UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Bachelor of Engineering
COURSE CODE: COURSE TITLE:
CCB 211/CCB 231 MATERIALS SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERS
DATE : 15 – 17 January SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATION: January 2020
TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: MAXIMUM MARKS:
2 Hours 10 Minutes 100
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1. This paper contains two sections, section A and section B.
2. This paper contains 6 questions.
3. Answer 4 questions in total
4. Answer 2 questions from each section. Question 1 and 4 are compulsory.
5. All questions carry equal marks.
6. The paper has 6 pages including the cover page.
7. The marks for each question are indicated in square brackets.
8. Any additional examination material is to be placed in the answer book and must
indicate the question number and the Student I.D. number.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INVIGILATORS:
Scientific calculator is allowed during the exam.

Programmable calculators are not allowed!!!

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 SECTION A

Question 1

(a)
(i) Sketch a unit cell and identify all atom positions using numbers 1 – 9. [3]

(ii) Specify the point coordinates for all atom positions for a BCC unit cell using the table
below. [9]

Point Number Fractional Lengths Point

x-axis y-axis z-axis Coordinates
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

(b) Convert the following Miller indices to directions and sketch the directions within a
cubic unit cell: [8]

(i) [301],
(ii) [1 2 ],
(iii) [0 0],
(iv) [101].

(c) Show that the FCC unit cell volume, Vc = 16R3√2 [5]

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Question 2

(a) List and explain five (5) mechanical properties of metals. [5]

(b) (i) The Arrhenius equation is given as ln (k) = ln (A) + ln (e–E/RT). Express it in a
linear form (y = mx + c) and plot a straight line graph using the values below.
(R = 0.008314 kJ/K.mol; A = collision frequency factor; k = collision rate
constant). [10]

T (°C) K (M–1s–1)

283 3.52 x 10-7

356 3.02 x 10-5
393 2.19 x 10-4
427 1.16 x 10-3
508 3.95 x 10-2

(ii) Evaluate the collision frequency factor; indicate the value used on the graph.
[5]

(c) The diffusion coefficient for Cr in Cr2O3 is 6 x 10-19 m2/s at 727 oC and is
1 x 10-13 m2/s at 1400 oC. If the activation energy is 248.5 KJ/mol, calculate the diffusion
constant Co. [5]

Question 3

(a) Copper has an atomic radius of 0.128 nm (1.28 ), an FCC crystal structure, and an
atomic weight of 63.5 g/mol.
(i) Compute its theoretical density and [5]
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(ii) Compare the answer with its measured density of 8.94 g/cm . [3]

(b) (i) Show that the atomic packing factor for the HCP crystal structure is 0.74. [5]
(ii) Sketch the HCP structure. [2]

(c) Calculate the atomic radius in cm for the following:

(i) BCC metal with ao = 0.3294 nm and one atom per lattice point. [5]
(ii) FCC metal with ao = 0.4086 nm and one atom per lattice point. [5]

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 SECTION B

Question 4

Consider 1.5 kg of austenite containing 0.65 wt% C, cooled to below 727oC. (The
compositions of α-ferrite, pearlite and cementite, at the eutectoid temperature, are:
0.022wt%C, 0.76wt%C and 6.7wt%C, respectively).

(a) Name the proeutectoid phase that form and state its crystal structure. [3]

(b) How many kilograms of total ferrite and cementite form? [6]

(c) How many kilograms each of pearlite and proeutectoid phase form? [6]

(d) The amount in kilograms of ferrite (α), and cementite, (Fe3C), formed by pearlite.

(e) Schematically sketch and label the resulting microstructure. [5]

Question 5

(a) When the solubility of a material is exceeded by adding too much of an alloying
element, a second phase forms.

i. What type of strengthening mechanism is described here? [2]

ii. What type of alloy is produced by this process? [1]

iii. Describe briefly how strength is achieved by this type of strengthening

mechanism. [4]
.
(b) Table below shows atomic radius, crystal structure, electronegativity, and the
most common valence for different elements. Which of the elements would you
expect to form a substitution solid solution with copper? Justify your answer
[5]

Element Atomic Radius Crystal Electronegativity Valence

(nm) Structure
Cu 0.1278 FCC 1.9 +2
Ag 0.1445 FCC 1.9 +1
Al 0.1431 FCC 1.5 +3
Co 0.1253 HCP 1.8 +2
Fe 0.1241 BCC 1.8 +2
Ni 0.1246 FCC 1.8 +2

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(c) A KCL ceramic part having yield strength of 20 MN/m2 is to be produced.
Knowing that a grain size of 5 µm gives strength of 28 MN/m2 and that a grain
size of 100 µm gives strength of 8 MN/m2. Determine the following:
(Hint: Use the Hall-Petch relation).

(i) the constant k, and [4]

(ii) the grain size of this ceramic material. [4]

(d) A 12.5 mm diameter mild steel bar having a 50 mm guage length is subjected to a
tensile test. The following measurements were obtained. Determine the strain
hardening coefficient, n. [5]

Force (kN) Gauge length (mm) Diameter (mm)

124 56.14 12.19
120 62.05 11.60
114 68.57 11.03

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Question 6

Five (5) kg of eutectic Pb-Sn alloy (i.e. 61.9 wt.% Sn) is slowly cooled from
250C to 181C, (See Figure Q6 below). Determine the following at 181C:

(a) What phases are present? [2]

(b) What are the compositions these phases? [4]
(c) What are the mass fractions of  & ? [6]
(d) How many kg of  & ? [5]
(e) How does the microstructure look, and what is it called? [5]
(f) What is the mass fraction of this eutectic structure? [3]

T(°C)

3 00 L

2 00
TE  

1 00

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
18.3 Co 61.9 97.8
Co, wt% Sn

Figure Q6

END OF THE EXAM PAPER!