Materials Science and Engineering:

An Introduction to Chemical Engineers

(ChEg-3171)
Instructors: Taye Zewdu (Office: 318c) and
Anteneh Wedaje

Course outline:
1. Introduction (1.5)
2. Atomic and Crystalline Structures (3)
3. Classification of Materials (6)
3.1 Metals: Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
3.2 Ceramics: Processing, Properties and Uses
3.3 Polymers: Types, Properties, Testing and Production
4. Mass transfer and atomic mixing: Diffusion (3)
5. Imperfections in Solids (3)
6. Mechanical properties (6)
6.1 Deformation and Strengthening Mechanisms
6.2 Failure
6.3 Phase Diagrams and Phase Transformation
7. Electrical, Optical, Thermal and Magnetic Properties of Materials (3)
8. Corrosion: Types and Protection (3)
9. Materials Selection and Design Considerations (3)
10. Economic, Environmental, and Societal Issues (1.5)

Draft

Text Book:
William D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering: An introduction 8th Edition
Reference Materials:
Shackelford JF, Alexander W., Material Science and Engineering Handbook, CRC
Smith, W.F., Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering;
Filmin Torjan, Engineering Materials and their application;
Narag G., Material Science and Processing;
Evaluation:
Attendance (>75%)
Group project (20%), Mid exam (30%) and Final exam (50%)
Workload per week:
Lecture (3 hrs.), Assignment (1 hr.) and Home study (4 hrs.)

Introduction
Historical perspective
Stone Bronze Iron Advanced materials

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science Investigating relationships that exist
between the structure and properties of materials
Materials Engineering Is, on the basis of these structureproperty correlations, designing or engineering the
structure of a material to produce a pre-determined set of
properties.

Material science is the investigation of the relationship among

processing, structure, properties, and performance of
materials

Processing Structure Properties Performance

 Composition, Bonding, Crystal Structure and

Microstructure define Materials Properties
composition

bonding

Crystal structure

Thermomechanical
Processing

Microstructure
7

 the relationships of four components (processing,

structure, property and performance ), the structure of a

material will depend on how it is processed and

materials performance will be a function of its properties
All important properties of solid materials may be
grouped into six different categories:

mechanical
magnetic
electrical
thermal
optical and deteriorative

For each there is a characteristic type of stimulus capable of

provoking different responses
Mechanical property- relate deformation to an applied
load or force; ex: elastic modulus and strength.

electrical property- such as electrical conductivity and

dielectric constant, the stimulus is an electric field.

thermal behaviour of solids can be represented in terms

of heat capacity and thermal conductivity.
Magnetic property- demonstrate the response of a material
to the application of a magnetic field.

 optical property-, the stimulus is electromagnetic or light

radiation; index of refraction and reflectivity are

representative optical properties.

deteriorative characteristics relate to the chemical

reactivity of materials

Example : processing-structure-properties-performance
relations
Properties depend on structure
example: hardness vs. structure of steel

Processing can change structure

example: structure vs. cooling rate of steel

Electrical
Electrical Resistivity of Copper:

Adding impurity atoms to Cu increases resistivity.

Deforming Cu increases resistivity.

Optical
Transmittance:
-Aluminium oxide may be transparent, translucent, or
opaque depending on the material structure.

Classification of materials
Metals - Materials in this group are composed of one or more
metallic elements (Fe, Al, Cu, Ti, Au, and Ni), and often also
non-metallic elements ( C, N, and O).
Atoms in metals and their alloys are arranged in a very

orderly manner, and in comparison to the ceramics and

polymers, are relatively dense.
With regard to mechanical characteristics, these materials are

relatively stiff and strong, yet are ductile (i.e., capable of large
amounts of deformation without fracture), and are resistant to
fracture, which accounts for their widespread use in structural
applications.

 Metallic materials have large numbers of non-localized

electrons; that is, these electrons are not bound to

particular atoms. Many properties of metals are directly

attributable to these electrons. For example, metals are
extremely good conductors of electricity and heat, and are
not transparent to visible light; a polished metal surface
has a lustrous appearance. In addition, some of the metals
(Fe, Co, and Ni) have desirable magnetic properties.

Ceramics
Ceramics are compounds between metallic and nonmetallic elements; they are most frequently oxides,
nitrides, and carbides.
For example, some of the common ceramic materials
include aluminium oxide (or alumina,Al2O3), silicon
dioxide (or silica, SiO2), silicon carbide (SiC), silicon

nitride (Si3N4), and, the traditional ceramicsthose

composed of clay minerals (i.e., porcelain), as well as
cement, and glass.

