Materials Science Key Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts in materials science including definitions of important terms and examples of materials.

Polymer

Made of long chains of repeating monomer units. Examples include polyethylene and epoxy adhesives.

Composite

Materials made from two distinct constituent phases for improved properties, such as carbon-fiber in epoxy.

Thermoplastic

Polymeric materials that soften when reheated, like PET soda bottles and PVC.

Thermoset

Polymers that do not remelt upon heating, such as cured epoxy adhesives.

Matrix (in composites)

The continuous phase that binds together the reinforcement material, such as epoxy resin in a drone arm.

Additive Manufacturing

The process of creating parts by adding material layer by layer, as in 3D printing.

Injection Molding

A process of producing parts by injecting molten plastic into molds, resulting in mass production of items.

Ductility

A material's ability to deform plastically before breaking, as seen in copper wires and mild steel.

Tensile Strength

The resistance of a material to breaking under tension, such as high-strength steel cables.

Young’s Modulus (Elastic Modulus)

A measure of the stiffness of a material, indicating how much it deforms under stress.

Fatigue

The weakening of a material caused by repeatedly applied loads, leading to failure over time.

Corrosion

The gradual destruction of materials, typically metals, due to chemical reactions in the environment.