Engineering Materials

What is Engineering material

 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.

Classification of Engineering materials
 Factors considered for selecting the engineering materials

The selection of material for the required functioning application is based on the
following factors:

 Stresses to which the work piece or component will be subjected.

 Corrosion resistance.
 Temperature, wear and tear resistance.
 Flexibility and rigidity.
 Easiness of the manufacturing process.
 Cost effectiveness for the product development.
 Availability of the material.
 Metals
 Metals are polycrystalline bodies which having differentially oriented fine crystals.

 Normally major metals are in solid states at normal temperature.

 Some metals such as mercury are also in liquid state at normal temperature.

 All metals exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity.

 All metals are having positive temperature coefficient of resistance. Means

resistance of metals increases with increase in temperature.

Examples: Iron, gold, copper, aluminium etc.

 Ferrous Alloys

 Ferrous alloys have iron as the base element.

 These alloys and include steels and cast irons.
 Ferrous alloys are the most common metal alloys in use due to the abundance of
iron, ease of production, and high versatility of the material.
 The biggest disadvantage of many ferrous alloys is low corrosion resistance.
 Carbon is an important alloying element in all ferrous alloys.
 In general, higher levels of carbon increase strength and hardness, and decrease
ductility and weldability.
 Carbon Steel

 Carbon steels are basically just mixtures of iron and carbon.

 They may contain small amounts of other elements, but carbon is the primary
alloying ingredient.
 The effect of adding carbon is an increase in strength and hardness.
 Most carbon steels are plain carbon steels, of which there are several types.
  Low-Carbon Steel

 Low-carbon steel has less than about 0.30% carbon.

 It is characterized by low strength but high ductility.
 Some strengthening can be achieved through cold working, but it does not
respond well to heat treatment.
 Low-carbon steel is very weldable and is inexpensive to produce.
 Common uses for low-carbon steel include wire, structural shapes, machine parts,
and sheet metal.
  Medium-Carbon Steel

 Medium-carbon steel contains between about 0.30% to 0.70% carbon.

 It can be heat treated to increase strength, especially with the higher carbon
contents.
 Medium-carbon steel is frequently used for axles, gears, shafts, and machine
parts.
  High-Carbon Steel

 High-carbon steel contains between about 0.70% to 1.40% carbon.

 It has high strength but low ductility.
 Common uses include drills, cutting tools, knives, and springs.

Low-Alloy Steel

 Low-alloy steels, also commonly called alloy steels, contain less than about
8% total alloying ingredients.
 Low-alloy steels are typically stronger than carbon steels and have better
corrosion resistance.
 Some low-alloy steels are designated as high-strength low-alloy (HSLA)
steels.
 Tool Steel

 Tool steels are primarily used to make tooling for use in manufacturing, for
example cutting tools, drill bits, punches, dies, and chisels.
 Alloying elements are typically chosen to optimize hardness, wear resistance, and
toughness.
 Stainless Steel

 Stainless steels have good corrosion resistance, mostly due to the addition of
chromium as an alloying ingredient.
 Stainless steels have a chromium composition of at least 11%.
 Passivation occurs with chromium content at or above 12%, in which case a
protective inert film of chromic oxide forms over the material and prevents
oxidation.
 The corrosion resistance of stainless steel is a result of this passivation.
The table below shows the typical compositions of stainless steels:
  Austenitic Stainless Steel

 Austenitic stainless steel is the most common form of stainless steel.

 It has the highest general corrosion resistance among stainless steels.
 It is also the most weldable of the stainless steels due to its low carbon content.
 It can only be strengthened through cold work.
 Austenitic stainless steels are generally more expensive than other stainless
steels due to nickel content.
 Austenitic stainless steels are not magnetic, although ferritic and martensitic
stainless steels are.
 Common applications include fasteners, pressure vessels, and piping.
  Ferritic Stainless Steel

 Ferritic stainless steel has high chromium content and medium carbon content.
 It has good corrosion resistance rather than high strength.
 It generally cannot be strengthened through heat treatment, and can only be
strengthened via cold work.
 Martensitic Stainless Steel

 Martensitic stainless steel has high carbon content (up to 2%) and low chromium
content.
 This higher carbon content is the primary difference between ferritic and
martensitic stainless steels.
 Due to the high carbon content, it is difficult to weld. It can be strengthened
through heat treatment.
 Common applications include cutlery and surgical instruments.
  Duplex Stainless Steel

 Duplex stainless steel contains both austenitic and ferritic phases.

 It can have up to twice the strength of austenitic stainless steel.
 It also has a high toughness, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance.
 Duplex stainless steel is generally as weldable as austenitic, but it has a
temperature limit.
 Precipitation-Hardenable Stainless Steel

 Precipitation-hardenable stainless steel can be strengthened through

precipitation hardening, which is an age hardening process.
 These materials have high strength as well as high resistance to corrosion and
temperature.
 Cast Iron

 Cast iron is a ferrous alloy containing high levels of carbon, generally greater than
2%.
 The carbon present in the cast iron can take the form of graphite or carbide.
 Cast irons have a low melting temperature which makes them well suited to casting.
 Gray Cast Iron

 Gray cast iron is the most common type.

 The carbon is in the form of graphite flakes.
 Gray cast iron is a brittle material, and its compressive strength is much higher
than its tensile strength.
 The fracture surface of gray cast iron has a gray color, which is how it got its
name.
 Ductile Cast Iron (Nodular Cast Iron)

 The addition of magnesium to gray cast iron improves the ductility of the material.
 The resulting material is called nodular cast iron because the magnesium causes
the graphite flakes to form into spherical nodules.
 It is also called ductile cast iron.
 Nodular cast iron has good strength, ductility, and machinability.
 Common uses include crankshafts, gears, pump bodies, valves, and machine
parts
 White Cast Iron

 White cast iron has carbon in the form of carbide, which makes the material hard,
brittle, and difficult to machine.
 White cast iron is primarily used for wear-resisting components as well as for the
production of malleable cast iron.
  Malleable Cast Iron

 Malleable cast iron is produced by heat treating white cast iron.

 The heat treatment improves the ductility of the material while maintaining its high
strength.
Non-Metal materials are non-crystalline in nature. These exists in amorphic or mesomorphic forms.
These are available in both solid and gaseous forms at normal temperature.
Normally all non-metals are bad conductor of heat and electricity.

Examples: Plastics, Rubber, Leathers, Asbestos etc.

As these non-metals are having very high resistivity which makes them suitable for insulation purpose in
electrical machines.
1. https://mechanicalc.com/reference/engineering-materials

2. https://www.electrical4u.com/classification-of-engineering-materials/