Materials Science and Engineering Materials

What the unit covers

This unit collects study material on how engineering materials are built, tested and treated. The mind maps are the largest group. Mechanical Properties Of Materials sets out stress as force divided by cross-sectional area and splits it into types. Microstructure Constituents walks through austenite, martensite, bainite and pearlite. Heat Treatment of Carbon Steels covers annealing, normalising, hardening and tempering and the effect of each.

Where to start

Begin with the basics. The flashcard deck Engineering Materials Glossary and the deck Module 1: Introduction to Engineering Materials give you the vocabulary. Then open the mind map on mechanical properties, and the deck MEEN 360 Midterm Exam Study, which defines strength, stiffness, ductility, toughness and hardness.

Metals, heat and structure

Next, move to the metals. The deck Phase diagrams asks what a phase is and when a state is stable or metastable. The mind maps on ferrous alloys, cast irons, titanium alloys and aluminium alloys follow naturally. The notes on making the CCT diagram and the Jominy end-quench test suit readers who want a worked process. The deck A LEVEL PRODUCT DESIGN - HEAT TREATMENTS offers a shorter, simpler route into the same ideas.

Composites, biomaterials and failure

The composites deck covers glass reinforced plastic, carbon fibre and Kevlar. The Biomaterials (Introduction) mind map sorts implants into temporary, degradable and permanent. For failure, look at the maps on fatigue, creep and fatigue, and crack initiation and propagation.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then take a quiz on the same topic, such as Carbon Steels and Alloy Steels or Physical Metallurgy Quiz 1. Note what you missed and go back to the map. This unit sits in the Engineering Materials strand of Mechanical engineering. When you are ready, build a flashcard deck of your own from the gaps you find.