MATERIAL SCIENCE AND

ENGINEERING FOR M.E.

WHAT IS MATERIAL SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING?

STRICTLY SPEAKING, “MATERIALS SCIENCE” INVOLVES

INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT EXIST
BETWEEN THE STRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES OF
MATERIALS. IN CONTRAST, “MATERIALS ENGINEERING” IS,
ON THE BASIS OF THESE STRUCTURE–PROPERTY
CORRELATIONS, DESIGNING OR ENGINEERING THE
STRUCTURE OF A MATERIAL TO PRODUCE A
PREDETERMINED SET OF PROPERTIES.2
WHY DO WE STUDY MATERIAL SCIENCE IN
ENGINEERING

Many an applied scientist or engineer, whether mechanical, civil, chemical, or

electrical, will at one time or another be exposed to a design problem involving
materials. Examples might include a transmission gear, the superstructure for a
building, an oil refinery component, or an integrated circuit chip. Of course,
materials scientists and engineers are specialists who are totally involved in the
investigation and design of materials.
NATURE OF MATERIALS

Atomic structure and the elements

Bonding between atoms and molecule
Crystalline structure
Noncrystalline (amorphous) structure
Engineering materials
ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND THE ELEMENTS

• The basic structural unit of matter is atom

• Each atom is composed of positively charged nucleus, surrounded by a
sufficient number of negatively charged electrons so the charges are
balanced.
• More than 100 elements, and they are the chemical building blocks of all
mater.
BONDING BETWEEN ATOMS AND
MOLECULES

• Atoms are held together in molecule by various types of bonds

• Primary bonds- generally associated with formation of molecules
• Secondary bonds-generally associated with attraction between molecules
• Primary bonds are much stronger than secondary bonds
CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE

• Structure in which the atoms are located at regular and recurring in three
dimensions
• Unit cell- basic geometric grouping of atoms that is repeated
• The pattern may be replicated millions of times with a given crystal
• Characteristic structure of virtuality all metals, as well as many ceramics and
some polymersw.
THE POLYCRYSTALLINE NATURE OF
METALS

• A block of metals may contain millions of individual crystal called grains

• Each grains has its own unique lattice orientation but collectively the grains
are randomly oriented in the block
ENGINEERING MATERIALS

• Engineering materials refers to the group of materials that are used in the
construction of manmade structures and components. The primary function
of an engineering material is to withstand applied loading without breaking
and without exhibiting excessive deflection.