What are Materials?

Thats easy! Look around.

Our clothes are made of materials,
our homes are made of materials mostly manufactured. Glass
windows, vinyl siding, metal
silverware, ceramic dishes
Most things are made from many
different kinds of materials.

What are Materials?

Materials may be defined as substance

of which something is composed or
made.
We obtain materials from earth crust and
atmosphere.

Examples
Silicon and Iron
constitute 27.72 and 5.00
percentage of weight of
earths crust respectively.

1-2

Nitrogen and Oxygen

constitute 78.08 and
20.95 percentage of dry
air by volume
respectively.

Materials Science
Defined as the study of the
properties of solid materials and how
those properties are determined by a
materials composition and structure.

Properties

Properties are the way the material

environment and external forces.

responds

to

the

Mechanical properties response to mechanical forces,

strength, etc.
Electrical and magnetic properties - response electrical and
magnetic fields, conductivity, etc.
Thermal properties are related to transmission of heat and
heat capacity.
Optical properties include to absorption, transmission and
scattering of light.
Chemical stability in contact with the environment - corrosion
resistance.

Why study materials?

applied scientists or engineers must make material choices

materials selection
in-service performance
deterioration
economics

BUTreally, everyone makes material choices!

aluminum

glass

Models & Materials

plastic

Materials Science and

Engineering
An interdisciplinary study that combines
metallurgy, physics, chemistry, and
engineering to solve real-world problems
with real-world materials in an acceptable
societal and economical manner.
The goal of materials science is to enable
the scientist and engineer to design,
select, and use materials for specific
applications and to develop new materials
for future applications.

 The broad scientific and technological segments of Materials Science are shown
in the diagram below.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of materials science, all these aspects
have to be studied.

MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Science of Metallurgy

PHYSICAL

Structure
Physical
Properties

MECHANICAL

Deformation
Behaviour

ELECTROCHEMICAL

Thermodynamics
Chemistry
Corrosion

TECHNOLOGICAL

Extractive
Casting
Metal Forming
Welding
Powder Metallurgy
Machining

Structure
Subatomic level

Electronic structure of individual atoms

that defines interaction among atoms
(interatomic bonding).
Atomic level

Arrangement of atoms in materials (for

the same atoms can have different
properties, e.g. two forms of carbon:
graphite and diamond)
Annealing of a polycrystalline grain structure

Microscopic structure

Arrangement of small grains of material

that can be identified by microscopy.
Macroscopic structure

8
Structural
elements that may be viewed

2D simulation using Monte Carlo Potts model.

2D simulations involve 40,000 sites and takes a day to run on a fast
workstation, 3D simulations involve 64 million sites, runs on 1000
processors of ASCI-Red.

Monarch butterfly
~ 0.1 m

Length-scales
Angstrom = 1 = 1/10,000,000,000 meter = 10-10 m
Nanometer = 10 nm = 1/1,000,000,000 meter = 10-9 m
Micrometer = 1m = 1/1,000,000 meter = 10-6 m
Millimeter = 1mm = 1/1,000 meter = 10-3 m

Interatomic distance ~ a few

A human hair is ~ 50 m
Elongated bumps that make up the data track on CD are
~ 0.5 m wide, minimum 0.83 m long, and 125 nm high

The Materials Tetrahedron

A materials scientist has to consider four intertwined concepts, which are schematically shown as the
Materials Tetrahedron.
When a certain performance is expected from a component the expectation is put forth as a set of
properties.
The material is synthesized and further made into a component by a set of processing methods
(casting, forming, welding, powder metallurgy etc.).
The structure (at various lengthscales) is determined by this processing.
The structure in turn determines the properties, which will dictate the performance of the
component.
Hence each of these aspects is dependent on the others.