 With regard to mechanical behavior, ceramic materials

are relatively stiff and strongstiffnesses and strengths
are comparable to those of the metals.
ceramics are typically very hard, on the other hand, they
are extremely brittle (lack ductility), and are highly
susceptible to fracture.
These materials are typically insulative to the passage of
heat and electricity (i.e., have low electrical
conductivities, and are more resistant to high
temperatures and harsh environments than metals and
polymers.
optical characteristics of ceramics may be transparent,
translucent, or opaque, and some of the oxide ceramics
(e.g., Fe3O4) exhibit magnetic behavior.

Polymers
Polymers include the familiar plastic and rubber materials.
Many of them are organic compounds that are chemically
based on carbon, hydrogen, and other non-metallic elements
(O,N, and Si). Furthermore, they have very large molecular

structures, often chain-like in nature that have a backbone of

carbon atoms.
Some of the common and familiar polymers are polyethylene
(PE), nylon, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polycarbonate (PC),
polystyrene (PS), and silicone rubber. These materials

 typically have low densities, whereas their mechanical

characteristics are generally dissimilar to the metallic and
ceramic materials.
In addition, many of the polymers are extremely ductile and

pliable (i.e., plastic), which means they are easily formed into
complex shapes. In general, they are relatively inert
chemically and unreactive in a large number of environments.
One major drawback to the polymers is their tendency to
soften and/or decompose at modest temperatures, which, in
some instances, limits their use

Composites
A composite is composed of two (or more) individual
materials, which come from metals, ceramics, and
polymers.
The design goal of a composite is to achieve a
combination of properties that is not displayed by any
single material, and also to incorporate the best
characteristics of each of the component materials.

 A large number of composite types exist that are represented

by different combinations of metals, ceramics, and polymers.
Furthermore, some naturally-occurring materials are also
considered to be composites, Example wood and bone.
One of the most common and familiar composites is fiber
glass, in which small glass fibers are embedded within a
polymeric material (normally an epoxy or polyester). The

glass fibers are relatively strong and stiff (but also brittle),
whereas the polymer is ductile (but also weak and flexible).
Thus, the resulting fiber glass is relatively stiff, strong,
flexible, and ductile. In addition, it has a low density .

 Another of these technologically important materials is

the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (or CFRP)
compositecarbon fibers that are embedded within a
polymer. These materials are stiffer and stronger than the
glass fiber-reinforced materials, yet they are more

expensive.
The CFRP composites are used in some aircraft and

aerospace applications, as well as high-tech sporting

equipment (e.g., bicycles, golf clubs, tennis rackets, and
skis/snowboards).

Advanced materials
Materials that are utilized in high-technology (a device or
product that operates or functions using relatively intricate
and sophisticated principles; examples include electronic

equipment (camcorders, CD/DVD players, etc.),

computers, fiber-optic systems, spacecraft, aircraft, and

military rocketry) applications .

Advanced materials include semiconductors, biomaterials,
and materials of the future (that is, smart materials and
nanoengineered materials).

a) Materials for energy

Zewdu et al. EES 2011

b) Materials for health

Valerio et al 2011 Anal Bioanalchem

Semiconductors
Semiconductors have electrical properties that are

intermediate between the electrical conductors (i.e. metals

and metal alloys) and insulators (i.e. ceramics and

Polymers).
the electrical characteristics of these materials are
extremely sensitive to the presence of minute
concentrations of impurity atoms, for which the
concentrations may be controlled over very small spatial
regions.

 Semiconductors have made possible the advent of integrated

circuitry that has totally revolutionized the electronics and
computer industries.
Biomaterials
Biomaterials are employed in components implanted into the
human body for replacement of diseased or damaged body
parts.

These materials must not produce toxic substances and must

be compatible with body tissues (i.e. must not cause adverse
biological reactions). All of the above materialsmetals,
ceramics, polymers, composites, and semiconductorsmay be
used as biomaterials.

Materials of the Future

Smart Materials- The adjective smart implies that
these materials are able to sense changes in their
environments and then respond to these changes in
predetermined mannerstraits that are also found in
living organisms.

Example of smart materials: airplane wings that adjust to

the air flow conditions, buildings that stabilize

themselves in earthquakes.

In other way Engineering Materials Classification as

Material Selection
Different materials exhibit different crystal structures and

resultant properties

Internet search assignment

Select one or more of the following modern items or devices and conduct an
Internet search in order to determine what specific material(s) is (are) used and
what specific properties this (these) material(s) possess(es) in order for the
device/item to function properly. Finally, write a short essay in which you report
your findings.

Cell phone/digital camera batteries

Cell phone displays
Solar cells
Wind turbine blades
Fuel cells
Automobile engine blocks (other than cast iron)
Automobile bodies (other than steel alloys)

Next lecture
Atomic and Crystalline Structures