Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
A familiar item that is fabricated from three different material types is the beverage
container. Beverages are marketed in aluminum (metal) cans (top), glass (ceramic) bot-
tles (center), and plastic (polymer) bottles (bottom). (Permission to use these photo-
graphs was granted by the Coca-Cola Company.)
1
Learning Objectives
After careful study of this chapter you should be able to do the following:
1. List six different property classifications of mate- 4. (a) List the three primary classifications of solid
rials that determine their applicability. materials, and then cite the distinctive chemi-
2. Cite the four components that are involved in the cal feature of each.
design, production, and utilization of materials, (b) Note the other three types of materials and,
and briefly describe the interrelationships be- for each, its distinctive feature(s).
tween these components.
3. Cite three criteria that are important in the mate-
rials selection process.
2
1.2 Materials Science and Engineering ● 3
FIGURE 1.2
Photograph showing the light
transmittance of three aluminum oxide
specimens. From left to right: single-
crystal material (sapphire), which is
transparent; a polycrystalline and fully
dense (nonporous) material, which is
translucent; and a polycrystalline
material that contains approximately 5%
porosity, which is opaque. (Specimen
preparation, P. A. Lessing; photography
by J. Telford.)
crystals that are all connected; the boundaries between these small crystals scatter
a portion of the light reflected from the printed page, which makes this material
optically translucent. And finally, the specimen on the right is composed not only
of many small, interconnected crystals, but also of a large number of very small
pores or void spaces. These pores also effectively scatter the reflected light and
render this material opaque.
Thus, the structures of these three specimens are different in terms of crystal
boundaries and pores, which affect the optical transmittance properties. Further-
more, each material was produced using a different processing technique. And, of
course, if optical transmittance is an important parameter relative to the ultimate
in-service application, the performance of each material will be different.
METALS
Metallic materials are normally combinations of metallic elements. They have large
numbers of nonlocalized electrons; that is, these electrons are not bound to particular
atoms. Many properties of metals are directly attributable to these electrons. Metals
are extremely good conductors of electricity and heat and are not transparent to
visible light; a polished metal surface has a lustrous appearance. Furthermore,
metals are quite strong, yet deformable, which accounts for their extensive use in
structural applications.
CERAMICS
Ceramics are compounds between metallic and nonmetallic elements; they are most
frequently oxides, nitrides, and carbides. The wide range of materials that falls
within this classification includes ceramics that are composed of clay minerals,
cement, and glass. These materials are typically insulative to the passage of electricity
and heat, and are more resistant to high temperatures and harsh environments than
metals and polymers. With regard to mechanical behavior, ceramics are hard but
very brittle.
POLYMERS
Polymers include the familiar plastic and rubber materials. Many of them are organic
compounds that are chemically based on carbon, hydrogen, and other nonmetallic
elements; furthermore, they have very large molecular structures. These materials
typically have low densities and may be extremely flexible.
COMPOSITES
A number of composite materials have been engineered that consist of more than
one material type. Fiberglass is a familiar example, in which glass fibers are embed-
ded within a polymeric material. A composite is designed to display a combination
of the best characteristics of each of the component materials. Fiberglass acquires
strength from the glass and flexibility from the polymer. Many of the recent material
developments have involved composite materials.
6 ● Chapter 1 / Introduction
SEMICONDUCTORS
Semiconductors have electrical properties that are intermediate between the electri-
cal conductors and insulators. Furthermore, the electrical characteristics of these
materials are extremely sensitive to the presence of minute concentrations of impu-
rity atoms, which concentrations may be controlled over very small spatial regions.
The semiconductors have made possible the advent of integrated circuitry that has
totally revolutionized the electronics and computer industries (not to mention our
lives) over the past two decades.
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 (i.e., must not cause
adverse biological reactions). All of the above materials—metals, ceramics, poly-
mers, composites, and semiconductors—may be used as biomaterials. 兵For example,
in Section 20.8 are discussed some of the biomaterials that are utilized in artificial
hip replacements.其
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8 ● Chapter 1 / Introduction
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