 Material Science and Engineering

- Studies and manipulates the compositions and structure of materials into different scales to
control its properties through synthesis and processing.
- Composition – chemicals that make up the material.
- Structure – shows how the atoms are arranged.
- Processing – turning materials into components to change other materials.
 Material Science
- Emphasizes the relationship of synthesis and processing of materials.
 Material Engineering
- Focus on translating materials into useful devices or structures.
A. Types of Engineering Materials
1. Metal and Alloys – used in structures and electrical components due to being strong,
ductile and good conductor of heat ang electricity. Formed by combining a metal to one
or more metallic and/or non-metallic materials.
a. Ferrous Materials – Have Iron as base element, most common because of
abundance of iron, easy to produce ang high versatility.
i. Carbon and Steel – Iron and carbon, carbon increases the strength and
hardness.
ii. Low-Alloy Steel – Alloy steels, contains 8% less alloying ingredients,
stronger than carbon steel, better corrosion resistance.
iii. Tool Steel – Used for manufacturing tool like; cutting tools, drill bits,
punches, dies, and chisels.
iv. Stainless Steels – Can withstand moisture, acids, and chemicals. Sleek
finish for architectural and consumer use.
v. Cast Iron – Generally contains 2% higher level of carbon, good for
casting since it has low melting temperature.
b. Non-Ferrous Metals – don’t contain iron, rare, more valuable, and resistant to
corrosion.
i. Aluminum Alloys – Aluminum is soft and weak, but can be alloyed to
increase the strength. Used particularly in aerospace industry for its light
weight and corrosion resistance.
ii. Nickel Alloy – High resistance to temperature and corrosion, vital in;
aerospace, power generation, and chemical processing industries.
Ingredients: Copper, Chromium, Iron.
iii. Copper Alloy – Consist of brasses and bronze. Electrically conductive,
having good corrosion resistance and easy to form and cast. (*Note:
Brass – Copper and Zinc, Bronze – Copper and tin.)
iv. Titanium Alloy – Light, strong, and have high corrosion resistance. Much
lower density than steel and has excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Used
for aerospace industry.
2. Polymers
a. Consist of molecules formed by long chains of repeating units. Light, corrosion
resistant, and easy to process. Used in packaging, coatings, and structural parts.

Classification of Polymer
i. Thermoplastic Polymer – Plastics that softened and melted. Solidify
again.
ii. Thermoset Polymer – Plastic that will harden permanently after heating.
iii. Elastomers – elastic polymer, has similar mechanical properties to
rubber.
3. Ceramics – Hard, brittle, and heat resistant. Used as insulator and in hot environment.
Have excellent corrosion and wear resistance, high melting temperature and stiffness,
has low electrical and thermal conductivity. High charge storage. Refractive index, low
optical losses.
a. Classification of Ceramics
i. Glass – has silica as base element, applied to windows, lenses, and
containers.
 ii. Cement – Weak in tension, strong in compression. Inexpensive, and
used for; building, bridge and structural constructions.
iii. Clay Product – Used for bricks, tiles, piping (Structural Clay), pottery, and
plumbing (Whitewares).
iv. Refractories – Example is Brick. Can withstand high temperature and
extreme environment.
v. Abrasive – Hight hardness, wear and temperature resistance. Include
cemented carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, aluminum oxide,
and silica sand that can be used to cut, grind, and wear away other
softer materials.
4. Composites – Combining two or more materials for superior properties (e.g. fiberglass,
carbon-fiber composites).
a. Primary Classes
i. Particular Composites
ii. Fibrous Composites
iii. Laminated Composites
B. Engineering Material Composition
a. Metals and Alloys – metallic elements arranged in crystalline, alloyed to enhance
strength and toughness.
b. Polymers – long-chain molecule of monomers (repeating units), based on carbon
backbones.
c. Ceramics – metallic and nonmetallic bonded together, forming compounds like oxides,
carbides and nitrides.
d. Composites – Combination of matrix materials (polymer, metal, or ceramic) with
reinforcement (fibers, particles, or layers) for better strength, stiffness, and weight.

C. Chemical Bonding
- is the fundamental force that holds atoms together to form compounds and molecules.
Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting molecular behavior, physical
properties, and chemical reactivity.

Types of Chemical Bonding

1. Ionic Bond – electrons are completely transferred, creating positively charge
cations and negatively charge anions, attracting each other through electrostatic
forces.
a. Forms between metals and nonmetals
b. Large difference in electronegativity (typically > 1.7)
c. Crystaline structure result
d. High melting and boiling point
e. Conducts electricity when dissolved or molten

Example: Sodium chloride (NaCl) - Sodium loses one electron to become Na⁺, while chlorine gains that
electron to become Cl⁻. The opposite charges attract, forming the familiar table salt crystal structure.

2. Covalent Bonding - involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms,

typically nonmetals with similar electronegativities.
a. Forms between nonmetals
b. Electrons are shared, not transferred
c. Can be polar or nonpolar depending on the electronegativity difference
d. Lower melting points than ionic compounds
e. Poor electric conductors

Example: Water (H₂O) - Oxygen shares electrons with two hydrogen atoms. Since oxygen is more
electronegative, it pulls the shared electrons closer, creating a polar covalent bond with partial charges
(δ⁻ on oxygen, δ⁺ on hydrogens).

3. Metallic Bonding - occurs when metal atoms release their valence electrons into
a "sea of electrons" that moves freely among the positively charged metal ions.
a. Found in metals and alloys
b. Electrons are delocalized (mobiles)
c. Explains conductivity, malleability, and ductility
 d. Lustrous appearance
e. Variable strength depending on the metal

Example: Copper (Cu) - Copper atoms contribute their outer electrons to form an electron sea. This
allows copper to conduct electricity efficiently and be hammered into thin sheets without breaking the
metallic bonds.

4. Van der Waals Forces (London Dispersion Forces) - are weak intermolecular
attractions caused by temporary fluctuations in electron distribution, creating
instantaneous dipoles that induce dipoles in neighboring molecules.
a. Weakest type of intermolecular force
b. Present in all molecules
c. Strength increases with molecular size and surface area
d. Temporary and constantly changing
e. Responsible for condensation of noble gases

Example: Gecko feet adhesion - Millions of tiny hairs (setae) on gecko feet use Van der Waals forces to
stick to any surface. Each individual force is weak, but collectively they can support the gecko's entire
body weight.

5. Hydrogen Bonding -is a special type of dipole-dipole interaction that occurs

when hydrogen is covalently bonded to highly electronegative atoms (N, O, or F)
and is attracted to another electronegative atom.
a. Stronger than Van der Waals forces but weaker than covalent bonds
b. Requires hydrogen bonded to N, O, or F
c. Highly directional
d. Crucial for Biological systems
e. Affects boiling points, Solubility, and Molecular structure

Example: DNA double helix - Hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs (A-T and G-C) hold
the two strands of DNA together. These bonds are strong enough to maintain structure but weak enough
to separate during replication.