Andrs

Gonzlez Castillo
A00959416

Importance of Materials

Materials are very important in engineering. They are crucial when you are making a design of
anything. Materials are clue to determine the resistance, strength, elasticity, durability, etc.,
also the engineer have to decide the perfect material for the occasion, because it will impact
directly in the cost of the material or in the way the product will be produced.

In our daily basis, there are scientists and engineers working in producing new materials, or in
combinations of existing materials to create a different one with distinct technology of
characteristics. For example, in the AM&P magazine, it is mentioned one special material that is
being developed that called my attention, the superelastic aerogels. This is a new material
that is being developed at the Missouri University and have very interesting properties; for
example, it can be deformed in any way of you can apply a strong force to it and it can easily
return to its original shape, without permanent damage. Also, this superelastic aerogel can be
deformed and stay in its deformed shape when it is maintained cooled, and return to its
original shape when the temperature raises. What is impressive in this material is the
malleability of it, it can replace many things that we know now.

In the process of investigating new materials to create new products, always is a legal conflict,
because well, any material need to be tested properly in order to work as it is said. For
example, in the magazine is mentioned Al-Si powertrains for motorcycle this is a huge change
for the way motorcycle trains are currently made, but the new material need to fill up
standards in order to guarantee the safety of the users. Many legal aspects need to be
considered by a fabricant to start using this material in their products.

Other material that I found really interesting is the underwater adhesive, I think it would be
really useful to investigate underwater or to be used in the corporation that drilled under
water. But here, there is an ecological conflict, because that material could impulse the
underwater exploration or construction and we will end up contaminating more and more our
oceans, lakes, etc. This is a clear example of an extremely useful material for the investigation,
but that can be bad for the environment. I think innovating and creating new materials is
always good, but as a society we tend to explode our resources in terms of the economic
benefit, but is it worth it to affect our environment?

In conclusion, I think that technology in materials is extremely important in engineer, science
and innovation, new materials are the ones that allow us to create new technology and new
products.
As in many things, technology of materials is not saved from the legal and ecological matters. A
very useful material can be extremely hazardous or a new metal for vehicles cannot be as
strong or elastic as needed. So always it is needed to assure that the material is economic,
green and adequate for the needs.