IB Design Technology Topic A3.1.2: Classification by Source Key Definitions

A biomaterial is any material that is produced by or originates from biological organisms, such as plants, animals, bacteria, or fungi.

A material comprised of two or more materials to improve their physical,
mechanical and chemical properties and/or aesthetics characteristics.

A hard, brittle and typically transparent amorphous solid made by rapidly
cooling a fusion of sand, soda and lime.

Polymers are synthetic materials made from chemical compounds that are commonly known as plastics.

Materials that respond to external stimuli (such as heat, light, pressure, or electricity) by changing one or more of their properties in a controlled, reversible, and repeatable way.

A cloth or woven fabric material.

Timber is wood that has been harvested from trees and processed for use in manufacturing, construction, and carpentry. It is typically classified into softwoods (from coniferous trees) and hardwoods (from deciduous trees), based on the type of tree it comes from.