Introduction to Material Science

and Engineering
 Introduction
What is material science?
Definition 1: A branch of science that focuses on materials;
interdisciplinary field composed of physics and chemistry.

Definition 2: Relationship of material properties to its

composition and structure.
What is a material scientist?
A person who uses his/her combined knowledge of
physics, chemistry and metallurgy to exploit
property-structure combinations for practical use.
 What are materials?

What do we mean when we say “materials”?

1. Metals 2. Ceramics 3. Polymers 4. Composites
- aluminum - clay - polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - wood
- copper - silica glass - Teflon - carbon fiber resins
- steel (iron alloy) - alumina - various plastics - concrete
- nickel - quartz - glue (adhesives)
- titanium - Kevlar

semiconductors (computer chips, etc.) = ceramics, composites

nanomaterials = ceramics, metals, polymers, composites
Length Scales of Material Science

• Atomic – < 10-10 m

• Nano – 10-9 m
• Micro – 10-6 m
• Macro – > 10-3 m
 Atomic Structure – 10-10 m
• Pertains to atom electron structure and
atomic arrangement
• Atom length scale
– Includes electron structure – atomic bonding
• ionic
• covalent
• metallic
• London dispersion forces (Van der Waals)
– Atomic ordering – long range (metals), short
range (glass)
• 7 lattices – cubic, hexagonal among most
prevalent for engineering metals and ceramics
• Different packed structures include: Gives total
of 14 different crystalline arrangements
(Bravais Lattices).
– Primitive, body-centered, face-centered
 Nano Structure – 10-9 m
• Length scale that pertains to
clusters of atoms that make up
small particles or material
features
• Show interesting properties
because increase surface area
to volume ratio
– More atoms on surface
compared to bulk atoms
– Optical, magnetic, mechanical
and electrical properties change
 Microstructure – 10-6
• Larger features composed of either nanostructured materials or
periodic arrangements of atoms known as crystals
• Features are visible with high magnification in light microscope.
– Grains, inclusions other micro-features that make up material
– These features are traditionally altered to improve material performance
 Macrostructure – 10-3 m

• Macrostructure pertains to
collective features on
microstructure level
• Grain flow, cracks, porosity
are all examples of
macrostructure features
 Classes of Materials
• metals
• polymers
• ceramics
• composites
 Metals
• Metals consist of alkaline, alkaline earth, metalloids and
transition metals
• Metal alloys are mixtures of two or more metal and nonmetal
elements (for example, aluminum and copper, Cu-Ni alloy, steel)
• Bonding: Metallic
– No particular sharing or donating occurs. Electron cloud is formed (that is,
free electrons)
– Strong bonds with no hybridization or directionality
• Properties:
– Electrically conductive (free electrons)
– Thermally conductive
– High strength – large capacity to carry load over x-section area (stress)
– Ductile – endure large amounts of deformation before breaking.
– Magnetic – ferromagnetism, paramagnetic
– Medium melting point
 Metal Applications
• Electrical wire: aluminum, copper, silver
• Heat transfer fins: aluminum, silver
• Plumbing: copper
• Construction beams (bridges, sky scrapers, rebar, etc.):
steel (Fe-C alloys)
• Cars: steel (Fe-C alloys)
• Consumer goods:
– soup cans
– appliances (stainless steel sheet metal)
– utensils
– tools
– Many, many, many more…
 Polymers
• Polymers consist of various hydro-carbon (organic
elements) with select additives to elucidate specific
properties
• Polymers are typically disordered (amorphous) strands
of hydrocarbon molecules.
• Bonding: Covalent-London Dispersion Forces
• Properties:
– ductile: can be stretched up to 1000% of original length
– lightweight: Low densities
– medium strength: Depending on additives
– chemical stability: inert to corrosive environments
– low melting point
 Polymer Applications
• Car tires: vulcanized polymer (added sulfur)
• Ziploc bags
• Food storage containers
• Plumbing: polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Kevlar
• Aerospace and energy applications: Teflon
• Consumer goods:
– calculator casings
– TV consuls
– shoe soles
– cell phone casings
– Elmer’s Glue (adhesives)
– contact lenses
– Many, many. many more…
 Ceramics
• Consist of metal and non metal elements
• Typically a mixture of elements in the form of a chemical compound
, for example Al2O3 or glass
• Three types: composites, monolithic and amorphous ceramics
• Bonding covalent – ionic
– Typically covalent. In some cases highly direction covalent bonding
– Ionic in case of SiO2 glasses and slags
• Properties:
– wear resistant (hard)
– chemical stability: corrosion resistant
– high temperature strength: strength retention at very high
temperatures
– high melting points
– good insulators (dielectrics)
– adhesives
– good optical properties
 Ceramic Applications
• Window glass: Al2O3 – SiO2 – MgO – CaO
• Aerospace, energy and automotive industry
– heat shield tiles
– engine components
– reactor vessel and furnace linings
• Consumer products:
– pottery
– dishes (fine china, plates, bowls)
– glassware (cups, mugs, etc.)
– eye glass lenses
 Composites
• A mixture of two different materials to create a new material with
combined properties
• Types of composites:
– Particulate reinforced – discontinuous type with low aspect ratio
– Whisker/rod reinforced - discontinuous type with high aspect ratio
– Fiber reinforced - continuous type with high aspect ratio (naturally)
– Laminated composites - layered structures (surf boards, skate boards)
• Bonding: depends on type of composite (strong-covalent, medium-
solid solution, weak-tertiary phase layer)
• Properties: Depends on composites
– High melting points with improved high temperature strength:
ceramic-ceramic
– High strength and ductile with improved wear resistance: metal-
ceramic
– High strength and ductile: polymer-polymer
 Composites: Applications