The broad goal of Materials Science is to

understand and engineer this tetrahedron

The Materials Tetrahedron

Materials Science and

Engineering
structure arrangement of internal component

subatomic
atomic
microscopic
macroscopic (bulk)

characterization
properties

processing
method of
preparing
material

performance
behavior in a
particular
application
Models & Materials

material
characteristic
response to external
stimulus
mechanical,
electrical, thermal,
magnetic, optical,
deteriorative

Processing

Structure Properties
Performance
Performance Goal: increased
strength from a metallic
material
In actuality, crystals are NOT perfect. There are defects!
In metals, strength is determined by how easily defects
can move!
OFF

slow cooling

quenching
July 24, 2007

Models & Materials

What do MSE students do?

They . . . .
Design and invent new materials for
emerging applications
Develop new processes for manufacturing
materials
Relate structure and properties to
processing methods
Work on teams to invent the future
Develop their ideas from the nanoscale up!
They research, publish, travel, study abroad
And so much more
13

History of Materials
Materials are so important in the
development of civilization
Even our history has been defined by the
materials we use
The stone age
The bronze age
The iron age
What would be a good material name for
today?

History of Materials
Man has been studying materials since before
leaving the cave.
Due to lack of communication, early man spent
hundreds of millennia experimenting with stone
tools.
Beginning of the Material Science - People began
to make tools from stone Start of the Stone Age
about two million years ago.
Natural materials: stone, wood, clay, skins, etc.
The first metal tools appeared perhaps only six
thousand years ago.

History of Materials
The Stone Age ended about 5000 years ago with
introduction of Bronze in the Far East.
Bronze is an alloy (a metal made up of more than
one element), copper + < 25% of tin + other
elements.
Bronze: can be hammered or cast into a variety
of shapes, can be made harder by alloying, corrode
only slowly after a surface oxide film forms.
It was found that the properties of a material could
be altered by heat treatments and by the addition
of other substances (alloying in case of metals).

History of Materials
The Iron Age began about 3000 years ago and
continues today.
Use of iron and steel, a stronger and cheaper material
changed drastically daily life of a common person.
The next big step was the discovery of a cheap
process to make steel around 1850, which enabled
the railroads and the building of the modern
infrastructure of the industrial world.
As our knowledge of materials grows, so does the
sophistication of our tools.
The more sophisticated our tools, the more
sophisticated our accomplishments.

 Age of Advanced materials:

throughout the Iron Age many new
types of materials have been
introduced (ceramic,
semiconductors, polymers,
composites).
Understanding of the relationship
among structure, properties,
processing, and performance of
materials.

A better understanding of structure-composition-properties relations has

lead to a remarkable progress in properties of materials. Example is the
dramatic progress in the strength to density ratio of materials, that resulted
in a wide variety of new products, from dental materials to tennis racquets.

22

The evolution of engineering materials with time. Note the highly nonlinear scale.
(From M. F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, 2nd ed., ButterworthHeinemann, Oxford, 1999.)

WW
II

Increasing demand of
not only high quality
metallic alloys but nonmetallic materials.

Schematic illustration of the

integral relationship among
materials, the processing of
those materials, and
engineering design

Processing and Selecting

Materials

Materials, Design and

Processing are strongly
inter-related.
For the successful
selection of materials, one
has to understand the
relationships among these
three components.

Example of Materials
Engineering Work Hip
Implant

With age or certain illnesses joints

deteriorate. Particularly those with large
loads (such as hip).
Adapted from Fig. 22.25, Callister 7e.

Example Hip Implant

Requirements
mechanical
strength (many
cycles)
good lubricity
biocompatibility

Adapted from Fig. 22.24, Callister

7e.

Example Hip Implant

Adapted from Fig. 22.24, Callister

7e.

