“ WHERE MATERIALS ATTAIN MOMENTUM ”

Fundamentals of
Engineering Materials
Category: INSTITUTE CORE-ENGINEERING FOUNDATION (IC-EF)
Structure and Credit: 3-1-0: 3
Code: EFD008U2M
Course Instructor: Dr. Srinivasan N

Email : srinivasan.n@iitjammu.ac.in
Phone : 0191- 2741113
Room Number : 01AC-5-29

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 Course contents
Module 5:
Ceramic Materials: Ceramic crystal structures, phase diagrams, mechanical properties,
types and applications of ceramics, processing techniques.

Module 6:

Polymeric Materials: Classification of polymers, structure and crystallinity of long-chain

polymers, mechanical behavior, processing and typical applications.

Module 7:
Composite Materials: The need for composites, types of composites – particle and fiber
reinforced composites, processing techniques, typical applications.

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Textbook and references –
Module - 5

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 Human evolution

Human evolution and material evolution cannot be looked separately, they are always
linked to each other in many ways.
What tool the “modern man” always carries with him now ?

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 Material Evolution
Now the rate of change is faster than any time in history

Metals

(Non-linear time scale)

The projection to year 2020 based on estimates of usage in aircraft and automobile industries . 5
Ceramics

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 Introduction to ceramics
“First” ceramics were the low-firing earthenwares
that appeared some 10,000 years ago, after humans
Ceramics had mastered the fire.

Early potters used simple pit-firing for the production

of earthenwares.
Greek
Kera words mos

Burnt Stuff

Until perhaps 100 years ago, the word ceramics

Burnt Stuff meant pottery; ceramic products were limited to
tablewares, roofing tiles, clay pipe and brick.

“Earthenwares” is the starting point for the development of more advanced ceramics. 7
 Introduction
Now-a-days, ceramics are increasingly being used in advanced technologies, where,
metals, alloys and polymeric materials cannot be employed.

Ceramic raw materials are available in plenty and ceramics are compounds of the elements
B, C, N and O with metals, which distinguish themselves from metals, by elastic modulus,
high hardness and low thermal expansion.

These are nitrides, carbides, borides and oxides typically used in application subjected to
mechanical or thermomechanical loads.

For instance, ceramic components are used in engines due to its superior wear resistant
properties. Other applications includes semiconductors, dental applications, and thermal
barrier coatings in aircraft turbines etc.
Semi conductor Dental implant Gas turbine Thermal
Miniature
devices barrier
composed coating on
of advanced nickel-base
materials super alloys

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 Comparison of metals, polymers and ceramics

Depending on the chemical bonding materials can be classified into three broad groups.

Attributes Metals and Ceramics Polymers

alloys
Bond type Metallic Ionic/Covalent Covalent & Van der Waals
Melting point Intermediate High Low
Chemical stability Good High (Best) Poor
Electrical conductivity High Electrically Very low
insulating to
semiconducting
Thermal conductivity High Low Very low to intermediate
Plastic deformation High (ductile) Low (brittle) Very high, can be easily
shaped and processed.

Some applications demand electrical insulation properties, where, ceramics play

a key role. However, ceramics are difficult to shape to desired dimensions.

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 Classification of ceramics
Ceramic materials are inorganic, non-metallic materials (oxide or non-oxide) which consists of metallic
and non-metallic elements bonded together primarily by ionic and/or covalent bonds.

The chemical compositions of ceramic materials vary considerably from simple compounds to mixtures
of many complex phases bonded together.

Ceramics

Traditional Glass and Advanced

Refractories Cement
ceramics glass ceramics ceramics

Refractories – A material which is resistant to decomposition by heat, pressure, or chemical attack, and
retains its structural integrity at extreme environments. E.g. Magnesite.

Cement is a binder, that cures/hardens, and adheres to other materials and bind them together. Cement is
seldom used on its own, but rather to bind sand and gravel (aggregate) together in concrete. E.g. CaO.

Concrete itself is an example of composite 10

 Traditional ceramics
Traditional ceramics are also called as triaxial ceramics and they are made from
three basic components.

1. Clay – E.g. Hydrated aluminium silicate – Al2O3. SiO2. H2O

2. Flint - E.g. Silica
3. Feldspar – E.g. Potash feldspar – K2O. Al2O3. 6SiO2.

• Clay provides workability before firing and it constitutes the major body.
• Flint is the refractory component of the traditional ceramic.
• Feldspar – It has low melting temperature, it forms the glassy phase and bonds the
refractory component together.

• Ball Clay - High plasticity and hence easier to work.

• China Clay - Used for its whiteness and purity, but it has very poor plasticity.
Note: The term triaxial is used since there are three major components. 11