Materials Science and Engineering Terminology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to materials science and engineering concepts.

Electronegativity

Tendency of atoms to gain electrons.

Electropositivity

Tendency of atoms to lose electrons.

Inert

No tendency to gain or lose electrons.

Protons

Charged particles within the atomic nucleus.

Neutrons

Neutral particles within the atomic nucleus.

Electrons

Charged particles surrounding the atomic nucleus.

Ionic bond

Connection between a metal and a non-metal.

Metallic bond

Connection between metals.

Covalent bond

Connection between non-metals.

Avogadro's number

Number of atoms in a mole.

Elastic deformation

Deformation that is recovered.

Plastic deformation

Permanent deformation.

Ductility

Capacity for plastic deformation.

Stress

Force per unit area.

Rigidity

Qualitative property associated with elastic modulus.

Yield strength

Stress at which plastic deformation begins.

Fracture toughness

Resistance to crack propagation.

Ductile fracture

Fracture with plastic deformation.

Brittle fracture

Fracture without plastic deformation.

Fatigue

Fracture due to cyclic stress accumulation.

Solid solution

A homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.

Intermetallic compound

A solid consisting of two or more metals.

Vacancy

Absence of an atom in the crystal structure.

Dislocation

Linear defect in the crystal structure.

Macla

Planar defect in the crystal structure.

Segregation

Variation of concentration within a grain.

Alloy

A mixture of two or more metals.

Thermal treatment

Process to enhance properties of materials.

Homogenization heat treatment

Heat treatment to equalize solute concentration.

Cementite

Iron carbide, a compound in steel.

Martensite

A hard microstructure formed in steel.

Recrystallization

Process to restore the mechanical properties of the material.

Polymerization

Process to form polymers from monomers.

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.

Elastomer

A polymer with significant elastic properties.

Thermal degradation

Decomposition of materials due to heat.

Optical microscopy

Technique to observe materials using light.

Electron microscopy

Technique to observe materials using electron beams.