Field
Materials Engineering
Also Known As Materials Science and Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Materials engineering studies the relationship between a material internal structure, from its atomic bonding and crystal structure up to its microstructure, and its resulting properties, then applies that understanding to select, process and design materials, metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, for specific engineering purposes. It draws on chemistry, physics and mechanical engineering, and underlies advances from stronger steels and aerospace alloys to semiconductors, ceramics and modern composite materials such as carbon fiber and Kevlar.
Facts
Core ConcernThe relationship between a material structure, processing and properties, and the engineering selection and design of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. 1 Core PrincipleMaterials engineering is organized around a single chain of causation: how a material is processed determines its internal structure, that structure determines its properties, and those properties in turn control how the material performs in service. 2 Disputed
Origin YearNorthwestern University created one of the first departments explicitly named materials science and engineering in the late 1950s, as metallurgy departments broadened their scope during a period of expanded research funding. Connections
Associated With
Developed the lithium cobalt oxide cathode chemistry that made the modern lithium-ion battery practical.
Developed movable type using fired clay characters, an early ceramic materials innovation.
Carbon Fiber, Materials Prized for its high strength-to-weight ratio in aerospace and structural applications.
Duralumin, Materials An early aluminum alloy developed for strength-critical aircraft structures.
Invar, Materials A low-expansion alloy engineered for dimensional stability in precision instruments.
Identified the cathode materials that made rechargeable lithium-ion batteries practical.
The cathode material that made rechargeable lithium-ion batteries practical.
Invented the first working lithium battery, foundational to modern battery materials science.
Reactor design depends on radiation-resistant structural and shielding materials, a materials engineering concern.
Source American Nuclear Society, About (ans.org)American Nuclear Society
Includes
Source Invar (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Source Lithium Cobalt Oxide (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
Source Nickel (Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table)
Source Stephanie Kwolek (Britannica)
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.View the Source 2. Materials Science (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction section
Processing determines structure, structure determines properties, and properties ultimately control the performance of a material in service.
Lead section, opening definition of materials engineering
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with understanding the relationships between the structure of materials and their properties and using this knowledge to design materials for specific applications.
View the Source Stephanie Kwolek (Britannica)
Includes: Stephanie Kwolek
American Nuclear Society, About (ans.org)
American Nuclear Society, American Nuclear SocietyAssociated With: Nuclear EngineeringView the Source Lithium Cobalt Oxide (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Lithium Cobalt OxideView the Source Invar (Wikipedia)
Nickel (Royal Society of Chemistry Periodic Table)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is materials engineering the same as metallurgical engineering?
Metallurgical engineering is a specialization within materials engineering focused specifically on metals, extracting them from ore and controlling their structure through smelting, alloying, casting, forging and heat treatment. Materials engineering is the broader field, covering metals as well as ceramics, polymers, composites and semiconductors, studying how any material's processing and internal structure determine its properties and guiding engineers on which material fits a given design.
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