Properties of Materials

Aim
After the completion of the course, student will be able to recognize the importance of materials/
alloys and their uses and choose the appropriate for each different product. Student also will be able
to obtain the materials properties by applying the mechanical tests, such as (tensile - impact -
hardness) tests.

Lear ning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Explain importance of materials in engineering field
2. Classify materials according to their types
3. Present different properties of engineering materials.
4. Carry out material mechanical testing
5. Understand Conventional types of heat treatment.
Essential Contents
LO1 Explain importance of materials in engineering field
• The importance of engineering materials
• Use of engineering materials
• Appropriate choices for engineering materials
LO2 Classify materials according to their types
• Classification of engineering materials
• Ferrous Metals, Non-ferrous Metals
• Plastics (thermoplastics, thermosets)
• Ceramics and Diamond
• Composite Materials
LO3 Present different properties of engineering materials
• Properties and applications of some alloy steels, cast irons and non-ferrous alloys
• electrical properties (in terms of conduction - electrical insulation).
• chemical properties (effect of acids on them - rust resistant)
• Optical
• Magnetic
LO4 Carry out material mechanical testing.
• Mechanical properties: Elasticity and stiffness, plasticity, strength, brittleness or toughness, and fatigue mechanical testing
machines for materials
• tensile test
• impact test
• hardness test
LO5 Discover the effect of heat treatment
• Iron-carbon phase diagram
• Simple heat treatments.
 Why study materials?
• Applied scientists or engineers must make material choices :
• in-service performance
• deterioration
• economics

BUT…really, everyone makes material choices!

aluminum glass plastic

Models & Materials

Bulk Properties
Mechanical: Electrical:
elastic modulus conductivity
shear modulus resistivity
hardness capacitance
+ -

Thermal:
thermal expansion
heat capacity
Optical: thermal conductivity
reflectivity
absorbance
emission
Materials in an Automotive Engine

An automotive showing various

components and the materials
used in making them.
Components in Products
• Some products are a single components (nail, bolt,
fork, coat hanger, etc.)
• Some products are assemblies of many components
(ball point pens, automobiles, washing machines, etc.)
• All components are manufactured.
 Materials Selection for Paper Clips
What material properties are required?
• What manufacturing attributes are
required?
• Would the material and processing
strategy change if the desired quantity
was 10,000 vs. 1 million

Examples of the wide variety of materials and geometries for

paper clips
Manufacturing Characteristics of materials
Manufacturing Processes: Casting
Manufacturing Processes: Forming and
Shaping
Manufacturing Processes: Forming and Shaping
Manufacturing Processes: Forming and Shaping
Manufacturing Processes: Machining
Manufacturing Processes: Joining
 Laser Cutting

Cutting sheet metal with a laser beam