Course : Materials Chemistry
Code : CHM678
Credit Hour :2/2
Course Status : Core
Assessments :Test (1X) 40%
Assignment 20%
Final Exam 40%
Lecturer : Lim Ying Chin, PhD
012 208 5888
Recommended Text : Alternative references:
Foundations of Materials Materials Science and
Science and Engineering, 5th Engineering: An Introduction,
Edition by William F. Smith William D. Callister
and Javad Hashemi
Introduction to Materials Science
• Historical perspective
• Importance of materials science
• Types of functional materials and their
applications
• Various types of materials and general
applications
What are materials?
• Materials may be defined as substance
of which something is composed or
made.
• We obtain materials from earth crust
and atmosphere.
Historically
• The development and advancement of
societies - ability to produce and manipulate
materials to fill their needs.
• Early civilizations have been designated by the
level of their materials development (Stone
Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age).
Historical Perspective
Stone • natural materials- stone, clay, skins, and wood ( 2 million years ago)
Age
• Copper – made harder by alloying (3000 BC)
Bronze • Bronze (tin and copper) weaponry and ornaments
Age
• began about 3000 years ago and continues today.
• Use of iron and steel, a stronger and cheaper material changed drastically
Iron Age daily life of a common person.
Age of
• throughout the Iron Age many new types of materials have been introduced
Advanced (ceramic, semiconductors, polymers, composites…)
materials
Why the Study of Materials is
Important?
The development of many technologies have made our
existence so comfortable; and has been intimately
associated with the accessibility of suitable materials.
New materials New applications
To understand the limits of materials and the
change of their properties with use.
Modification of For some
properties applications
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What is Material Science?
• A branch of science that focuses on materials;
interdisciplinary field composed of physics and
chemistry.
• Materials Science – Investigating relationships
that exist between the structure and properties
of materials
• Materials Engineering – Investigating on the
basis of these structure-property correlations,
designing or engineering the structure of a
material to produce a pre-determined set of
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properties
Materials Science
• Structure -> The structure of a material usually
relates to the arrangement of its internal
components
• Property -> A property is a material trait
(distinguishing feature) in terms of the kind
and magnitude of response to a specific
imposed stimulus
• Five categories of properties -> mechanical,
electrical, thermal, magnetic and optical
Structure
• Sub atomic – electrons and nuclei (protons
and neutrons)
• Atomic – organization of atoms or molecules
• Microscopic – groups of atoms that are
normally agglomerated together
• Macroscopic – viewable with the un-aided eye
Material Science & Engineering
• In addition to structure and properties, two
other important components are involved in
the science and engineering of materials—
namely, “processing” and “performance.”
• Processing -> preparing or putting through a
prescribed procedure, e.g. the processing of
ore to obtain material
• Performance -> the accomplishment relative
to stated goals or objectives
Relationship Among the Four
Components
• The structure of a material will depend on
how it is processed.
• Furthermore, a material’s performance will be
a function of its properties.
Processing-Structure-Properties-
single Performance
crystal polycrystal: low porosity polycrystal: high porosity
• Disks of aluminum oxide
• Optical properties are
different
• Structures of three
specimens are different in
terms of crystal boundaries
and pores
• Each material was
produced using a different
processing technique
Classification of Materials
Metals Ceramics Polymers
Metallic Materials
§Composed of one or more metallic elements.
Example:- Iron, Copper, Aluminum.
Brass (alloy of copper and zinc)
§Bonding: Metallic
Ø No particular sharing or donating occurs. Electron
cloud is formed (that is, free electrons)
Ø Strong bonds with no hybridization or directionality
Ferrous metals and alloys
Metallic Contain large % of iron
materials Examples
Steels (high purity iron),
cast irons (crude, low-
quality)
Nonferrous metals
and alloys
Do not contain iron
Examples
Aluminium, copper,
zinc, titanium, nickel
Properties of Metals
ØGood conductors of electricity and heat
ØDue to free moving electrons
ØNot transparent
ØHigh density
ØMedium to high melting point
ØMedium to high elastic modulus
ØReactive
ØDuctile
Ceramic Materials
§ Inorganic material made of metallic and nonmetallic
elements that are chemically bonded together.
§ Can be either crystalline, noncrystalline or mixture of
both.
Example:- Porcelain, Glass, Silicon nitride, Zirconia
SiC cloth for sanding
Zicronia crowns
Properties of Ceramics
ØGenerally, they have high melting points and high
chemical stabilities
ØThey also have high hardness and high
temperature strength but tend to be brittle
Ø Ceramics are usually poor electrical conductors
porcelains
SiC ceramics for high-
ionic Zirconia dental blocks performance applications
Polymeric Materials (Plastic product)
1. Organic giant molecules and mostly noncrystalline.
2. Many of them are organic compounds that are
chemically based on carbon, hydrogen, and other
nonmetallic elements (viz. O, N, and Si).
3. They have very large molecular structures, often chain-
like in nature that have a backbone of carbon atoms
Examples :- Poly vinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyester [commodity]
Polycarbonates [engineering]
Applications :- Appliances, DVDs, Fabrics etc.
