CHAPTER

Materials for
Engineering

The modern automobile is a case study in the

selection of a wide range of traditional and advanced materials. For example the large air
scoops that extend from the front of this vehicle
to the doors are an integral part of the fenders,
which are made of a sophisticated, moldable
polymer. (Courtesy of Dow Automotive Division of Dow Chemical Corporation)

Figure 1-1 The material possessions of a family matching the statistical average for the United
States. (From Peter Menzel, Material WorldA Global Family Portrait, Sierra Club Books,
San Francisco, 1994.)

Figure 1-2 These examples of common metal parts, including various springs and
clips, are characteristic of their wide range of engineering applications. (Courtesy of Elgiloy Company)

IA

1
H

II A

2
III A IV A V A VI A VII A He

3
Li

4
Be

11
Na

12
Mg III B IV B V B VI B VII B

19
K

20
Ca

21
Sc

22
Ti

23
V

24
Cr

25
Mn

26
Fe

27
Co

37
Rb

38
Sr

39
Y

40
Zr

41
Nb

42
Mo

43
Tc

44
Ru

55
Cs

56
Ba

57
La

72
Hf

73
Ta

74
W

75
Re

87
Fr

88
Ra

89
Ac
58
Ce

59
Pr

60
Nd

61
Pm

90
Th

91
Pa

92
U

93
Np

VIII

5
B

6
C

7
N

8
O

9
F

10
Ne

14
Si

15
P

16
S

17
Cl

18
Ar

IB

II B

13
Al

28
Ni

29
Cu

30
Zn

31
Ga

32
Ge

33
As

34
Se

35
Br

36
Kr

45
Rh

46
Pd

47
Ag

48
Cd

49
In

50
Sn

51
Sb

52
Te

53
I

54
Xe

76
Os

77
Ir

78
Pt

79
Au

80
Hg

81
Tl

82
Pb

83
Bi

84
Po

85
At

86
Rn

62
Sm

63
Eu

64
Gd

65
Tb

66
Dy

67
Ho

68
Er

69
Tm

70
Yb

71
Lu

94
Pu

95
Am

96
Cm

97
Bk

98
Cf

99
Es

100
Fm

101
Md

102
No

103
Lw

Figure 1-3 Periodic table of the elements with those elements that are inherently metallic in nature in color.

Figure 1-4 Various aluminum parts fabricated

by superplastic deformation. The unusually
high degree of deformability for these alloys
is possible with a carefully controlled, finegrained microstructure. Superplastic forming uses air pressure to stretch a bubble of
metal sheet over a metal preform. (Courtesy
of Superform USA)

IA

1
H

II A

2
III A IV A V A VI A VII A He

3
Li

4
Be

11
Na

12
Mg III B IV B V B VI B VII B

19
K

20
Ca

21
Sc

22
Ti

23
V

24
Cr

25
Mn

26
Fe

27
Co

37
Rb

38
Sr

39
Y

40
Zr

41
Nb

42
Mo

43
Tc

44
Ru

55
Cs

56
Ba

57
La

72
Hf

73
Ta

74
W

75
Re

87
Fr

88
Ra

89
Ac
58
Ce

59
Pr

60
Nd

61
Pm

90
Th

91
Pa

92
U

93
Np

VIII

5
B

6
C

7
N

8
O

9
F

10
Ne

14
Si

15
P

16
S

17
Cl

18
Ar

IB

II B

13
Al

28
Ni

29
Cu

30
Zn

31
Ga

32
Ge

33
As

34
Se

35
Br

36
Kr

45
Rh

46
Pd

47
Ag

48
Cd

49
In

50
Sn

51
Sb

52
Te

53
I

54
Xe

76
Os

77
Ir

78
Pt

79
Au

80
Hg

81
Tl

82
Pb

83
Bi

84
Po

85
At

86
Rn

62
Sm

63
Eu

64
Gd

65
Tb

66
Dy

67
Ho

68
Er

69
Tm

70
Yb

71
Lu

94
Pu

95
Am

96
Cm

97
Bk

98
Cf

99
Es

100
Fm

101
Md

102
No

103
Lw

Figure 1-5 Periodic table with ceramic compounds indicated by a combination of one or more metallic elements
(in light color) with one or more nonmetallic elements (in dark color). Note that elements silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge) are included with the metals in this figure, but were not in Figure 13. This is because, in elemental form, Si and Ge behave as semiconductors (Figure 116). Elemental tin (Sn) can be either a metal or a semiconductor, depending on its crystalline structure.