Solution Hip Implant

Acetabular
Cup and
Liner

Key Problems to
overcome:
fixation agent to hold
acetabular cup
cup lubrication
material
femoral stem fixing
agent (glue)
must avoid any debris
in cup
Must hold up in body
chemistry
Must be strong yet
flexible

Ball

Femor
al
Stem

Classification of Materials
Metals and Alloys

Ceramics, Glasses,and Glass-ceramics

Polymers (plastics), Thermoplastics and Thermosets
Semiconductors
Composite Materials

Engineering Materials

The Mars Rovers - Spirit and

Opportunity

Spirit and Opportunity are made up of materials such as

* Metals * Ceramics * Composites * Polymers * Semiconductors
www.nasa.gov

Types of Materials
Metallic Materials
Composed of one or more
metallic elements.
Example:- Iron, Copper, Aluminum.

Metallic element may combine

with nonmetallic elements.
Example:- Silicon Carbide, Iron Oxide.

Inorganic and have crystalline

structure.
Metals and Alloys
Good thermal and electric
conductors.

Ferrous
Eg: Steel,
Cast Iron

1-5

Nonferrous
Eg:Copper
Aluminum

Metals

Several uses of steel and pressed

aluminum.

Types of Materials
Ceramic Materials
Metallic and nonmetallic elements are
chemically bonded together.
Inorganic but can be either crystalline,
noncrystalline or mixture of both.
High hardness, strength and wear resistance.
Very good insulator. Hence used for furnace
lining for heat treating and melting metals.
Also used in space shuttle to insulate it during
exit and reentry into atmosphere.
Other applications
- Abrasives, construction materials, utensils
etc.
Example
- Porcelain, Glass, Silicon nitride.

1-7

Ceramics

Examples of ceramic materials ranging from household to high

performance combustion engines which utilize both metals and
ceramics.

Types of Materials
Polymeric (Plastic) Materials
Organic giant molecules and mostly
noncrystalline.
Some are mixtures of crystalline and
noncrystalline regions.
Poor conductors of electricity and
hence used as insulators.
Strength and ductility vary greatly.
Low densities and decomposition
temperatures.
Examples
- Poly vinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyester.
Applications
- Appliances, DVDs, Fabrics etc.
1-6

Polymers

Polymers include Plastics and rubber materials

Types of Materials
Composite Materials
Mixture of two or more materials.
Consists of a filler material and a binding material.
Materials only bond, will not dissolve in each other.
Mainly two types
o Fibrous: Fibers in a matrix
o Particulate: Particles in a matrix
-Matrix can be metals, ceramic or polymer
Examples
Fiber Glass ( Reinforcing material in a polyester
or epoxy matrix)
Concrete ( Gravels or steel rods reinforced in
cement and sand)
Applications
- Aircraft wings and engine, construction.

1-8

Composites

Polymer composite materials: reinforcing glass

fibers in a polymer matrix.

Types of Materials
Electronic Materials
Not Major by volume but very
important.
Silicon is a common electronic
material.
Its electrical characteristics are
changed by adding impurities.
Examples
- Silicon chips, transistors

Applications
- Computers, Integrated Circuits,
Satellites etc.
1-9

Semiconductors

Micro-Electrical-Mechanical
Systems (MEMS)

Si wafer for computer chip

devices.

Representative examples,
applications, and properties for each
category of materials
Example of Applications

Properties

Metals and Alloys

Gray cast iron
Automobile engine blocks
Castable, machinable,
vibration damping
Ceramics and
Glasses
SiO2-Na2O-CaO Window glass
Optically transparent,
thermally insulating
Polymers
Polyethylene
Food packaging
Easily formed into thin,
flexible, airtight film

Table Continued

Example of Applications

Properties

Semiconductors
Silicon
Transistors and integrated
circuits
behavior

Composites
Carbide cutting tools for
Tungsten carbide
machining
-cobalt (WC-Co)

Unique electrical

High hardness, yet

good shock resistance

 2003 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning

Representative strengths of various categories of materials

A section through a jet engine.

The forward compression
section operates at low to
medium temperatures, and
titanium parts are often used.
The rear combustion section
operates at high temperatures
and nickel-based superalloys
are required. The outside shell
experiences low temperatures,
and aluminum and composites
are satisfactory. (Courtesy of GE
Aircraft Engines.)

