Introduction 1-5

Question 1

1. How would you define the difference between a chemist, a physicist and a physical metallurgist?

Answer 1

Physicist - perfect crystals - concerned with pure metals and is based on a materials crystal structure
Chemistry - new products, thermodynamics and kinetics of atomic distribution
Physical metallurgy - focused on the microstructure of the alloy - use heat and physical deformation to create defects (across different length scales) to achieve the best possible properties

Question 2

2. Give an example of a multi-scale hierarchical microstructure in a selected engineering alloy and name typical features across several length scales.

Answer 2

Inconel 738 - additive manufacturing

Question 3

3. What do we mean by ‘processing-microstructure-property’ relationships and why is it important to understand them?

Answer 3

The understanding of the relationship allows the identification and correction of processing deficiencies when the desired properties are not achieved

Question 4

4. Explain the highlights of the evolution of the relative importance of metals versus other classes of materials over the different ages of mankind.

Answer 4

Metals have always been important since the bronze age, through the iron age etc.
They first started being used widely in the industrial revolution
With modern alloying techniques, they have thrived in the modern world as well

Question 5

5. Explain what is meant by the first/second/third/fourth industrial revolution (hint: watch video in assignment 2 section)?

Answer 5

Steam - machinery
Scientific management - humans and machinery - moving from generalisation of manufacturing to specialisation to improve efficiency
Digital revolution - computers and electronics, telecommunications
Fourth- the improved, more efficient use of these digital systems to improve the workplace and other environments