V. Complete the gaps with the words given below.

The materials technology has … a lot over the past years. New more reliable materials have … the old ones. Other advances in mate­rials science may lead to further … in performance. Let's have a look at some examples of sport… .

Poles are often … from glass-fibre … that increase their … . Such poles are lighter and less … than … poles.

… and glass-fibre composites are also used for … hockey sticks. This helps to … stiffness. …, such hockey sticks can be … for players. That is why researchers are trying to … their performance.

Carbon-fibre composites have also replaced aluminium in tennis … . Such composite rackets have a higher … than aluminium … , so rackets can be even stiffer and … .

changed	performance	made	improvements	improve
equipment	carbon-fibre	replaced	aluminium	alloys
composites	producing	increase	dangerous	stiff
stiffness	lighter	rackets	however

 

VI. You are in the shop ”Sport Master”. You want to buy a modern hockey stick and a good tennis racket. Discuss with the shop assistant the best choice.

Activity

I. Nowadays professional sportsmen want to have high-quality sports equipment in order to win different competitions. That is why the Belarusian Olympic Committee has decided to buy modern equipment for our Belarusian sportsmen. Divide into several groups.

Materials engineers: discuss what materials should be used in mak­ing the equipment for hockey players, tennis players and athletes. Present your ideas to the representatives of the Olympic Committee.

The Belarusian Olympic Committee: listen to the projects and choose the one you like most. Give your arguments.

 

II. Discussion. How much do we depend on plastics?

a) Read the following arguments and think of your own ones.

We cannot live without plastic	We can live without plastics
They soles of our shoes are made of plastics.	We can make leather shoes.
The photographic film is made of it.	…
…	…

 

b) Discuss this problem in groups of 4 and make your own decision.

Writing

I. Study the diagram and write a paragraph about the appli­cations of different types of plastics. Point out why these products are made of plastic.

 

II. Translate the passage into Ukrainian. Use the dictionary if necessary.

Despite well-grounded criticism, plastics possess numerous advantages. The most important of them is certainly energy conser­vation. Here are some simple examples.

Food must be kept fresh and healthy. In fact, each pound of plas­tic packaging reduces up to 1.7 pounds of food waste. Besides, plas­tics make packaging more efficient, which ultimately conserves resources. For example, you need 2 pounds of plastic for the delivery of 1,000 ounces of juice. You will have to use 3 pounds of aluminum, 8 pounds of steel or 27 pounds of glass for the same amount of juice. Plastics also help conserve energy in your home. Vinyl windows lower your heating and cooling bills. Plastic parts and insulation help major appliances – like refrigerators or dishwashers – resist corro­sion, last longer and operate more efficiently. Indeed, their energy efficiency has improved by 50 percent since the 1970s. Health, safe­ty, high performance – plastics help make these things possible.

Further Reading

I . Learn the following words and word-combinations to comprehend the text.

polymer	synthetic
celluloid	thermal
vulcanized	to be aware of
property	process
possess	recycle
incineration	waste

 

II. Read and translate the text.

Plastics

Whether you are aware of it or not, plastics play an important part in your life. From the car you drive to work to the television you watch when you get home, plastics help make your life easier and bet­ter. How?

Plastics are polymers – long chains of many units that are usual­ly made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or silicon. Polymers have been with us since the beginning of time – tar, amber and horns are the easiest examples. In the 1800s these natural polymers were che­mically modified and many materials such as vulcanized rubber and celluloid were produced. The first truly synthetic polymer Bakelite was developed in 1909 and was soon followed by the first synthetic fibre, rayon, in 1911.

Polymers come in a great variety of characteristics and colours. This fact alone must be considered as an advantage of these materi­als. They are cheaper and easier to make than, say, paper. Besides, polymers possess the properties of easy processing, durability, light weight, sufficient strength, thermal and electrical insulation and resistance to chemicals, corrosion and shock. These valuable quali­ties of polymers can be further enhanced by a wide range of addi­tives, which broaden their uses and applications.

Unfortunately we have to admit that plastics pollute the environ­ment. Luckily, most polymers are thermoplastic (e.g. nylon, poly­thene), i.e. they can be heated and reformed again. The recycled plas­tics keep all their properties when they are combined with virgin plastics (пластмаси, які раніше не перероблялись) . The other group of polymers, thermosets (e.g. bakelite, phenolic resin), must not be recycled, as reheating causes their defor­mation. However, the controlled incineration of thermosets converts waste into heat energy.

The usefulness of plastics can only be measured by our imagina­tion. These are definitely the materials of past, present, and future generations.

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