Classification of Engineering Materials

Classification of engineering materials

Metals crystal structure -1

There are two main forms of solid substance, characterizing different atoms arrangement in their
.microstructures: amorphous and crystalline

Amorphous solid
It does not possess long-range order of atoms positions. Some
liquids when cooled become
more and more viscous and then rigid, retaining random atom characteristic
distribution. This state is called undercooled liquid or amorphous solid. Common glass, most of
Polymers, glues and some of Ceramics are amorphous solids . Some of the Metals may be prepared in
.amorphous solid form by rapid cooling from molten state

Crystalline solid
It is characterized by atoms arranged in a regular pattern, extending in all three
dimensions. The crystalline structure is described in terms of crystal lattice, which
is a lattice with atoms or ions attached to the lattice points. The smallest possible part of crystal lattice,
.determining the structure, is called primitive unit cell
:Examples of typical crystal lattice are presented in the picture
 Metals crystal structure

Metal crystal structure and specific metal properties are determined by metallic bonding – force,
holding together the atoms of a metal. Each of the atoms of the metal contributes its valence
electrons to the crystal lattice, forming an electron cloud or electron “gas”, surrounding positive
.metal ions. These free electrons belong to the whole metal crystal
Ability of the valence free electrons to travel throughout the solid explains both the high electrical conductivity
and thermal conductivity of metals. Other specific metal features are: luster or shine of their surface (when
polished), their malleability (ability to be hammered) and ductility (ability to be drawn).These properties are also
.associated with the metallic bonding and presence of free electrons in the crystal lattice
Ionic bonding occurs between two elements with a large difference in their
electronegativities (metallic and non-metallic), which become ions (negative and positive) as a result of
transfer of the valence electron from the element with low electronegativity to the element with high
.electronegativity

.The typical example of a material with Ionic Bonding is sodium chloride (NaCl)
Electropositive sodium atom donates its valence electron to the electronegative chlorine atom, completing
:its outer electron level (eight electrons)
Covalent bonding occurs between two elements with low difference in their electro negativities
.(usually non-metallics), outer electrons of which are shared between the four neighboring atoms
.Covalent Bonding is strongly directional
.Ceramic materials are stronger and harder than metals

Ceramics (ceramic materials) -2

They are non-metallic inorganic compounds formed from metallic (Al, Mg, Na, Ti, W) or semi-metallic (Si, B)
.and non-metallic (O, N, C) elements
Atoms of the elements are held together in a ceramic structure by one of the following bonding mechanism:
.Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Mixed Bonding (Ionic-Covalent)
Most of ceramic materials have a mixed bonding structure with various ratios between Ionic and Covalent
.components
,Strength of ionic and covalent bonds also determines high melting point
temperature and chemical stability of ,)rigidity( modulus of elasticity
.ceramic materials. ceramics are generally brittle that limits their use as structural materials
.Ceramics may have either crystalline or amorphous structure
.amorphous There are also ceramic materials, consisting of two constituents: crystalline and

Polymer -3
It is a substance (natural or synthetic), molecules of which consist of numerous small repeated
.chemical units (monomers) linked to each other in a regular pattern
.Degree of polymerization is an average number of monomers (mers) in a polymer molecule

.covalent bonding Atoms of a polymer molecule are held by

 .Organic polymer is a polymer compound built of hydrocarbon base monomer units
Besides carbon and Hydrogen the following atoms may be incorporated in polymer molecules: Oxygen,
.Nitrogen, chorine, fluorine, silicon, phosphorous, and sulfur
.covalent bonding Atoms of a polymer molecule are held by
.Branched polymer consists of molecules having side chains (branches) attached to the main chain
.Copolymer is a polymer molecule of which contains more than one kind of monomers
.Nylon is a common copolymer. Its molecules consist of two alternating monomers: diacid and diamine
Graft copolymer is a kind of branch polymer, side chains of which are made of monomers differing from
.the monomer of the main chain
Block copolymer is a polymer molecules of which built from alternating polymeric
.blocks of two or more different polymers
Polymer materials (Introduction)

There are three general groups of polymer materials:

Elastomers -1
.They are polymers possessing high elasticity - may be reversibly stretched at high degree

2- Thermoplastics
They are polymers, which soften (becomes pliable and plastic) and melt when heated. Thermoplastics may be
.reprocessed (re-melt) many times

3- Thermosets
.They are polymers which do not melt when heated
.Thermosets molecules are cross-linked by strong covalent intermolecular bonds, forming one giant molecule
Composite material -4
It is a material composed of two or more distinct phases (matrix phase and dispersed phase) and
.having bulk properties significantly different form those of any of the constituents
Matrix phase •
The primary phase, having a continuous character, is called matrix. Matrix is usually more ductile and less
.hard phase. It holds the dispersed phase and shares a load with it
Dispersed (reinforcing) phase•
The second phase (or phases) is embedded in the matrix in a discontinuous form. This secondary phase is called
dispersed phase. Dispersed phase is usually stronger than the matrix, therefore it is sometimes called reinforcing
.phase
There are two classification systems of composite materials . One of them is based on the matrix material
:(metal, ceramic, polymer) and the second is based on the material structure

Classification of Composites Materials based on matrix material

Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)
are composed of a metallic matrix (aluminum, magnesium, iron, cobalt, Metal Matrix Composites
.copper) and a dispersed ceramic (oxides, carbides) or metallic (lead, tungsten, molybdenum) phase

Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC)

are composed of a ceramic matrix and embedded fibers of other ceramic Ceramic Matrix Composites
.material (dispersed phase)

Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC)

are composed of a matrix from thermoset (Unsaturated Polyester (UP), Polymer Matrix Composites
Epoxiy (EP)) or thermoplastic (Polycarbonate (PC), Polyvinylchloride, Nylon, Polysterene) and embedded
.glass, carbon, steel or Kevlar fibers (dispersed phase)

Classification of composite materials II

)based on reinforcing material structure(

Particulate Composites
.Particulate Composites consist of a matrix reinforced by a dispersed phase in form of particles
.Composites with random orientation of particles
Composites with preferred orientation of particles. Dispersed phase of these materials consists of two-
.dimensional flat platelets (flakes), laid parallel to each other
Fibrous Composites
Short-fiber reinforced composites. Short-fiber reinforced composites consist of a matrix reinforced by a
.dispersed phase in form of discontinuous fibers (length < 100*diameter)