BUILDING

MATERIALS
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
LUNA HASANI
INTRODUCTION

 What is the job of a material scientist?

- To develop or synthesize new materials. In other words to study the relationship between the structure of the material and
its properties.

 What is the job of a material engineer?

- To use existing materials to create new products.
INTRODUCTION

 Material science and engineering consist of four components, which have the following relationship:

Processing Structure Property Performance

INTRODUCTION

 What do we mean by the “Structure” of a material?

Atomic level: Subatomic level:
- Arrangement of particles, and can be classified into different scales. Shows atoms and Protons, neutrons
molecules. and electrons.

Image taken from schoolbag.info

Macroscopic level: Microscopic level:
Can be seen with Can be seen with
the naked eye. the microscope.
 INTRODUCTION

 What do we mean by the “property” of a material?

- A trait that describes the response of the material to an external action.
For example, will the material deform when subjected to an external force? Will it behave elastically or plastically?
- Material properties are classified into six categories: mechanical, electrical, thermal, magnetic, optical and deteriorative.

Stimulus Stimulus Stimulus Stimulus Stimulus Stimulus

• Applied force • Electric field • Temperature • Magnetic field •Electromagnetic or light • Chemical reaction
radiation
Example Example Example Example Example Example
• Deformation • Electrical • Heat capacity, • Magnetic moment • Chemical reactivity
properties such as
• Reflectivity
conductivity thermal conductivity.
elastic modulus
 INTRODUCTION

 Comment on the image below in terms of the previously discussed.

Translucent Opaque
Transparent Small interconnected Small interconnected
Single crystal single crystals single crystals + voids It can be noted through observation that there
is a difference in optical properties between
the disks.
This is due to the difference in the structure of
the disks (boundaries, voids).
Disks were processed differently, and have
different performance.

Fig 1.2, Callister & Rethwisch 7e.

INTRODUCTION
 Why do we need to study building materials?
- This will help us choose the right material for our creation, taking into consideration three important aspects:
1. Material properties: decide which material properties you need to suit your project (high strength, ductile, etc..).
2. Material deterioration: your choice of material must suit the surrounding conditions (temperature, corrosion, etc).
3. Economics: make some compromises in terms of material properties to reach a more reasonable cost.

Steel Structure Concrete Structure

Image taken from induspray.com Image taken from hawkesgroup.co.uk
INTRODUCTION

 Materials are classified into three categories based on their chemical properties and atomic structure:
1. Metals
2. Ceramics
3. Polymers
 Two or more material classes could be combined to create what is known as the composites.
 High-technology applications use advanced materials: smart materials, nano-engineered materials, biomaterials,
etc.
INTRODUCTION

 Metals (iron, silver, etc..)

- Stiff and strong
- Ductile
- High thermal and electrical conductivity
- Opaque

Fig 1.4, Callister, 7e.

Image taken from tsaos.deviantart.com

INTRODUCTION

 Ceramics (clay, glass, etc..)

- Stiff and strong
- Brittle
- Low electrical and thermal conductivities
(insulators)
- Transparent, translucent, or opaque

Fig 1.6, Callister, 7e.

Image taken from houzz.com

INTRODUCTION

 Polymers (rubber, plastic, etc..)

- Not Stiff or strong
- Ductile
- Chemical nonreactivity
- Low electrical conductivity
- Nonmagnetic

Fig 1.5, Callister, 7e.

Image taken from economist.com

INTRODUCTION

 Composites
- It combines two or more material classes (metals, polymers, ceramics)
- Fiberglass is one example. It combines glass and a polymer, which results in a strong, stiff and ductile material.

Image taken from Image taken from hotrod.com

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