ADVANCED MATERIALS

Ceramics and Micro Alloys

Although ceramics
and micro alloys
are considered as
advanced
materials, which
means they are
used in high-tech
applications, unlike
carbon fiber,
ceramics and alloys
are common.
CERAMICS
CERAMICS
The word ceramics is derived from
the Greek word keramos which means
‘potter’s clay’. A ceramic is any of the
various hard, brittle, heat-resistant and
corrosion-resistant materials made by
shaping and then firing a nonmetallic
mineral, such as clay, at a high
temperature.
Ceramics are all around us, these
are inorganic and nonmetallic materials
like mugs, plates, and many others that
are essential to our daily lifestyle. They
can also be found in products like
watches, snow skies, automobiles, and
phone lines even in space shuttles and
airplanes.
TWO TYPES OF CERAMICS
Crystalline ceramics - tend to be stronger and
more rigid, making them suitable for structural
applications such as in buildings or machinery.

Non-crystalline ceramics - also known as

amorphous ceramics, have a lower strength but
are more flexible and can withstand thermal shock
better.
Crystalline ceramics are
defined by their ordered,
repeating atomic structure,
while non-crystalline ceramics
lack this structure and have a
more random arrangement of
atoms. This difference in
structure leads to different
physical and chemical
properties in the two types of
ceramics.
PROPERTIES OF CERAMICS

• High Hardness
• Low ductility
• High Resistance to Corrosion
• Low thermal expansion
APPLICATIONS OF CERAMICS
APPLICATIONS OF CERAMICS
1. They are used in space industry because of their low weight
2. They are used as cutting tools
3. They are used as refractory materials
4. They are used as thermal insulator
5. They are used as electrical insulator
MICRO ALLOYS
ALLOY is a metallic substance
composed of two or more
elements which is usually
produced by melting the
mixture of ingredients. For
example, brass (a mixture of
copper and zinc) Bronze (a
combination of copper and
tin). Cast-iron (98% iron 2%
carbon) Sterling Silver (92.5%
Pure Silver, 7.5% copper) Rose
Gold (gold and copper)
ALLOY STEELS are the most
important technology of
steel today that contains
elements other than iron
and carbon. Chromium,
nickel, manganese,
molybdenum, silicon,
tungsten, vanadium, and
boron are considered
principal alloying elements.
MICROALLOYING is a process
of strengthening steels through
addition of small percentage of
alloying elements. Micro alloyed
steels, often referred to as HSLA
(high strength low alloy) steels,
are low- carbon steels with the
strength increased by small
amounts of alloying elements
such as niobium, vanadium,
titanium, molybdenum, or
boron, singly or in combinations.
These steels are designed to
provide better mechanical
properties and greater
resistance to atmospheric
corrosion. Micro alloyed steels
are low carbon, formable steels
with high strength.
MICROALLOYED STEEL is a type of steel
containing alloying elements like niobium,
vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, zirconium,
boron, and rare earth metals which improve the
hardening, tensile strength, and other
mechanical properties of steels. Below are
some of its examples.
MICROALLOYED STEEL
TITANIUM STEELS
These are steels that have
lower density, high strength
and corrosion resistance,
that is why it is primarily used
in structural materials in the
aerospace and chemical
industries. This is mostly
used in aerospace because
its tensile strength/density
ratios are significantly greater
than steels and aluminum
alloys at ordinary
temperature.
NICKEL STEELS
A steel alloy is
made harder,
stronger, and
more resistant to
corrosion than
ordinary steel by
the addition of up
to five percent of
nickel.
CHROMIUM STEELS
Chromium steels are
types of steel, with
which iron can be
alloyed with chromium.
Chromium is most
frequently used to
increase the resistance
to corrosion.
MANGANESE STEELS
The presence of manganese, which acts
as deoxidizers, reduces the prone to the
hot shortness. The addition of
manganese to the steel can help the alloy
steel to perform the hot work.
MOLYBDENUM STEELS
This alloying element is a little more
expensive than the other alloying
element and can be used in
combination with nickel or chromium
or even both.
TUNGSTEN STEELS
Tungsten, is a type of alloying elements
that provide high temperature properties
and hardenability which is primarily used
in the tools industry.