Materials Engineering Classification

18 Questions

Examples of ceramic materials include ______, porcelain, and many minerals.

glass

Atomic materials with very high strength under compression, low ductility and are usually ______ to heat and electricity.

insulators

Polymers are typically ______ and thermal insulators.

electrical

Conducting polymers can be obtained by ______.

doping

Composite materials are multiphase materials obtained by artificial combination of different materials to attain properties that the individual components cannot ______.

attain

An example of a composite material is a lightweight brake disc obtained by embedding ______ particles in Al alloy matrix.

SiC

Materials that can sense changes in their environment and respond accordingly are known as ______ materials.

smart

The classification of materials can be based on their ______.

chemistry

Ceramics, polymers, and composites are examples of ______ materials.

traditional

Nanomaterials are classified based on their ______.

size

Metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites are the four basic types of ______.

materials

The term 'nano' in nanomaterials denotes that the dimensions of these entities are on the order of a ______.

nanometer

Metals are characterized by high thermal and electrical ______

conductivity

Pure metals are not good enough for many applications, especially structural applications, thus metals are used in ______ form

alloy

Ceramics are usually made either of oxides, carbides, nitrides, or silicates of ______

metals

One can classify materials based on many criteria, for example crystal structure, or properties, or ______

use

Metals are opaque to light and appear shiny if ______

polished

Materials science enables engineers to understand the limits of materials and the change of their properties with ______

use

Study Notes

Materials Classification

Materials are classified into groups based on criteria such as crystal structure, properties, or use.

Metals

Characterized by high thermal and electrical conductivity, strong yet deformable under mechanical loads, and opaque to light.
Atoms are bound together by metallic bonds, with valence electrons detached from atoms and spread in an electron sea.
Pure metals are often used in alloy form to improve desired qualities (e.g., aluminum, steel, brass, gold).

Ceramics

Inorganic compounds made of oxides, carbides, nitrides, or silicates of metals.
Atoms (ions) behave like positive or negative ions and are bound by strong forces between them.
Characterized by high strength under compression, low ductility, and are usually insulators to heat and electricity (e.g., glass, porcelain, minerals).

Polymers

Consist of molecules with covalent bonding within each molecule (thermo-plastics) or a network of covalent bonds (thermo-sets).
Based on H, C, and other non-metallic elements.
Typically amorphous, with the exception of a minority of thermoplastics.
Electrical and thermal insulators, but can be made conducting by doping or using conducting fillers.
Decompose at moderate temperatures (100 – 400°C).

Composites

Multiphase materials obtained by combining different materials to attain properties individual components cannot achieve.
Example: lightweight brake disc made by embedding SiC particles in an Al alloy matrix.

Smart Materials

Can sense changes in their environment and respond in predetermined manners, similar to living organisms.
Being developed for use in sophisticated systems with traditional materials.

Nanomaterials

Classified based on size, with dimensions on the order of a nanometer (10–9 m), typically less than 100 nanometers in diameter.
Can be metals, ceramics, polymers, or composites, but distinguished by their size rather than chemistry.
Have fascinating properties and tremendous technological promise.

This quiz covers the classification of materials in engineering, including selecting materials based on cost and performance, understanding material limits, and creating new materials with desirable properties.

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