Topic 1- Introduction and Background Flashcards
What four subjects make up materials science?
Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Computing.
How does maths contribute to materials science?
Allows us to predict behaviour.
How does computing contribute to materials science?
We can construct models of the physical world.
What can chemistry tell us about materials science?
Composition, reactions and properties of materials?
How does physics contribute to materials science?
Tells us energies and interactions of materials.
What are the four main areas of materials science?
Characteristics, structure, processing and properties.
How is materials science relevant to civil engineering?
- Design new and improved materials. 2. Performance of new buildings.
What methods are used to analyse structure and morphology?
Microscopy and diffraction.
What is morphology?
What the surface of a material looks like.
What method is used to work out what elements are present in a material?
Spectroscopy.
What methods are used for analysing chemical properties of a material?
Spectroscopy and wet chemistry.
What are the three mechanical methods of analysis?
Tension, compression and shear.
What does Young’s Modulus tell us?
How stiff a material is.
What is the equation for Young’s Modulus?
E=stress/strain.
What is the relationship between stiffness and Young’s modulus?
Greater E, greater stiffness.
What does tensile strength tell us?
How strong a material is.
What is toughness?
Resistance to crack propagation.
How do we determine toughness?
It is the amount of time it takes a crack to grow through (time to failure).
What is the opposite to tough?
Brittle.
How can we easily work out how tough a material is?
Area under a stress-strain graph.
What is the equation for density?
Mass/volume.
What is service temperature?
The temperature at which a material can be used.
What is thermal conductivity?
How easily heat flows through a material.
How has nitric acid affected buildings in Bath?
NOx from cars reacts with moisture causing the buildings to turn black/brown as the limestone reacts to form gypsum.
Give seven main properties of metals.
- Ductile.
- Strong - high tensile strength.
- High thermal conductivity.
- High density.
- High electrical conductivity.
- Medium price.
- Stiff - high Young’s Modulus.
What are ceramics?
Compounds of metallic and non-metallic elements.
Give six main properties of ceramics.
- Fairly low tensile strength.
- Non-conducting.
- High density.
- Brittle.
- High Young’s Modulus.
- Cheap - medium price.
Give six main properties of polymers/plastics (elastomers).
- Medium tensile strength.
- Low thermal conductivity.
- Medium density.
- Medium price.
- Optically translucent or transparent.
- Medium Young’s Modulus.
What is an angstrom?
0.1nm
Why do cracks usually form near or within welds?
When metal cools after welding, cools at different speed to when it was first formed.
What are four main allotropes of carbon and what are they known for?
- Diamond - very hard.
- Graphite - very soft.
- Graphene - very strong/ used for sensors.
- Fullerene - used for hydrogen storage.
Define sustainability.
Meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations.
What is an example of sustainable research?
Research for taking dangerous/ toxic elements out of materials e.g. heavy toxic metals in cement.