Figure 1-6 Some common ceramics for traditional engineering applications. These miscellaneous parts with characteristic resistance
to damage by high temperatures and corrosive environments are used in a variety of
furnaces and chemical processing systems.
(Courtesy of Duramic Products, Inc.)

Figure 1-7 Cutaway view of an advanced gas

turbine design incorporating various ceramic
components, for example, silicon carbide for
turbine rotors, vanes, and flow path walls, silicon nitride for turbine rotors, and aluminum
silicate for regenerator disks. (Courtesy of
Allison Gas Turbine Operations, General
Motors Corporation)

(a)

(b)

Figure 1-8 Schematic comparison of the atomic-scale structure of (a) a ceramic (crystalline) and (b) a glass (noncrystalline). The open circles
represent a nonmetallic atom, and the solid black circles represent a
metal atom.

Figure 1-9 Some common silicate glasses for engineering applications.

These materials combine the important qualities of transmitting clear
visual images and resisting chemically aggressive environments. (Courtesy of Corning Glass Works)

Figure 1-10 Cookware made of a glass-ceramic

provides good mechanical and thermal properties. The casserole dish can withstand the
thermal shock of simultaneous high temperature (the torch flame) and low temperature
(the block of ice). (Courtesy of Corning Glass
Works)

Figure 1-11 Miscellaneous internal parts of a

contemporary parking meter are made of
an acetal polymer. Engineered polymers are
typically inexpensive and characterized by
ease of formation and adequate structural
properties. (Courtesy of the Du Pont Company, Engineering Polymers Division)

IA

1
H

II A

2
III A IV A V A VI A VII A He

3
Li

4
Be

11
Na

12
Mg III B IV B V B VI B VII B

19
K

20
Ca

21
Sc

22
Ti

23
V

24
Cr

25
Mn

26
Fe

27
Co

37
Rb

38
Sr

39
Y

40
Zr

41
Nb

42
Mo

43
Tc

44
Ru

55
Cs

56
Ba

57
La

72
Hf

73
Ta

74
W

75
Re

87
Fr

88
Ra

89
Ac
58
Ce

59
Pr

60
Nd

61
Pm

90
Th

91
Pa

92
U

93
Np

VIII

5
B

6
C

7
N

8
O

9
F

10
Ne

14
Si

15
P

16
S

17
Cl

18
Ar

IB

II B

13
Al

28
Ni

29
Cu

30
Zn

31
Ga

32
Ge

33
As

34
Se

35
Br

36
Kr

45
Rh

46
Pd

47
Ag

48
Cd

49
In

50
Sn

51
Sb

52
Te

53
I

54
Xe

76
Os

77
Ir

78
Pt

79
Au

80
Hg

81
Tl

82
Pb

83
Bi

84
Po

85
At

86
Rn

62
Sm

63
Eu

64
Gd

65
Tb

66
Dy

67
Ho

68
Er

69
Tm

70
Yb

71
Lu

94
Pu

95
Am

96
Cm

97
Bk

98
Cf

99
Es

100
Fm

101
Md

102
No

103
Lw

Figure 1-12 Periodic table with the elements associated with commercial polymers in color.

