The categorisation of the types, properties and structure of papers and boards

Overview

Welcome to Topic 1.9: The categorisation of the types, properties and structure of papers and boards.

In Design and Technology, material selection is at the heart of the design process. Every product you design or analyse is made from specific materials chosen for their working properties. Examiners are not just looking for you to name a material; they want to see that you understand its properties and can link those properties to a specific application. This guide covers the essential knowledge you need to distinguish between different papers and boards, understand their structures, and justify their use in real-world contexts.

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Key Knowledge & Theory

Core Concepts: Papers vs. Boards

The primary distinction between papers and boards is weight and rigidity.

• Papers are flexible, lightweight materials, typically measured in grams per square metre (gsm) up to around 200gsm.
• Boards are thicker, stiffer, and more structural, generally starting from 200gsm upwards, and are often measured in microns (thickness) as well as gsm.

Key Material Types

1. Papers

Papers are manufactured from cellulose fibres (usually wood pulp). You must know the properties of three specific types:

2. Boards

Boards are used when structural rigidity and protection are required.

Technical Vocabulary

To access the highest marks (AO1 and AO2), you must use the correct terminology:

• gsm (grams per square metre): The standard measurement of paper and board weight.
• Translucency: Allowing light, but not detailed shapes, to pass through (e.g., tracing paper).
• Fluting / Fluted Medium: The wavy corrugated layer inside corrugated board that provides cushioning.
• Biodegradable: Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms (a key sustainability point for papers/boards).
• Compressive Strength: The ability of a material (like corrugated board) to withstand being pushed or squashed.

Practical Skills & NEA Portfolio Guidance

Material Selection in your NEA

In your Non-Exam Assessment (NEA), you must justify the materials you use for both modelling and your final prototype.

Modelling Techniques

When developing ideas, you should use papers and boards to create quick, low-fidelity models.

• Initial Concept Modelling: Use cartridge paper or thin card to quickly fold and tape basic shapes.
• Structural Testing: Use corrugated board to test the structural integrity of a design (e.g., a chair or a stand).
• Nets and Developments: When designing packaging, you must draw a 'net' (the flat 2D shape that folds into a 3D object). Folding boxboard is the ideal material for testing these nets because it can be scored (creased) and folded cleanly.

Building a Strong Portfolio

Examiners look for evidence of iterative design.

1. Sketching: Show your initial ideas on cartridge paper.
2. Overlaying: Use tracing paper over your sketches to show how you have refined and developed a shape without having to redraw the whole thing. Annotate these overlays.
3. Justification: In your materials research section, do not just list materials. Use a table to compare them (e.g., Corrugated Board vs. Solid White Board) and explicitly state why you chose one over the other based on their working properties.

Exam Component Preparation

Written Exam Knowledge

In the written paper, you will be tested on your ability to:

1. Identify materials from a description or image.
2. Explain why a specific material is used for a specific product.
3. Compare two materials for a given application.

You must be able to link the structure of the material to its property, and then to its application.

Example Linkage:
Structure (Fluted inner layer) -> Property (Impact resistance/cushioning) -> Application (Protecting fragile electronics during shipping).