Materials Science Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of flashcards containing key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to materials science.

Austenite

Face-centered cubic iron; also iron and steel alloys that have the FCC crystal structure.

Cementite

Iron Carbide that forms during phase transformations in alloys.

Eutectoid Reaction

A reaction where one solid phase transforms isothermally and reversibly into two new solid phases upon cooling.

Eutectic Structure

A two-phase microstructure resulting from the solidification of a liquid having the eutectic composition.

Eutectic Reaction

A reaction in which, upon cooling, one liquid phase transforms isothermally and reversibly into two new solid phases.

Ferrite

Body-centered cubic iron; also iron and steel alloys that have the BCC crystal structure.

Hypereutectoid Alloy

An alloy with a greater concentration of solute than the eutectoid composition.

Isomorphous

Having the same structure; in phase diagrams, it indicates having the same crystal structure or complete solid solubility for all compositions.

Lever Rule

A mathematical expression for computing relative phase amounts in a two-phase alloy at equilibrium.

Liquidus Line

The boundary separating liquid-phase regions from liquid + solid-phase regions on a phase diagram.

Microconstituent

An identifiable element of the microstructure, which may consist of more than one phase.

Pearlite

A two-phase microstructure found in steels and cast irons, consisting of alternating layers of ferrite and cementite.

Proeutectoid Ferrite

Primary ferrite that exists in addition to pearlite in hypoeutectoid steels.

Proeutectoid Cementite

Primary cementite that occurs in addition to pearlite in hypereutectoid steels.

Solidus Line

The points on a phase diagram where solidification is complete during equilibrium cooling.

Block Copolymer

A linear copolymer in which identical repeat units are clustered in blocks along the molecular chain.

Branched Polymer

A polymer having a molecular structure with secondary chains extending from the primary main chains.

Cross-Linked Polymer

A polymer network formed by covalent bonds between molecular chains.

Molecular Weight

The sum of the atomic weights of all atoms in a molecule.

Monomer

A stable molecule from which a polymer is synthesized.

Network Polymer

A polymer created from multifunctional monomers leading to three-dimensional structures.

Repeat Unit

The most fundamental structural unit in a polymer chain, composed of linked units.

Thermoplastic Polymer

A semicrystalline polymer that softens upon heating and hardens upon cooling.

Thermosetting Polymer

A polymer that does not soften or melt once it has been cured by a chemical reaction.

Elastomer

A polymeric material capable of large and reversible elastic deformations.

Glass Transition Temperature

The temperature at which a noncrystalline ceramic or polymer turns from a supercooled liquid into a rigid glass.

Melting Temperature

The temperature at which a crystalline solid transforms into a liquid.

Vulcanization

A nonreversible chemical reaction that forms crosslinks between molecular chains in rubber, enhancing its elasticity and strength.