MEC2046F
Materials Science in
Mechanical
Engineering
Introduction to the classes of materials
Crystal structures and bonding
A classification organogram
Silicon
Semi-
Conductor
s
GaAs
Organising information: the materials tree
Material Universe Family Class Member Attributes
Al 6463
Ceramics &
Steels 1000 Density Al 6060
glasses
2000 Mechanical
Density Alprops.
Cu-alloys 6061
3000
Materials Metals & alloys
Al-alloys
Thermal props. props.
Mechanical
Density
4000 Electrical props.
data-table Thermal props. props.
Mechanical
Ti-alloys 5000
Polymers Optical props.
Electrical props.
6000 Thermal props.
& elastomers Ni-alloys Corrosion
Optical props.
props. props.
7000 Electrical
8000 Documentation
Corrosion
Hybrids
Zn-alloys Opticalprops.
props.
-- specific
Documentation
Durability props.
-- general
-- specific
Documentation
-- general
-- specific
-- general
Material records
Metals
• Materials composed of one or more metallic elements and
often also non-metallic elements in relatively small amounts.
• Atoms are arranged in a very orderly manner and are relatively
dense.
• Metals are often chosen because
– resistant to fracture, high stiffness, strong, ductile
• Metallic materials have large numbers of non-localized
electrons.
• Some of the metals
(Fe, Co, and Ni) have
desirable magnetic
properties.
Metals
• Opaque and lustrous (shiny).
• Strong, tough, and high melting point:
– atoms are held together by strong bonds
• Ductile: these bonds must also allow atoms to move
• Thermal and electrically conductive:
– metal atoms are free to vibrate without damaging its
original shape and free to transmit electrons through with
the least amount of hindrances (impurities, faults, not pure
crystalline structure...)
• When small loads (stresses) are applied to metals they deform,
and they return to their original shape when the load is
released
Ceramics
• Ceramics are non-metallic compounds formed by metallic and
non-metallic elements
• Traditional ceramics are clay minerals (i.e. porcelain), cement,
and glass
• Common (non-traditional) ceramics are silica, silicon carbide,
silicon nitride
• Relatively stiff and strong where stiffnesses and strengths are
comparable to those of the metals
• Very hard
• Thus, very brittle
• Typically insulative to heat and electricity
• Ceramics may be transparent, translucent, or opaque
Polymers
• A polymer is a molecule composed of repeating
structural units typically connected by covalent chemical
bonds.
• Many of them are organic compounds
that are chemically based on carbon,
hydrogen, and other non-metallic
elements (e.g. O, N and Si).
Polymers
• Mechanical characteristics are neither stiff nor strong - many
are extremely ductile and pliable
• Versatile properties
• Relatively inert chemically and nonreactive in a large number
of environments.
• Common polymers: polyethylene (PE), nylon, poly vinyl
chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and
rubber
Polymers
Composites
• Composites are engineered materials made from two or more
constituent materials with significantly different physical or
chemical properties, which remain separate and distinct on a
macroscopic level within the finished structure
• The design goal of a composite is to achieve a combination of
properties that is not displayed by any single material
Composites
• Purpose of the matrix phase is to keep the dispersive phase in
place, transfer stress to the dispersed phase, and protect the
dispersed phase from the environment
• purpose of the dispersed phase typically depends on which
material type it is composed of:
– Metal dispersive phases are typically used to increase yield
strength, tensile strength, and/or provide stability over the
life of the product.
– Ceramic dispersive phases are typically used to produce
materials which resist fracture.
– Polymer dispersive phases are typically used to increase the
modulus of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength, and/or
provide stability over the life of the product.
Composites
• Plywood is a composite
• Fibreglass: small glass fibres are embedded Plywood
within a polymeric material
– Glass Fibre > Strong + Stiff + Brittle
– Polymer> Ductile + Weak + Flexible
• Another common composite is concrete
Applying fibreglass to a
surfboard
Concrete