Figure 1-13 The rear quarter-panel on this sports car was a pioneering application
of an engineering polymer in a traditional structural metal application. The polymer is an injection-molded nylon. (Courtesy of the Du Pont Company, Engineering Polymers Division)

Figure 1-14 Example of a fiberglass composite composed of microscopicscale reinforcing glass fibers in a polymer matrix. The tremendous depth of field in this microscopic image is characteristic of
the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to be discussed in Section 4.7 (Courtesy of Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation)

Figure 1-15 Golf club head and

shaft molded of a graphite
fiber-reinforced epoxy composite. Golf clubs made of
this advanced composite system are stronger, stiffer, and
lighter than conventional equipment, allowing the golfer to
drive the ball farther with greater
control. (Courtesy of Fiberite
Corporation)

IA

1
H

II A

2
III A IV A V A VI A VII A He

3
Li

4
Be

11
Na

12
Mg III B IV B V B VI B VII B

19
K

20
Ca

21
Sc

22
Ti

23
V

24
Cr

25
Mn

26
Fe

27
Co

37
Rb

38
Sr

39
Y

40
Zr

41
Nb

42
Mo

43
Tc

44
Ru

55
Cs

56
Ba

57
La

72
Hf

73
Ta

74
W

75
Re

87
Fr

88
Ra

89
Ac
58
Ce

59
Pr

60
Nd

61
Pm

90
Th

91
Pa

92
U

93
Np

VIII

5
B

6
C

7
N

8
O

9
F

10
Ne

14
Si

15
P

16
S

17
Cl

18
Ar

IB

II B

13
Al

28
Ni

29
Cu

30
Zn

31
Ga

32
Ge

33
As

34
Se

35
Br

36
Kr

45
Rh

46
Pd

47
Ag

48
Cd

49
In

50
Sn

51
Sb

52
Te

53
I

54
Xe

76
Os

77
Ir

78
Pt

79
Au

80
Hg

81
Tl

82
Pb

83
Bi

84
Po

85
At

86
Rn

62
Sm

63
Eu

64
Gd

65
Tb

66
Dy

67
Ho

68
Er

69
Tm

70
Yb

71
Lu

94
Pu

95
Am

96
Cm

97
Bk

98
Cf

99
Es

100
Fm

101
Md

102
No

103
Lw

Figure 1-16 Periodic table with the elemental semiconductors in dark color and those elements that form semiconducting compounds in light color. The semiconducting compounds are composed of pairs of elements from
columns III and V (e.g., GaAs) or from columns II and VI (e.g., CdS).

(a)

(b)

Figure 1-17 (a) Typical microcircuit containing a complex array of semiconducting regions. (Photograph courtesy of
Intel Corporation). (b) A microcircuit viewed with a scanning electron microscope. (From Metals Handbook, 9th
ed., Vol. 10: Materials Characterization, American Society for Metals, Metals Park, Ohio, 1986.)

(a) Aluminum

(b) Magnesium

Figure 1-18 Comparison of crystal structures for (a) aluminum and (b) magnesium.

Figure 1-19 Contrast in mechanical behavior

of (a) aluminum (relatively ductile) and
(b) magnesium (relatively brittle) resulting
from the atomic-scale structure shown in
Figure 118. Each sample was pulled in
tension until it fractured. (Courtesy of R.
S. Wortman)

(a)
50 m

(b)

(c)

50 m

(d)

Figure 1-20 Porous microstructure in polycrystalline Al2 O3 (a) leads to an opaque material (b). Nearly porefree microstructure in poly crystalline Al 2 O 3 (c) leads to a translucent material (d). (Courtesy of C. E.
Scott, General Electric Company)

Figure 1-21 High-temperature sodium vapor lamp made possible by use of a translucent Al2 O3 cylinder for containing the sodium vapor. (Note that the Al2 O3 cylinder is inside the exterior glass envelope.) (Courtesy of General Electric Company)

Figure 1-22 Pouring molten iron into molds for casting. Even this traditional form of materials
processing is becoming increasingly sophisticated. This pour occurred at the Foundry of
the Future discussed in the Feature Box in Chapter 11. (Courtesy of the Casting Emission
Reduction Program [CERP].)

Figure 1-23 The modern integrated circuit fabrication laboratory represents the state of
the art in materials processing. (Courtesy
of the College of Engineering, University of
California, Davis)

Strength

Ductility

Metals

Cost
Final selection

Ceramics
Polymers
Semiconductors
Composites
(a)

(b)

Figure 1-24 (a) Sequence of choices leading to selection of metal as the appropriate type of material for construction of a commercial gas cylinder. (b) Commercial gas cylinders. (Courtesy of Matheson Division of Searle Medical Products)