Gifts for materials fans
Know someone who loves materials? Pick their favourite topic for gift ideas, with a fact to share when they open it.
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Adhesives/Sealants
The adhesive used on postage stamps is often a water-activated pressure-sensitive adhesive, meaning it needs moisture to activate its sticky properties.
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Advanced Composites
Advanced composites, like those used in Formula 1 cars, can be stronger than steel but significantly lighter, allowing for increased speed and fuel efficiency.
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Biodegradables
Some biodegradable plastics can actually take hundreds, even thousands of years to fully decompose under typical environmental conditions, despite their marketing.
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Biomaterials
Biomaterials can be derived from natural sources like collagen (from animal tissues) or synthetic sources like polymers.
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Concrete/Mortar
Concrete is stronger in compression than in tension. This is why rebar (steel reinforcement) is used in reinforced concrete structures.
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Electrical Wire/Components
The insulating material on electrical wire often contains fire retardants to help prevent the spread of flames in case of a short circuit.
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Filament for 3d printing
PLA filament is often made from corn starch, making it a partially bio-based and renewable material.
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Hardware (screws, nails, bolts)
The head of a screw is designed not only to provide a grip for a screwdriver, but also to distribute the clamping force evenly to prevent damage to the material being fastened.
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Lumber (various types)
Balsa wood, despite its light weight, is surprisingly strong for its density, making it useful in model airplanes and other lightweight applications.
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Materials Informatics
Materials Informatics can predict the properties of new materials without needing to synthesize and test them all physically, saving significant time and resources.
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Metal Stock (steel, aluminum)
The price of steel and aluminum is heavily influenced by global events, like wars or major infrastructure projects, often fluctuating wildly in short periods.
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Paints/Stains
The first paints were made from natural pigments like crushed minerals and plant extracts, thousands of years before synthetic pigments were invented.
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Plumbing Pipes/Fittings
Flexible plumbing pipes, like PEX, are often preferred over rigid pipes because they're less likely to break during earthquakes.
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Plywood/OSB
Plywood and OSB are both engineered wood products, but plywood's layers are typically wood veneer, while OSB uses wood flakes or strands.
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Sandpaper (various grits)
The grit number on sandpaper indicates the number of abrasive particles per square inch – a higher grit number means finer particles and a smoother finish.
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Smart Textiles
Smart textiles can be embedded with sensors to monitor vital signs, allowing for real-time health tracking in clothing.
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Tiles (various types)
Ceramic tiles were used in ancient Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago, predating many other common building materials.
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