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satin-finishing

A process which gives a metal surface a fine finish using steel brushes revolving at high speed. However, satin-finishing can also be carried out on rubber, paper, cardboard and fabric. This treatment is used on handles, steel work-tops and aluminium profiles and edge trims.

Silica

Silicon dioxide, found in many minerals and in sand, either crystalline (quartz, flint) or amorphous (opal, the fossil form); it withstands high temperatures and is only vulnerable to attack by hydrofluoric acid.

solid wood

Solid wood: this term refers to parts made from wood taken from the trunk of the tree. Compared to the materials described above, solid wood is less resistant to liquids and scratches.

starch

A substance used by many plants to store energy, starch is chemically similar to the sugars; it is a whitish powder and is used a great deal in industry due to its adhesive properties.

steel

An alloy of iron and carbon, derived from cast iron. Stainless steel is obtained by adding chromium and nickel, materials which give the alloy thus produced particularly good resistance to corrosion and oxidation.

surfactant

Very large molecules able to break up the linear structure of water and reduce its surface tension. When added to detergents, surfactants therefore allow water to penetrate deeper into fabrics, thus increasing the cleansing power of the washing liquid (water + detergent)