Polymers natural Elastomer
synthetic
elastomers (rubber)
plastics (synthetic) –
thermoplastic are long molecular
chains are not rigidly connected, have
good ductility and formability
(polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, polycarbonates and
polyvinyl chloride)
thermoset plastics are stronger but
more brittle because the molecular
chains are tightly linked (alkyds, amino
and phenolic resins, epoxies,
polyurethanes, and unsaturated
polyesters)
PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS
ØInsulators
ØSome transparent
ØVery low density
ØLow melting point
ØLow elastic modulus
ØVery reactive
ØDuctile and Brittle
Another classification is
advanced materials
Advanced Materials
• Materials that are utilized in high-tech applications
• Hi-Tech -> device or product that operates or
functions using relatively intricate and sophisticated
principles
• These advanced materials are typically traditional
materials whose properties have been enhanced,
and, also newly developed, high-performance
materials.
• include semiconductors, biomaterials, and materials
of the future (i.e., smart materials and
nanoengineered materials)
Biomaterials
Semiconductors
Composites
hip replacement
Intel Pentium 4
fiberglass surfboards
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
Particulate Composites
Discrete particles of one material surrounded by a
matrix of another material
• Examples: Concrete, asphalt, powdered metals
and ceramics, etc.
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Fiber-Reinforced Composites
- Composed of continuous or
discontinuous fibers embedded in a
matrix of another material
- Examples: Kevlar, rayon, steel reinforced
tires, fiberglass, graphite-epoxy, etc.
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Semiconductors
1. Semiconductors have electrical properties that are
intermediate between the electrical conductors (viz.
metals and metal alloys) and insulators (viz. ceramics
and polymers)
2. Semiconductors have moderate bandgap
3. Silicon is a common electronic material. Its electrical
characteristics are changed by adding impurities.
• Examples:- Silicon chips, transistors
• Applications :- Computers, Integrated Circuits,
Satellites etc.
Biomaterials
• Biomaterials are employed in components
implanted into the human body for replacement of
diseased or damaged body parts.
• These materials must not produce toxic substances
and must be compatible with body tissues
Smart Materials
qthese materials are able to sense changes in their
environments and then respond to these changes
e.g. Shape memory alloys: Strained material reverts
back to its original shape above a critical temperature.
Used in heart valves and to expand arteries.
e.g. Piezoelectric materials: Produce electric field when
exposed to force and vice versa.
e.g. MEMS: Microelectromechanical systems.
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are
a class of miniature devices and systems
fabricated by micromachining processes
Nanomaterials
Smaller than 100 nm in particle size
• Materials have special properties such as
enhanced electrical, mechanical and optical
properties
• Very hard and strong characteristics
• Example: Carbon nanofiber reinforced plastic: very
light but stronger than metals.
Material Selection
• Properties of materials
• Fabricability
• Material Cost and Availability
• Appearance
• Environmental Properties
• Optimum performance
Case Study – Select materials based on price,
Material Selection availability of materials and optimal
performance
Problem: Select suitable material for bicycle frame
and fork.
Carbon fiber
Steel and Aluminum Ti and Mg
Wood Reinforced
alloys alloys alloys
plastic
Case Study –
Material Selection
Problem: Select suitable material for bicycle frame and
fork.
Carbon fiber
Steel and Aluminum Ti and Mg
Wood Reinforced
alloys alloys alloys
plastic
Low cost but Light and Very light and Light, moderately Slightly better
Heavy. Less strong. But strong. No Strong. Corrosion Than Al
Corrosion Cannot be corrosion. Resistance. alloys. But much
resistance shaped Very expensive expensive expensive
Cost important? Select steel
Properties important? Select CFRP
PROBLEMS
P23 Mc Graw Hill
Q1.30
a. Name the important criteria in selecting materials for a
protective sports helmet.
b. Identify materials that would satisfy the above criteria.
c. Why would a solid metal helmet not be a good
choice?
PROBLEMS
Answer1.30:
(a) The material or combination of material must first and foremost
absorb a significant amount of the energy due to impact and not
allow that energy to transfer to the skull. The material must also be
light weight.
(b) The helmet material is the polymer polycarbonate. There is also a
polymer foam (vinyl) placed inside the helmet. The helmet and the
foam absorb a great deal of impact energy by deforming. The form
also protects the skull from a sharp directed blow and distributes
the blow. The face mask is made of metal (steel wire coated with
plastic) or another hard polymer such as ABS (Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene).
(c) A solid metal helmet will not distribute the blow or deform
substantially from an impact and will transfer most of the energy to
the skull. It is also too heavy.
Exercise
Provide a list of characteristics for structural
materials to be used in space applications.
Answer
Some of the common characteristics of these
materials are
i. Light weight to reduce thrust requirement at
take-off
ii. Strong and shock resistant to sustain take-
off loads
iii. Ability to function appropriately at very high
and very low (cyclic) temperatures of the
space
iv. Resist radiation damage in space
v. Resist micro meteor impact