Materials Science Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts related to materials science, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and manufacturing processes.

Metals

Characterized by high electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength, stiffness, and malleability.

Polymers

Large organic molecules made of long chains of repeating units called monomers.

Ceramics

Inorganic, non-metallic materials known for their high melting points and excellent wear resistance.

Ductility

The ability of a material to be stretched into thin wires.

Malleability

The ability of a material to be deformed under compressive stress.

Crystal Structure

The ordered arrangement of atoms in a crystalline material.

Face-Centered Cubic (FCC)

A crystal structure where atoms are at every corner and the center of each face of the cube.

Body-Centered Cubic (BCC)

A crystal structure with atoms at each corner and one at the center of the cube.

Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP)

A crystal structure with atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

Diffusion

The process of atoms or molecules moving from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration.

Vacancies

Missing atoms in a lattice structure that can weaken the material.

Interstitials

Extra atoms in a lattice that influence material density and mechanical properties.

Substitutionals

Atoms in a lattice replaced by different atoms altering material characteristics.

Machining

A material removal process — you cut away material to get the final shape.

Metal Forming

Shaping metals through deformation techniques like bending and forging.

Casting

Pouring molten metal into a mold to solidify it into a desired shape.

Joining

Methods for assembling parts together, such as welding and soldering.

Plastic Processing

Techniques used to mold and shape plastics into various forms.

Additive Manufacturing

Also known as 3D printing, building objects layer by layer from a digital model.

Tensile Strength

The resistance of a material to breaking under tension.

Thermal Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct heat.

Electrical Conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct electricity.

Corrosion Resistance

The ability of a material to withstand deterioration due to chemical interactions.

Steel

A common metal known for its strength and versatility.

Aluminum

A lightweight metal with good corrosion resistance.

Copper

A metal with excellent electrical conductivity.

Titanium

A metal known for its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance.

Polyethylene

A common polymer used in plastic bags.

Polypropylene

A polymer used in containers and automotive parts.

Polystyrene

A polymer used in insulation and disposable cutlery.

Copolymers

Polymers made from two or more different monomers.

Engineering Plastics

Sturdy and heat-resistant materials used in engineering applications.

Porcelain

A type of ceramic used in tableware and dental applications.

Brick

A ceramic material commonly used in construction.

Composite Materials

Engineered materials created from two or more constituent materials.

Thermal Expansion

The tendency of matter to change its shape or volume in response to a change in temperature.

Mechanical Properties

Properties related to a material’s behavior under stress.

Chemical Inertness

The resistance of a material to undergo chemical reactions.

Toughness

The ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracture.

Brittleness

The tendency of a material to fracture or break under stress without significant deformation.

Raw Materials

Basic materials from which products are created.

Subtractive Process

A manufacturing process where material is removed from a larger piece.

Forging

A process of shaping metal using localized compressive forces.

Extrusion

A manufacturing process where material is pushed through a die to create a specific cross-section.

Welding

A process of joining two or more parts by melting the parts together.

Soldering

A process of joining metals using a filler material with a lower melting point.

Brazing

A process of joining metals with a filler that has a melting point above 450°C.

Adhesive Bonding

Using adhesives to join materials together.

Injection Molding

A manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting material into a mold.

Blow Molding

A manufacturing process for creating hollow plastic parts.

Rotational Molding

A molding process used for producing hollow parts by rotating a mold.

3D Printing

Additive manufacturing process of creating objects layer by layer.

Phase Transformations

Changes in the structure of a material occurring under certain conditions.

Mechanical Durability

The ability of a material to withstand mechanical stress.

Aesthetic Appeal

The attractiveness of a material based on its appearance.

Surface Finish

The texture and smoothness of surfaces produced by manufacturing processes.

Concentration Gradient

The gradual difference in concentration of a substance between two areas.

Atomic Mobility

The ability of atoms to move freely in a material.

Material Behavior

How materials respond to external forces or environmental conditions.

Performance Optimization

Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of material use in applications.

Engineering Applications

Real-world uses of materials in engineering projects.

Mechanical Properties Alteration

Changes made to enhance the characteristics of a material.

Flexible Films

Thin and pliable plastic sheets used in packaging.

Insulation

Materials that resist heat and electricity transfer.

Medical Devices

Tools and instruments used in healthcare.

Thermal Resistance

The ability of a material to withstand heat.

High Strength-to-Weight Ratio

A characteristic of materials that provides durability without excessive weight.

Manufacturing Techniques

Methods used to produce goods from raw materials.

Customization

Tailoring products to meet specific user requirements.

Resource Efficiency

The practice of using resources in a way that minimizes waste.

Electronics Applications

Uses of materials in electronic devices.

Load-Bearing Applications

Uses of materials that support weight or stress.

Construction Applications

Uses of materials in building and infrastructure.

Aerospace Components

Materials used in aircraft and spacecraft.

Automotive Parts

Components used in vehicles.

Property Tailoring

Adjusting material properties through various methods.

Material Selection

The process of choosing materials for specific applications.

Optimizing Manufacturing Processes

Improving production techniques to achieve better outcomes.

Chemical Properties

The characteristics of a material that define how it interacts chemically.

What is die casting?

is a metal casting process that involves forcing molten metal under high pressure into a mold

What are the properties of die casting?

The properties include high volume, precise aluminum parts (low melting point metals), smooth surface, repeated mass production (e.g., wheels, transmission parts)

What is sand casting?

Is a metal casting process characterized by using sand as the mold material. It involves creating a mold from sand and pouring molten metal into the cavity to create a part

What are the properties of sand casting?

The properties include large, simple shapes, ferrous metals (e.g., iron/steel), rough surface, bulky geometry, low cost

What is investment casting?

Is a precision casting process that involves creating a wax model, coating it with a refractory material, melting away the wax to leave a mold, and pouring molten metal into the mold to form intricate shapes and designs.

What are the properties of investment casting?

The properties include complex and intricate parts, low-medium volume, lattice-like or detailed structure, often small

Hydroforming

A metal forming process that uses high-pressure fluid to push sheet metal into a mold or die.

Key points for machining

• Accurate and flexible.

• Wastes material (turns it into chips).

• Can be slow and expensive, especially for complex or thin parts.

• Needs post-processing for good surface finish.

Key points for hydroforming

• Great for thin-walled, lightweight, complex shapes.

• Produces sharp corners and smooth surfaces.

• No material is removed → minimal waste.

• Can be cheaper and faster for large batches of shaped sheet metal parts