EVERYDAY MATERIALSAtlas
Material behaviour

Insulation

Slow an unwanted transfer.

What it means

An electrical insulator limits current flow under specified conditions. A thermal insulator slows heat transfer. Air held in a fibrous or cellular structure can help provide thermal insulation, while a dense electrical insulator may still conduct significant heat. Moisture, thickness and operating conditions matter.

Look for it in everyday life.

A kettle handle limits heat reaching your hand; wire insulation separates conductors.

Meet it in a material.

Porcelain

Soft clay becomes a hard, dense vessel.

Glass & ceramics

Alumina

An electrical insulator that can also carry heat.

Glass & ceramics

PVC

One polymer, from rigid frames to flexible cable jackets.

Polymers

ABS

A tough shell around a more delicate machine.

Polymers

Polyurethane

The chemistry behind both cushioning and tough surfaces.

Polymers

Silicone

A flexible seal built on a silicon–oxygen backbone.

Polymers

PTFE

A low-friction surface with specific limits.

Polymers

Wool

Crimped fibres hold a pocket of air.

Natural materials

Cork

A springy material harvested from bark.

Natural materials

Glass-fibre composite

Brittle glass becomes useful reinforcement.

Composites

Epoxy resin

The binder that makes separate parts act together.

Polymers

Polystyrene

One polymer, several very different structures.

Polymers

Follow the evidence

Original explanations informed by the sources below. Technical and industry sources support material behaviour; industry environmental marketing is not treated as a universal comparison. Read our editorial method.