A variety of complex ceramic

components, including impellers
and blades, which allow turbine
engines to operate more
efficiently at higher
temperatures. (Courtesy of
Certech, Inc.)

Polymers are used

in a variety of
electronic devices,
including these
computer dip
switches, where
moisture resistance
and low
conductivity are
required. (Courtesy
of CTS Corporation.)

Integrated circuits
for computers and
other electronic
devices rely on the
unique electrical
behavior of
semiconducting
materials.
(Courtesy of Rogers
Corporation.)

The X-wing for

advanced helicopters
relies on a material
composed of a
carbon-fiberreinforced polymer.
(Courtesy of Sikorsky
Aircraft Division
United Technologies
Corporation.)

Functional Classification of
Materials

Aerospace
Biomedical
Electronic Materials
Energy Technology and Environmental Technology
Magnetic Materials
Photonic or Optical Materials
Smart Materials
Structural Materials

 2003 Brooks/Cole Publishing / Thomson Learning

Functional
classification of
materials.
Notice that
metals, plastics,
and ceramics
occur in
different
categories. A
limited number
of examples in
each category is
provided

Classification of Materials-Based on Structure

Crystalline material is a material comprised of one or

many crystals. In each crystal, atoms or ions show a
long-range periodic arrangement.
Single crystal is a crystalline material that is made
of only one crystal (there are no grain boundaries).
Grains are the crystals in a polycrystalline material.
Polycrystalline material is a material comprised of
many crystals (as opposed to a single-crystal material
that has only one crystal).
Grain boundaries are regions between grains of a
polycrystalline material.

Newer Branches of Materials

Science
Nanotechnology: a relatively new area
grown out of techniques used to
manufacture semiconductor circuits.
Machines can be produced on a
microscopic level. Example - miniature
robots to do surgery inside the body or
miniature chemical laboratories and
instruments that will continuously analyze
blood and dispense medications inside the
body.

Applied Nanotechnology
Examples of Current Research and Applications

Materials Science

51

Powders, Coatings, Carbon Nano-Materials,

NanoFabrics

Energy

Solar Power and PhotoVoltaics, Hydrogen Fuel

Cells

Medicine/Biotech

Genomics, Proteomics, Lab on a Chip,

C-Nanotubes, BuckyBalls

Electronics

MRAM, NRAM, Q-Dots, Qubits

Devices

Lithography, Dip Pen Lithography, AFM, MEMS

Future of materials science

Design of materials having specific desired characteristics directly from our
knowledge of atomic structure.
Miniaturization: Nanostructured" materials, with microstructure that
has length scales between 1 and 100 nanometers with unusual properties.
Electronic components, materials for quantum computing.
Smart materials: airplane wings that deice themselves, buildings that
stabilize themselves in earthquakes
Environment-friendly materials: biodegradable or photodegradable
plastics, advances in nuclear waste processing, etc.
Learning from Nature: shells and biological hard tissue can be as strong
as the most advanced laboratory-produced ceramics, mollusces produce
biocompatible adhesives that we do not know how to reproduce
Materials for lightweight batteries with high storage densities, for turbine
blades that can operate at 2500C, room-temperature superconductors?
chemical sensors (artificial nose) of extremely high sensitivity, cotton shirts
that never require ironing

Materials of the Future

Four types of materials used for smart actuator:
1. Shape memory alloys; metals, after having been
deformed, revert back to their original shapes when
temperature is changed.
2. Piezoelectric ceramics; expand and contract in response
to an applied electric fields (or voltage); conversely,
they also generate an electric field when their
dimension are altered.
3. Magnetostrictive; like piezoelectric but in magnetic
fields
4. Electro-rheological & magneto-rheological fluids are
liquids that experience dramatic changes in viscosity
upon the application of electric or magnetic fields.

Example of Smart materials: piezoelectric inserted to blade