Materials Science and Engineering

Dr. Ranjit Kumar

Department of Chemical Engineering

Email: [email protected]
What is Materials Science and Engineering?

An interdisciplinary field that

addresses the fundamental
relationship between the
Processing, Structure and
Properties of materials and
develops them for the desired
technological applications
(Performance)
Materials Science and Engineering
 Materials through the ages
Stone Age (beginning of life – 3000 BC)

Feature: Using naturally occurring materials with only changes in shape

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 Materials through the ages
Bronze Age (3000 BC – 1200 BC)
Copper and Tin alloy

Ability to modify materials

by refining (using heat),
chemical modifications
(alloying) and mechanical
deformation (cold working)

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Materials through the ages

Iron Age (1200 BC – Present)

Casting and alloying wasn’t perfected until

16th century

Mastery of Steel (Iron alloy) technology

enabled Industrial Revolution in the 18th
and 19th century

Ability to heat treat at high temperature, control

microstructure at different length scale and ability
to design specific microstructures for specific
properties
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 Materials through the ages
Plastic Age (1940 - Present)
Discovery of polymers, and the ability to synthesize
and process polymers.

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 Materials through the ages
Silicon Age (1950 - Present)
Commercialization of silicon
technology (integrated circuits,
electronic devices, etc…) led to the
information age, which gave a
boost to human productivity

Ability to control alloying accurately,

ability to make thin films

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 Computational Materials Science
Computational materials science (CMS) is a field that uses
computers to study the properties and structures of materials,
and how they relate to processing conditions. It uses physical
modeling, machine learning, and theoretical models to
understand the relationships between material structure and
properties. CMS can be used for many purposes, including:

• CMS can help researchers discover new materials and

investigate existing inorganic materials, such as metals.
• CMS can be used to improve the properties of materials, such
as piezoelectric smart materials, which can convert mechanical
energy into electrical energy.
• CMS can help researchers explain experiments and explore
materials theories.
 Computational Materials Applications
• Properties of materials are not only determined by their respective
chemical composition, but also to a large degree by their microstructure.
Studying the interrelation between processing, structure and properties
of materials is thus at the heart of materials science.
• The often competing, complex mechanisms take place on a range of
different length- and time scales, requiring the development of new
simulation methods suitable for scale-bridging.
• The investigation of crystal and defect properties for example, requires
quantum mechanical calculations and atomistic simulation methods with
typical time scales ranging from femtoseconds through nanoseconds and
length scales ranging from Angströms to several hundred nanometers.
• Studying the interactions, statistics and self-organization of lattice
defects.
• Predicting microstructure information, which are used in the design of
engineering structures and devices.
 Some examples of simulation

Charge density distribution Crack in a silicate glass Simulation of an

in a silicon crystal experimental foam structure
with very high porosity
Classification of Materials
A Few Additional Categories
TYPES OF MATERIALS
(con’t)
 COMPOSITES
– Light, strong, flexible
– High costs

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 ADVANCED MATERIALS

Materials utilized in high-technology (or high-tech)

applications are sometimes termed advanced materials. By
high technology, we mean a device or product that operates or
functions using relatively intricate and sophisticated
principles, including electronic equipment (cell phones, DVD
players, etc.), computers, fiber-optic systems, high-energy
density batteries, energy-conversion systems, and aircraft.
Advanced materials include semiconductors, biomaterials, and
what we may term materials of the future (i.e., smart
materials and nanomaterials),
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 Semiconductors
• Semiconductors have electrical properties that are intermediate
between those of electrical conductors (i.e., metals and metal
alloys) and insulators (i.e., ceramics and polymers)
• Electrical characteristics of these materials are extremely
sensitive to the presence of minute concentrations of impurity
atoms.
• Semiconductors have made possible the advent of integrated
circuitry that has totally revolutionized the electronics and
computer industries over the past four decades.
 Biomaterials
• A biomaterial is a substance that has been engineered to
interact with biological systems for a medical purpose – either
a therapeutic (treat, augment, repair, or replace a tissue
function of the body) or a diagnostic one.
• Replacement implants are constructed of biomaterials— materials that are
implanted into the body, so that they function in a reliable, safe, and
physiologically satisfactory manner, while interacting with living tissue.
• Biomaterials must be biocompatible—compatible with body tissues and fluids
with which they are in contact over acceptable time periods.
• Biomaterial applications include joint (e.g., hip, knee) and heart valve
replacements, vascular (blood vessel) grafts, fracture-fixation devices, dental
restorations, and generation of new organ tissues.
 Smart Materials
• Smart (or intelligent) materials are a group of new and state-of-the-art
materials now being developed that will have a significant influence on many of
our technologies.
• Components of a smart material (or system) include some type of sensor
(which detects an input signal) and an actuator (which performs a responsive
and adaptive function).
• Actuators may be called upon to change shape, position, natural frequency, or
mechanical characteristics in response to changes in temperature, electric
fields, and/or magnetic fields.
• Four types of materials are commonly used for actuators: shape-memory alloys,
piezoelectric ceramics, magnetostrictive materials, and electrorheological
/magnetorheological fluids.
• Shape-memory alloys are metals that, after having been deformed, revert to
their original shape when temperature is changed.
• Piezoelectric ceramics expand and contract in response to an applied electric
field (or voltage); conversely, they also generate an electric field when their
dimensions are altered
 Nanomaterials
• Nanomaterials are materials with at least one dimension
measuring 100 nanometers or less, and can be found in the
form of particles, tubes, rods, or fibers.
• Nanomaterials can be natural or human-made,
and can be made from any element. They are
often categorized as organic (carbon based),
inorganic (non-carbon based), or hybrid (a
combination of the two).
• Nanomaterials have unique properties that make
them attractive to researchers, including: High
surface area for chemical reactions, Unique
surface structures, Different ways of interacting
 Nanomaterials Applications
• Healthcare: Nanomaterials can help with medical
diagnosis, drug delivery, and imaging.
• Electronics: Nanomaterials are useful in electronics
due to their small size.
• Cosmetics: Thousands of everyday products,
including cosmetics, are made with engineered
nanomaterials.
• Textiles: Nanomaterials can be added to materials
like cloth to make them lighter but stronger.
• Environmental protection: Nanomaterials can bind
with and help neutralize toxins.