ES20b – Materials Engineering

by Olan L. Racaza
Outline
• What is Materials Science and Engineering?
• Classification of Materials
• Functions of Materials
What is Materials Science and Engineering?
Materials Science Materials Engineering
Underlying relationships between How to translate materials into a
processing, structure and properties useful device or structure
of materials

Tetrahedron of Materials
What is Materials Science and Engineering?

Example: Design of Sheet Steels for Automotive Chassis

• Iron-based or aluminum-based?
• What alloying elements should be used?
• What features of the structure limit the
• How can the steel making be
strength and formability?
controlled so as to provide a high level
• What controls the strength?
of toughness and formability?
• How can aerodynamic car chassis be
formed?

• What is the strength-to-density ratio?

• What is the formability?

• How is the crashworthiness of the chassis?

• What is the fabrication cost?
Classification of Materials
• Metals
• Ceramics and Glasses
• Polymers
• Semiconductors
• Composites
Metals
• Metals are made up of elements that have metallic
bonding

• Properties of metals:
– Good electrical conductivity
– High strength
– High ductility
Metals
• Pure metals:

Aluminum Iron Copper

• Metal alloys
– Chemical combinations of different elements

Brass (Cu-Zn) Steel (Fe-C) Bronze (Cu-Sn)

Ceramics and Glass
• Ceramics are crystalline inorganic materials

• Glass is an amorphous material usually derived from

silica

• Properties of ceramics
– High electrical resistivity
– High thermal insulation
– High melting temperature
– High strength and hardness
– Low ductility (brittle) Zirconia (ZrO2)-coated
bearing ball
Polymers
• Polymers
– Formed by joining organic molecules into giant molecular
chains or networks

• Properties of polymers:
– Good electrical resistivity
– Low melting temperature
– Low strength
– Very good strength-to-weight ratio
– High ductility
Polymers
• Thermoplastics
– Flexible linear chains
– Good ductility and formability
– Examples: Polypropylene, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

• Thermosets
– Rigid 3D network chains
– Stronger but more brittle than thermoplastics
– Examples: Epoxy, Polyurethane

• Elastomers
– Spring-like molecules
– Very high elastic deformation
– Examples: Rubber
Semiconductors
• Electrical conductivity between metal conductors
and ceramic insulators

• Integral part of electronic devices (transistors,

diodes, integrated circuits)

• Examples:
– Silicon
– Germanium
– Gallium arsenide
Composites
• Formed from two or more types of materials to
blend the properties of different materials

• Examples:

Fiberglass Carbon-reinforced plastics

Functions of Materials
• Aerospace
– Aluminum alloys used for aircraft body

• Biomedical
– Titanium alloys as surgical bone replacements
– Drug-loaded nanoparticles for sustained release of drugs

• Electronics
– Silicon used in integrated circuits
– Barium titanate and tantalum oxide used in ceramic capacitors

• Energy
– Zirconia used in batteries and fuel cells
Functions of Materials
• Magnetic
– Co-Pt-Ta-Cr alloys used in computer hard disks
– Magnetic ferrites used for inductors

• Optical
– Silica used for optical fibers

• Smart Applications
– PZT (lead zirconium titanate) generates voltage when subjected
to stress; used in sensors

• Structural
– Steel and concrete used to make buildings and bridges