Properties of Papers & Boards (AQA GCSE Design & Technology): Revision Note
Exam code: 8552
Properties of papers and boards in commercial products
Commercial products are made from papers and boards because of the properties that these materials have
For each commercial product, the material used will have properties which benefit the use of that product
Commercial products made from papers and boards
Leaflets/flyers
Packaging boxes
Shipping boxes
Drinking cartons
Properties of paper products and their uses
There is a wide range of paper and board-based commercial products
The material that the manufacturer uses for each depends on the properties that the material has
Leaflet/flyer
Material / component | Property | Functional consequence |
Cartridge paper | Absorbency | Absorbs ink evenly so printed designs stay sharp and don’t smudge or bleed |
Cartridge paper | Strength | Enough tensile strength to be folded and creased repeatedly without tearing along the fold line |
Card-based food packaging
Material / component | Property | Functional consequence |
Duplex board | Strength | Strong enough to protect food contents from being crushed during stacking and transport |
Duplex board | Absorbency | The uncoated reverse side absorbs adhesives well, so cartons can be securely glued into shape without the joint failing |
Shipping boxes
Material / component | Property | Functional consequence |
Corrugated card | Toughness | The fluted inner layer absorbs impact energy so contents survive being dropped or knocked during shipping |
Corrugated card | Strength | High tensile strength along the flutes lets the box resist crushing when boxes are stacked on top of each other |
Drinking carton
Material / component | Property | Functional consequence |
Foil-lined board | Conductivity | The foil layer has low thermal conductivity, keeping the drink’s temperature stable for longer |
Foil-lined board | Absorbency | The foil inner layer has very low absorbency, stopping liquid soaking into the card and weakening it or causing a leak |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When a question then asks you to explain why that property matters, don't just restate it. Examiners explicitly refuse credit for a simple repeat. Explain the consequence instead: duplex board's rigidity keeps the box shape stable, protecting the food inside during stacking and transport.
Unlock more, it's free!
Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams
the (exam) results speak for themselves:
Was this revision note helpful?