• Wood: naturally occurring biological material

consists of very strong fibers imbedded in a soft
matrix
• Plywood: laminated wood for buildings
• Concrete: basements, bridges, sidewalks
• Fiberglass: boats
• Carbon fiber resins: bicycle frames
 Advanced Applications Ceramics & Composites
• Aerospace and Defense Applications
– Structural materials used for missiles, aircraft, space vehicles
– What type of materials may be used?
• Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramic-Composites (UHTCs)
– Metal-nonmetal, Covalent bonded compounds (ZrB2 – SiC)
– High melting point materials; strong materials at
temperature; excellent oxidation resistance
• Why these materials?
– Service temperatures are in excess of 2000°C
(~1/3 surface temperature of our sun)
– Materials have high melting points (>3000°C)
– Excellent strength retention at services temperatures
– Relative chemical stability at service temperatures
– Light weight
Advanced Applications Ceramics & Composites
Structural materials for use in hypersonic aircraft
Next-generation re-entry vehicles
Why is the space
shuttle shaped the
way it is?
To reduce the amount
of heat generated upon
re-entry.

UHTC materials can change

the shape of next-
generation space planes
because of their unique
combinations of properties
 Advanced Applications Polymers
• Self-decontaminating polymers
– medical, military, security and environmental applications
– current applications: look for attachment to textiles for self
toxin cleaning fabrics (that is, chemical scavenging and
cleaning clothing)
• Sulphonated polyether polyetherketone (SPEEK) and
polyvnvyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solutions
• Excite solutions with light to form strong reducing
benzophenyl ketyl (BPK) radicals; helps break down
organic toxic chemicals
Little, Brian, “Materials for Advanced Applications: Self-Decontaminating Polymers, photofunctional composites, and
electroconductive fibers,” Chemistry and Biochemistry Dissertation, University of Auburn (2012)
 Advanced Applications Metals
• Hydrogen-absorbing metal alloys for energy transportation or
batteries
– Electorlyzed hydrogen from water (fuel cell technology) can be stored
in tanks fabricated from Hydrogen-absorbing metal alloys (HAMA)
– Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries use the same principle, but to
improve battery self discharge
– Volume density is significantly higher for gaseous hydrogen; more
hydrogen per tank
• Typical alloys consist of Mn-Ti-V, Mg-Ni, Zr-Mn/Ti/V, Mn-Ni,
La-Ni.
• BCC metals show higher storage and desorption properties
• Some metals can absorb a gas densities equivalent to liquid
hydrogen densities
T. Mouri, H. Iba, “Hydrogen-absorbing alloys with a large capacity for a new wnergy carrier,” Materials Science and Engineering A, Vol 329-331, 346-350 (2002).
“Light Weight Hydrogen ‘’Tank’ Could Fuel Hydrogen Economy”, Science Daily, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081104084215.htm
 Other well known materials
• Semiconductors – ceramics
– computer chips
– memory storage devices
– solar cells
– image screens
• Nanomaterials – ceramics, metals, polymers
– gold nanoshells
– quantum dots
– ferrofluids
– medical devices
 How do we test materials?
We use mechanical, chemical and optical methods
• Mechanical testing gives strength, ductility and toughness material
information
– tensile tests
– bend tests
– compressive tests
– fracture testing
• Chemical testing tells us about composition and chemical stability
– x-ray diffraction and fluorescence – composition testing
– corrosion testing
• Optical testing is more of a way to view atomic, nano and microstructures,
and gives us insight to structure property relationships
– light optical microscope – microstructure
– scanning electron microscope – microstructure and nano structure
– transmission electron microscope – nanostucture and atomic structure
– scanning tunneling electron microscope – atomic structures
 Mechanical Testing

Schematic stress-strain curve created from experiments using

universal test frame
 Mechanical Testing

universal testing machines

 Mechanical Testing
• What is stress and strain?
Is it like force and length change (displacement)?
• Stress is defined as the force per unit cross-section area; S = Force/Area
• Strain is defined as the ratio of length change to original length;
e = (Lf – Li)/(Li) (normalizes the length change)
• Why these terms?
Stress Scenario: If I apply a force on the eraser of a pencil and apply the same force on a table top, how
does each material behave? Can you distinguish which material is stronger?

Force as a strength description is inadequate because different sized objects accommodate

the force differently. Just because both objects could handle the same force does not mean
they are the same STRENGTH!
Strain Scenario: If I pull on a 1 inch long piece of taffy and apply the same pulling force on a piece of 2
inch long putty and both lengthen (both have equal diameters), with the taffy and putty stretching the
same distance, what does this say about the two materials? They both stretched the same distance.

Displacement only cannot distinguish materials that can accommodate large deformations
or changes in shape. Thus, the taffy can accommodate larger shape change because the
ratio of length change to original length is larger than the putty.
Chemical Methods

x-ray diffraction
mass spectroscopy
gas chromatography
x-ray fluorescence
Viewing Methods Transmission Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope

Atomic Force Microscope Optical (Light) Microscope