MATERIAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NOTES This field has opened up new possibilities for

First Semester 2023-2024 creating materials with unprecedented

properties and applications.
Materials Science and Engineering is a
multidisciplinary field that focuses on understanding the
properties, structure, processing, and applications of REAL-LIFE APPLICATIONS OF MATERIAL SCIENCE
materials. It involves the study of various types of AND ENGINEERING
materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers,
composites, and nanomaterials. Materials Science and Engineering has a wide
The goal of Materials Science and Engineering is range of real-life applications across various
to develop and design new materials with specific industries. Here are some specific examples of
properties that can be tailored to meet the requirements these applications:
of various technological applications.
1. AEROSPACE INDUSTRY:
IMPORTANCE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND High-Strength Alloys: Aerospace materials
ENGINEERING need to withstand extreme conditions. High-
strength alloys, such as titanium alloys (e.g.,
1. Understanding Material Properties: Ti-6Al-4V), are used in aircraft components
Materials scientists and engineers study the like landing gear, airframes, and engine parts
properties of materials, such as mechanical, due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio
thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical and corrosion resistance.
properties. Understanding these properties is
essential for designing materials that can 2. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING:
perform specific functions in different Biocompatible Polymers: Materials like
industries. polyethylene and polyurethane are used in
2. Materials Selection: In engineering and medical devices such as artificial joints,
product design, selecting the right materials catheters, and stents. These polymers are
is crucial. Materials scientists help in biocompatible, meaning they are compatible
choosing materials that are cost-effective, with the human body and do not elicit adverse
durable, and suitable for the intended reactions.
application.
3. Material Processing: Developing methods 3. RENEWABLE ENERGY:
for processing and manufacturing materials is Photovoltaic Materials: Solar panels
a critical aspect. Different processing employ materials like crystalline silicon or
techniques can alter the properties of thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) to convert
materials, making them suitable for specific sunlight into electricity. These materials have
purposes. the necessary optical and electrical
4. Innovation and Advancements: Research properties for efficient energy conversion.
in materials science has led to the
development of advanced materials with 4. AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY:
unique properties. Examples include Lightweight Composites: Carbon fiber-
superconductors, carbon nanotubes, and reinforced composites are used to reduce the
advanced ceramics. These materials have weight of vehicles, improving fuel efficiency.
revolutionized industries like electronics, These composites are employed in
aerospace, and healthcare. components like body panels and chassis
5. Sustainability: Materials Science and structures.
Engineering also play a role in sustainability.
Researchers work on developing eco-friendly 5. CONSTRUCTION:
materials and processes, recycling methods, High-Performance Concrete: Materials like
and reducing the environmental impact of high-performance concrete (HPC) contain
materials production. additives and fibers that enhance their
6. Energy Efficiency: Materials research strength, durability, and resistance to
contributes to improving energy efficiency in cracking, making them suitable for
various industries. For instance, the infrastructure projects like bridges and
development of lightweight and strong skyscrapers.
materials has led to more fuel-efficient
vehicles, while advancements in photovoltaic 6. STRUCTURAL MATERIALS:
materials have improved the efficiency of High-Strength Alloys: These materials are
solar panels. used in the aerospace, automotive, and
7. Medical Applications: Materials scientists construction industries to build lightweight
work on developing biocompatible materials and durable structures.
for medical implants, drug delivery systems, Advanced Composites: Composite
and tissue engineering. These materials can materials like carbon fiber-reinforced
improve the quality of healthcare and save polymers are used in aerospace, automotive,
lives. and sporting goods for their high strength-to-
8. Safety and Reliability: Understanding how weight ratio.
materials behave under different conditions is
crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability 7. ELECTRONICS AND PHOTONICS:
of structures and devices. This is particularly Semiconductor Materials: Silicon and
important in aerospace, nuclear, and compound semiconductors are the basis of
transportation industries. electronic devices such as transistors,
diodes, and microchips.
9. Nanotechnology: Materials science is Optoelectronic Materials: Materials like
closely linked to nanotechnology, where gallium arsenide and indium phosphide are
materials are engineered at the nanoscale.
 used in optoelectronic devices like lasers and 11. SPACE EXPLORATION:
photodetectors. Thermal Protection Materials: Materials
like ablative heat shields made of phenolic
8. ENERGY STORAGE AND CONVERSION: composites are used on spacecraft to protect
Lithium-Ion Batteries: Materials science is them during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere,
crucial in designing battery materials with allowing for safe space missions.
high energy density and long cycle life. 12. SPORTS EQUIPMENT:
Fuel Cell Materials: Proton-exchange Carbon Fiber Reinforcements: Carbon
membranes and catalysts are essential for fiber composites are employed in sports
fuel cell technologies. equipment such as tennis rackets, golf clubs,
and bicycle frames due to their lightweight
9. ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION: and high-strength properties.
Nanomaterials for Water Purification:
Nanomaterials like graphene oxide and 13. DEFENSE INDUSTRY:
carbon nanotubes are used in water Advanced Armor Materials: Materials like
treatment technologies to remove ceramic armor plates made from alumina or
contaminants, providing clean drinking water boron carbide are used to provide ballistic
in regions facing water scarcity. protection to military personnel and vehicles.

