classification of engineering materials (T1) Flashcards
what are the four classifications
elements, solutions, compounds, mixtures
elements
- basic building blocks of matter
- elements cannot be broken down into simpler material
- most material do not exist naturally as pure elements
solutions
- solution is where a substance dissolves in another
- eg sugar in tea or salt in water
- metals may also dissolve in other metals to form solutions
- eg carbon in iron to form steel
- solutions can exist as liquid or solids
compounds
- 2 or more elements chemically combined
- can be broken into two elements that make then up
- eg salt — sodium and chloride
mixtures
two or more elements OR compounds mixed together mechanically with regard to any fixed proportion
- can be separated eg air, cement, alloy mixtures
metals
composed of one or more metallic elements and often also non metallic elements in relatively small amounts
- term metal alloy refers to metallic substance that is composed of two or more elements
ceramics
compounds between metallic and non metallic elements; frequently oxides, nitrides and carbides
- naturally occur as clay and rock
- any ceramic material needs some form of purification, mixing or firing is a synthetic ceramic
polymers
plastic and rubber material
- organic compounds that are chemically based on carbon, hydrogen and other non metallic elements
material classification: how we group materials together (4)
- properties
- ways prepared
- atomic/crystal structure
- way used in industry
biological materials
materials that are result of life cycle of plant or animal
naturally occuring:
- wood, wax, leather, limestone
manufactured:
- paper, composite wood products, lime and diatomic bricks
composite materials
materials made of different combined materials
- fibreglass
- carbon fibre reinforced polymer
- concrete with steel reinforcing