(Kopie 1)
Materials Engineering
Materials engineering, which represents a branch of materials science, includes engineering sciences-orientated materials development, the corresponding processing processes, i.e. the processes for producing quite specific desired material properties, as well as the assessment of the operational behaviour of components under conditions of stress. In contrast with pure process or manufacturing aspects, materials engineering is directed towards the actual development of improved or new materials.
This concerns not only the materials themselves, but also the attainment of improved corrosion resistance, e.g. by coating or surface technology. Tribiology is also a demanding area of materials engineering. The classic processes of materials engineering include metallurgical, thermal and thermomechanical treatments of materials, all aspects of heat treatment in the molten and in the solid state as well as the development of alloys and not least materials engineering-metallurgical processes of recycling.
A possible breakdown of material classes is represented by the following classification1):
- metallic materials: iron and steel, nonferrous metals (e.g. light metals, nonferrous metals)
- non-metallic inorganic materials: ceramics, glass, inorganic bonding agents
- polymers: plastics, natural substances
- semiconductors
- carbon-based materials, such as carbon nanotubes or graphene
Another classification provides for construction materials, the focus being on their mechanical properties, and functional materials. In the case of the latter, use is made primarily of their physical-chemical properties, for example electrical, magnetic, thermal or optical properties.Material testing represents an independent specialist area, but is closely connected with materials engineering, inasmuch it can provide reliable information concerning the results of material treatments and development.
It includes testing methods that destroy the material or the component, conditionally non-destructive testing methods and non-destructive testing methods. With all the testing methods, characteristic material magnitudes are ascertained from standardised material samples or actual components under conditions of use, such as mechanical, thermal or chemical load.
Whereas destructive material testing can only be used for standardised test pieces, e.g. tensile test on tension rods or fatigue rupture test on CT specimens) or individual random samples from series of small components, non-destructive material testing can be carried out on semi-finished products, on components still in the machining process or on components shortly before finishing, since it does not change the properties of the material of the tested component. The properties of waves (acoustic, electromagnetic) are used in these methods, wherein the latter penetrate into bodies or pass through the latter and are reflected or attenuated at interfaces inside the body.
The most common non-destruction testing methods are ultrasonic testing methods, magnetic, x-ray methods and methods using ionising radiation (radioactive isotopes).
The main specialist areas and areas of application of materials engineering/testing are to be found in sections F and G of the International Patent Classification (IPC).
1)from Wikipedia: "Materials science and materials engineering"
