Engineering Materials

Student Notes

Note
This document contains the important points discussed in the pre-recorded courseware. It will help in revising the
important concepts related to Engineering Materials course.

This Student Note is authorized for use only by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) - Pilani students. Copying or
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 Engineering Materials

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Lecture 2 Notes
Focus Topics:
 Material structure and its influence on properties
 Tools available to analyse structure
KEY POINTS
MATERIAL STRUCTURES
The structure of a material usually relates to the arrangement of its internal
components. We can examine and describe the structure of material at five different
levels
 Subatomic structure: Subatomic structure involves electrons within the
individual atoms and interactions with their nuclei.
 Atomic structure: It is a description of construction of atom. The atomic structure
includes all atoms and their arrangements, which constitute the building block of
matter. Length scale of structure is 1 – 100 Ao.
Atom consists of positively charged nucleus (protons
and neutrons) and negatively charged electrons which
circling around nucleus. It is basic structure of
engineering materials, influencing bonding
characteristics of materials.

 Crystal structure: It is a description of the arrangement of atoms, ions or

molecules in material into a regular repeatable lattice. Ex. Simple Cubic, Body
Cantered Cubic, Face Cantered Cubic. Length scale of structure is 3 – 100
nanometer.

Simple Cubic Body Cantered Face Cantered Cubic

Cubic,

Systematic arragment of atoms to form an unit cell which repat it self in all
direction referred as crystal structure. Here in example, balls represents the
atoms.

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 Engineering Materials

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 Microscopic structure: Structure of the material at length scale of ~ 50 to 10000

micrometre. This typically includes feature such as average grain size, grain size
distribution, grain orientation and defects in material.
It is showing grain and grain boundaries that
formed during solidification process by nucleation
and growth.

 Macroscopic structure: Structural elements that may be viewed with the naked
eye are termed macroscopic structure. The length scale is upto 1 meter. Typically
features include porosity, internal or external micro cracks, and surface coatings.
MATERIAL STRUCTURES INFLUENCE ON PROPERTIES
The structure of a material has a profound influence on its properties
 Atomic structure: It is primarily influencing the chemical, thermal and electrical
properties of the materials. For example, free moving electrons are defining the
thermal conductivity of the materials. The more free electrons, material become
more conductive. Metals have free electrons, it’s made them better conductor of
heat and electricity over the polymers and ceramics.
 Crystal structure: The type of crystal structure is influencing ductility and
formability of materials. For example, Gold, Aluminium and Silver belongs to FCC
structure and have highest ductility and formability. Whereas, Chromium, Iron and
Tungsten belongs to BCC structure and less ductile relative to FCC structured
materials.
 Microscopic structure: It is influence the strength and optical properties of
materials. For example, the grain structure of the material defining the strength. It
has proved fine grain structure (i.e. smaller size grains and large number) has
better strength over the coarse grain structure (i.e. larger size grains and large
number).
 Macroscopic structure: It is represents the properties like colour, finish, micro
cracks etc. It can be used to differentiate the materials by their colours, Ex. Gold
and Aluminium can easily differentiate by their colours. Also can identify, how
effectively finish produced on surface. The feature like finish or micro cracks
aggressively control the service life and performance of different components.
TOOLS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS
Different tools are used to see the different structures of the materials.
 Atomic field microscope with a magnification upto 1 Ao is used to analysis the
atomic structures.
 X-ray diffraction with Bragg’s law is used to analysis the crystal structures.

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 Engineering Materials

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 Electronic microscope i.e. SEM or TEM is used to revel the Nano structures.
 Light optical microscope is used to see the microstructures, i.e. grain size and
grain boundaries.
NEED OF STUDY THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE
 To determine the structure and its associated properties. For example, pure
and undeformed magnesium and beryllium, having one crystal structure, are much
more brittle i.e., fracture at lower degrees of deformation than are pure and
undeformed metals such as gold and silver that have yet another crystal structure.
 To identify suitable process to get the desired structure. For example,
noncrystalline ceramics and polymers normally are optically transparent but the
same materials can produce in crystalline form tend to be opaque or translucent
by optimizing process.
 To improve the structure in order to improve the properties. For example,
knowledge of the crystal structure for iron helps us understand transformations
that occur when steels are heat treated to improve their mechanical properties
 To select the material for a particular application. For example, application
demands good thermal conductive material, so materials can be selected based
on their atomic structure, i.e. based on free electrons.

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Students. Copying or posting of its content is an infringement of copyright. 3