Ch. 1 - Introduction

Question 1

Materials science

Answer 1

Involves investigating the relationships that exist between the structures and properties of materials.

Question 2

Materials engineering

Answer 2

Designs or engineers the structure of a material to produce a predetermined set of properties based on the known relationships between material structures and material properties.

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

Usually relates to the arrangement of a material’s internal components.

Question 4

Property

Answer 4

A material trait in terms of the kind and magnitude of response to a specific imposed stimulus.

Question 6

Categories of properties of solid materials (6)

Answer 6

Mechanical
Electrical
Thermal
Magnetic
Optical
Deteriorative

Question 7

Metal

Answer 7

Materials composed of one of more metallic element and often nonmetallic elements in small amounts.
Atoms are arranged in orderly manner.
Relatively dense, stiff and strong, yet ductile and resistant to fracture.
Large number of non-localized electrons, which means that the electrons are not bound particular atoms. As a result, these materials are extremely good conductors of electricity and heat. Also magnetic.

Question 8

Ceramic

Answer 8

Formed as a compound between metallic and nonmetallic elements. Most frequently oxides, carbides, and nitrides.
Relatively stiff, strong, hard. Extremely brittle and highly susceptible to fracture.
Insulative properties. More resistant to high temperatures.

Question 9

Polymer

Answer 9

Organic compounds that are chemically based in carbon, hydrogen, and other nonmetallic elements.
Large molecular structures, often chain-like in nature.
Typically have low densities. Not particularly stiff or strong, but in relation to their density they are stiff any strong.
Extremely ductile and pliable.
Relatively inert chemically and unreactive to a large number of environments.
Very susceptible to deterioration/melting in heat.
Low electrical conductivities, nonmagnetic.

Question 10

Composite

Answer 10

Composed of two or more individual materials. The design goal is to achieve a combination of properties that is not displayed in any single material.
ex) Fiberglass, wood, bone, carbon-fiber reinforced polymer.

Question 11

Advanced materials

Answer 11

Semiconductors (electrical properties intermediate between electrical conductors and insulators) 
Biomaterials (titanium) 
Smart materials (shape memory alloys, piezoelectric ceramics) 
Nanoengineered materials (carbon nanotube)

Question 12

Geckos’ feet

Answer 12

Extremely large number of microscopically small hairs on toes. When hairs come in contact with surface, van der Waals forces are established between hair molecules and molecules on surface.

Question 13

Components of materials science as a discipline (4)

Answer 13

Processing
Structure (depends on processing)
Properties (depend on structure)
Performance (is a function of its properties)