear, then there is a short curve before failure. This material is brittle
but not as brittle as glass

10. Reading: Aluminum
Read the passage about aluminum and discuss the questions.
- What properties does aluminum have? - What products are made from aluminum?
- What processes form aluminum into shapes we can use?
Aluminum is everywhere. Aluminum is a lightweight, high-strength metal, resistant to
corrosion and easily recycled. When alloyed with other elements, it can be processed by
casting, rolling, extruding or forging. This makes it a favorite material of engineers in
almost every field, from construction, rail transport, and aviation to the electrical industry,
and any more.
Strength and malleability Some aluminum alloys can be as strong as many steels, and
their ductility and malleability mean they are easy to form. Its Young’s Modulus, about
70GPs, is about 33% of steel, and it’s less dense than steel. Without aluminum there would
be no air transport.
Corrosion resistance Aluminum is highly reactive. This means that it changes chemically
when it comes into contact with certain other substances. When aluminum is exposed to
oxygen, it reacts. The result is a strong but thin oxide film on the surface of the aluminum.
If the film is damaged, it forms again in most conditions. This gives aluminum excellent
corrosion resistance. It also makes aluminum easy to color and decorate. This, along with
ease of recycling, makes it perfect for drinks cans and other food packaging.
Conductivity Its high electrical conductivity-combined with its lightness and strength –
mean that aluminum is used more frequently than copper for overhead power cables.
Aluminum’s conductivity is lower than copper’s, but engineers prefer the lower density and
cost of aluminum.

11. Listening
Listen to two engineers discussing a problem with a wing spar and the
results of some tests that were done on it. Choose the correct option to
complete the sentence.
1. The problem with the wing spar was that it was ____________.
a. incomplete b. cracked c. broken
2. The tensile test showed that the material was _______________ .
a. low quality b. incorrect c. within tolerances
3. The impact tests found a problem with the spar’s _____________.
a. fracture toughness b. thickness c. yield strength

12. Lesson C The Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Usage
• Form
• Sample
sentences
Comparative
adjectives (CA)
• CA are used to compare
differences between two
objects
• Noun (subject) + verb +
CA + than + noun
(object)
• TV’s today is smaller
than ever before.
Working in a factory is
more dangerous than
working in a chemical
laboratory.
Superlative
adjectives (SA)
• SA are used to describe an
object which is at the
upper or lower limit of a
quality.
• Noun (subject) + verb +
CA + than + noun
(object)
• The factory is the noisiest
of all. At present we have
the most reliable
electronic appliances.

13. • strong-stronger-the strongest
• smooth – smoother –the smoothest
• thin –thinner- the thinnest
One syllable
adjectives
• tilted- more tilted- the most tilted
• tangled- more tangled – the most tangled
• famous- more famous- the most famous
Two syllable
adjectives
• polluted – more polluted –the most
polluted
• populated – more populated- the most
populated
• durable-more durable- the most durable
Two and
more
syllable
adjectives

14. Adjective
good
bad
little
much
many
far
Comparative
better
worse
less
more
further
farther
Superlative
best
worst
least
most
furthest
farthest
Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives

15. Practice Write the comparative and superlative forms of
the following adjectives, as in the example
Adjective Comparative Superlative
sad sadder the saddest
lovely ………………….. …………………..
healthy ………………….. …………………..
amazing ………………….. …………………..
intelligent ………………….. …………………..
long ………………….. …………………..
expensive ………………….. …………………..
poor ………………….. …………………..

16. Answer
Adjective Comparative Superlative
sad sadder the saddest
lovely lovelier the loveliest
healthy healthier the healthiest
amazing more amazing the most amazing
intelligent more intelligent the most intelligent
long longer the longest
expensive more expensive the most expensive
poor poorer the poorest

17. Thank you for your
attention!