FUNDAMENTALS OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

These are materials that are

normally combinations of "metallic elements". Metals usually are good conductors of heat and electricity. Also, they are quite strong but malleable and tend to have a lustrous look when polished.

METALS

These are generally compounds between metallic and nonmetallic elements. Typically they are insulating and resistant to high temperatures and harsh environments. (2)These are inorganic, nonmetallic materials that consist of metallic and nonmetallic elements bonded together primarily by ionic and/or covalent bonds. It is a wide ranging group of materlals whose main ingredients are clays, sand/silica, and feldspar.

CERAMICS

These are generally organic compounds based upon carbon and hydrogen. They are very large molecular structures. Usually they are low density and are not stabie at high temperatures. (2) These are very large group of synthetically produced nonmetallic compounds whose structures are based on the chemistry of carbon or organic chemistry. It is called polymers because they are made of extremely long chains of carbon atoms.

PLASTICS

They have electrical properties intermediate between metallic conductors and ceramic insulators. Also, the electrical properties are strongly dependent upon small amounts of impurities.

SEMI CONDUCTORS

It consists of more than one material type. Fiber glass, a combination of glass and a polymer, is an example. Concrete and plywood are other familiar composites. Many new combinations include ceramic fibers in metal or polymer matrix.

COMPOSITES

It is a mixture of number of metallic silicate, one of which is usually that of an alkali metal. Most important fact about glass is it is amorphous, transparent or translucent.

GLASS

It is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many plants. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in a matrix of lignin ehich restricts compression

WOOD