10. AGRICULTURE:
Biodegradable Polymers: Biodegradable
materials like polylactic acid (PLA) are used
for packaging and mulch films in agriculture,
reducing plastic waste and environmental
impact.
PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS 3. Mechanical Properties– are properties of a material
that are displayed when a force is applied to the
1. Chemical Properties – are properties of a material materials.
that refer to the structure of a material and its
formation from our elements. The following are a. Comprehensive strength - is the
chemical properties of a material: maximum compressive stress that a material is
capable of withstanding.
a. Composition – is the elemental or b. Creep – is permanent strain under strain.
chemical components of the material and the c. Creep strength- is the constant nominal
relative proportion and these components. In stress that will cause a specified quantity of creep
metals, composition usually means the in a given time of constant temperature.
percentage of the various elements that make up
the metal. d. Endurance limit – the maximum stress
b. Corrosion resistance – is the ability of below which a materials can theoretically endure
the material to resists deterioration by chemical an infinite number of stress cycles.
or electro- chemical reaction with its environment. e. Flexural strength – is the outer fiber
c. Crystal structure- is the ordered, stress developed when materials is loaded as a
repeating arrangement of atoms and molecules in simple supported beam and deflected to a certain
a material. value of strain.
d. Microstructure- is the structure of f. Hardness – is the resistance of am
polished and etched materials as revealed by materials to plastic deformation.
microphone magnifications greater than ten g. Modulus of elasticity- is the ratio of
diameters. stress to strain in materials loaded within its
e Stereospecificity – is the tendency of elastic range. It is measure of rigidity. It is also
the polymers and molecular materials to form with known as Young’s modulus. The modulus of
and ordered, spatial, three- dimensional elasticity of steel is 200,000 MPa.
arrangement of monomer molecules h. Percent elongation – is the increase in
the gage length measured after the specimen
2. Physical Properties- are properties of materials that fractures within the gage length.
refer to the interaction of materials with various forms i. Percent reduction in area - is the
energy and with other forms of matter. difference (expressed as a percentage of original
area) between the original cross – sectional area
a. Curie point – is the temperature at which of a tensile test specimen and the minimum
ferromagnetic materials can no longer be cross- sectional area measured after fractures.
magnetized by cutside forces. j. Shear strength – is the stress required
b. Density – is the mass per unit volume. to fracture a shape in a cross-sectional plane that
c. Dielectric strength – is the maximum is parallel to the force application.
potential difference that an insulating material of k. Yield strength – is the stress at which a
given thickness can withstand for specified time material exhibits a specified deviation from
without occurrence of electrical breakdown proportionality of stress and strain.
through its bulk.
d. Electrical resistivity – is the electrical 4. Dimensional Properties – are properties of a
resistance of a material per unit length and cross- material that deals with in its available size, shape,
sectional area or per- unit length and unit weight. finish and tolerance.
e. Heat distortion temperature – is a
temperature at which a polymer under a specified a. Camber - is the deviation from edge
load shows a specified amount of deflection. straightness. It is usually the maximum deviation
f. Melting point – is a point which a of an edge from a straight line of given length.
material is liquefies on heating or solidifies on b. Lay – is the direction of a predominating
cooling. surface pattern. It is usually after a machine
g. Poisson’s ratio – is the absolute value operation.
of the ratio of the traverse strain to the c. Out of flat - is the deviation of a surface
responsible axial strain in the body subjected to from a flat plane, usually over a macroscopic
uniaxial stress. area.
h. Refractive index – is the ratio of the d. Roughness – is relatively finely spaced
velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in surface irregularities, the height, width and
another material. direction of which establish a definite surface
i. Specified Gravity - is the ration of the pattern.
mass or weight of a solid or liquid to mass or e. Surface finish – is the microscopic and
weight to the mass or weight of an equal volume macroscopic characteristics that describe a
of water. Specific gravity water is 1.000 at 4°C. surface.
j. Thermal conductivity – is the rate of f. Waviness – a wavelike variation from a
heat flow per unit time in homogeneous materials perfect surface.
under steady – state conditions, per unit area, per
unit temperature gradient in a direction
perpendicular to area.
k. Thermal expansion - is the rate at which
a material elongates when heated.