Time: 1 hour 29 October 2012

Solution
Answer 1:
(i) The stress–strain behavior of a brittle ceramic material is ascertained by a
transverse bending test in which a rod specimen having either a circular or
rectangular cross-section is bent until fracture using a three- or four-point
loading technique as described in the ASTM Standard C1161. Because the
tensile strengths of ceramics are about one-tenth of their compressive strengths,
and because fracture occurs on the tensile specimen face, the flexure test is a
reasonable substitute for the tensile test. The stress at fracture using this flexure
test is known as the flexural strength, which is an important mechanical
parameter for brittle ceramics.
(ii) Two major differences are: (a) atomic diffusion is necessary for the pearlitic
transformation, whereas the martensitic transformation is diffusionless, and (b)
relative to transformation rate, the martensitic transformation is virtually
instantaneous, while the pearlitic transformation is time-dependent.
 32 3 
(iii) G* for a cube, i.e.,  2
, is greater than that for a sphere, i.e.,
 ( Gv ) 
 16 3 
 2
. The reason for this is the higher surface-to-volume ratio of a cube.
 3( Gv ) 
(iv) Both brasses and bronzes are copper-based alloys. For brasses, the principal
alloying element is zinc, whereas the bronzes are alloyed with other elements
such as tin, aluminum, silicon, or nickel.
(v) A typical soda–lime glass consists of approximately 70 wt% SiO2, the balance
being mainly Na2O (soda) and CaO (lime).
(vi) Spheroiditic microstructures are more stable than pearlitic ones. Since pearlite
transforms to spheroidite, the latter is more stable.
Time: 1 hour 29 October 2012

Question 2:
 2 T   1 
r*    m
 H f   Tm  T 
 

 (2)(0.200)(1085  273)   1 
    1085  849 
 1.77  109
 

 1.3 109 m  1.3 nm