EVERYDAY MATERIALSAtlas
Material behaviour

Light & transparency

Transmit, scatter or redirect light.

What it means

A transparent material transmits visible light with relatively little scattering. Composition, impurities, surface finish and thickness affect what you see. Translucent materials scatter light; pigments or fillers can make an otherwise transparent polymer opaque. Being transparent does not establish impact resistance or safety performance.

Look for it in everyday life.

A phone cover needs clarity; an LED lamp diffuser deliberately spreads the light.

Meet it in a material.

Soda-lime glass

The familiar glass of bottles and windows.

Glass & ceramics

Borosilicate glass

Glass designed to move less with heat.

Glass & ceramics

Aluminosilicate glass

A carefully engineered surface for a pocket-sized screen.

Glass & ceramics

Calcium carbonate

A mineral that becomes a filler, pigment or gentle abrasive.

Elements & minerals

PET

A clear bottle and a fleece share a polymer.

Polymers

Polycarbonate

A clear view with more impact tolerance.

Polymers

EVA

The link between a cushioned step and a protected solar cell.

Polymers

Silver

A bright surface and a route for current.

Metals

Acrylic (PMMA)

Clear plastic that can become a shaped window.

Polymers

Polystyrene

One polymer, several very different structures.

Polymers

Silk

A cocoon filament becomes a textile.

Natural materials

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.