Product Design

Many products require some sort of packaging. the perpose of packaging can be broken down into 6 different areas.

• To Preserve

Many products, especially food, need to be preserved, sometimes against the weather, temperature or bacteria. Glass is a very commom material used for this area of packaging.

• To Protect

One of the main perposes of packaging is to protect the product in transit. This often involves some sort form of box with a protective filler. Expanded polystyrene and folded card are common methods of doing this.

• To Inform

It can often be used to tell the consumer what they are buying and often contains a great deal of technical information.

• To Display

To display the product through either clear layers or through illistrations.

• To Transport

Major funtion of packaging, sometime packaging is used to transport the product from the manufacturer to the retailer in large boxes or woodern crates.

• To Contain

Often to contain the product if it has lots of loose materials or components.

Usually produced from mining ore from the earth, then extracting the metal out of the rocks.

Ferrous Metals

Mostly iron, small quantities of other elements. Prone to rusting. Can be picked up by a magnet.

Non-Ferrous Metals

Do not contain any iron at all. Do not rust. Not attracted to magnet. E.g. copper

Alloys

Contain 2 or more metals, and sometimes other elements. Metals are carefully chosen and mixed to achive specific properties, which include the melting point. E.g. brass

Properties of Metals

Elastisity - the ability to regain its origional shape after been deformed.

Ductility - the ability to be stretched without breaking.

Malleability - the ability to be easily pressed, spread and hammered into shape.

Hardness - resistance to scratching, cutting and wear.

Work Hardness - when structure of metal changes as a result of repeated hammering or strain.

Brittleness - will break easily without bending.

Toughness - resistance to breaking, bending or deforming.

Tensile Strength - very strong when stretched.

Compressive Strength - very strong under pressure.