What is Materials: Definition and 980 Discussions

A material is a substance or mixture of substances that constitutes an object. Materials can be pure or impure, living or non-living matter. Materials can be classified based on their physical and chemical properties, or on their geological origin or biological function. Materials science is the study of materials and their applications.
Raw materials can be processed in different ways to influence their properties, by purification, shaping or the introduction of other materials. New materials can be produced from raw materials by synthesis.
In industry, materials are inputs to manufacturing processes to produce products or more complex materials.

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  1. K

    Supercooled magnet- effects on other materials?

    If I were to take a permanent magnet and hold a piece of, say iron, a fixed distance away there would be constant attractive force generated between the two bodies. If I were then to cool the magnet down towards absolute zero, but keep the temperature of the iron constant, what changes would I...
  2. M

    Need Solutions Manual for Mechanics of Materials

    Need Solutions Manual for "Mechanics of Materials" I am trying to locate someone that has a solutions manual for "Mechanics of Materials" Edition 4 by Beer, Johnston and Dewolf...copyright about 2005. If anyone has one or happens to know where to get one or where to look I would be...
  3. A

    Dielectric Constants & Breakdown of Various Materials

    I need a huge table of the dielectric consant and breakdown of various materials... I have looked all over the net but can only find small tables with 5-10 materials...
  4. S

    Creating the Perfect Battery: Positive, Negative & Acid Materials

    What materials for positive pole, negative pole and what acid when put together create a perfect battery? (I'm not talking about everyday purpose for a batery (so never-mind how bio-hazardous a material is), but a theoretical (greatest voltage, greatest current possible, yet stable enough (so...
  5. J

    Virtually indestructible materials, say adamantium.

    virtually indestructible materials, say "adamantium." I want to know if this would be possible. Imagine a bicycle wheel, with the spokes and all, in your mind. Now, visualize the center of the wheel, where all the spokes more or less meet. Rotate it in your mind say at the center about 5...
  6. T

    Calculating Torque and Strength of Materials

    Im including a scan of the problem and my work, please let me know if I did this right. Sorry about the sloppy handwriting. http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6521/strengthsproblem3rk.th.jpg http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8866/strengthsworkedout1rw.th.jpg
  7. F

    Different materials - Elastic modulus

    Hi This looks like an easy question but I'm stumped and would appreciate some help. A rod is made of two sections joined end to end. The sections are identical, except that one is steel and the other is brass. While one end is held fixed, the other is pulled to result in a change in...
  8. M

    Materials that effect fields from Perminant magnets?

    hi all, Please can you help list materials that can be used to Block, Reduce, Stabilize, Increase or react with the fields from perminant magnets il start with Graphite: A Magnetic Stabilizer Coper: A Magnetic Inductor
  9. R

    Lower Frequencies pass through materials easier?

    This is a question that has been bugging me for quite and long time and I have been searching on the Internet, but having no luck. So, why does lower frequency sound pass through materials much easier then higher? Thanks, Rich
  10. Astronuc

    Units, Conversions and some useful materials data

    http://www.simetric.co.uk/ " Info on SI Units " SI Unit Descriptions " SI Derived Units " SI Prefixes (mega, giga) " Imperial/UK Units " Scientific Notation --(i.e. what is 1.00E+09) " Metric Forum " Feet to metres calculator " Metres to feet calculator " British Thermal Units...
  11. B

    Bicycle design and materials tehnology

    Any good sites/other resources that I could look at?
  12. J

    Materials Science Ballistics: Investigating Strain and Recrystalization

    I have been given kind of a bonus question that requires a little thinking and I wanted to ask if I am going in the right direction with my thinking as I am new to Materials Science. Given: Ballistics test in which a high velocity projectile is fired at a block of material. Isotropic. Does...
  13. Astronuc

    Materials Models and Simulations for Nuclear Fuels

    Scope The MMSNF Workshops aim at stimulating research and discussions on modelling and simulations of nuclear fuels and coupling the results with fuel performance codes. The aspect of fission-product modelling (not only important for fuel performance but also with respect to safety) is...
  14. K

    SUVAT Equations: AS Exam Prep for OCR Physics

    Hey, I'm currently studying for an AS exam in Physics under the OCR examination board, i got an exam in like 10 weeks and I am doing ok with physics, the only place i need to develop my understanding is using SUVAT equations, i understand them, memorized them but i haven't practised them...
  15. Facial

    Why isn't magnesia extensively used in refractory ceramics?

    Zirconia has a very high melting point, about 2700C. This is the primary reason why it is used as a refractory. However, after some preliminary searches, I found another common ceramic material with a melting point higher than that of zirconia - magnesia (MgO), with a melting temperature of...
  16. Astronuc

    Materials issues in the radiation environment

    This is rather useful. While it covers primarily materials issues in the Tokamak environment, the issues concerning the performance of materials in an irradiation environment are generic. ITER - Materials R&D - http://www.iter.org/MaterialsRD.htm In Light and Heavy Water Reactor...
  17. D

    What materials have the lowest attenuation for electromagnetic signals?

    Hi to all ... Reading yesterday about optical fibers i have noticed that the fibers have a small attenuation so they are suitable for long distances.. I was wondering where i can find a table that show materials and the atenuation they provide to electromagnetic signals... I am really peculiar...
  18. T

    Can Heat Absorbing Materials Improve Fuel Cell Efficiency?

    Are there materials that can absorb/trap heat and accumulate it efficiently?
  19. Cyrus

    History of Strenght of Materials by Timoshenko

    "History of Strenght of Materials" by Timoshenko I just bought "History of Strenght of Materials" by Timoshenko = = GOD. Anyone else read it? As an ME, I want to read all the books on the history of ME, so that I know as much about my profession as possible. I really am starting to like...
  20. Facial

    Flywheel Materials: Carbon Fiber, Steel & Fiberglass

    It's come upon my interest that besides capacitors, flywheels can also be used to store considerable amounts of energy at impressive levels. The best material is supposedly carbon fiber, since it can spin at high speeds. But what about other materials like steel fibers or fiberglass? Those...
  21. S

    Materials manufactured by cells

    Can anyone list some substances other than penicillian and insulin that are produced by organizms. It seems like most complex molocuels are produced by everything but chemical engineers. Am I correct in thinking that this is because it is very difficult to produce specific complex molocuels on a...
  22. S

    Materials That Retract When Electrified | Scott

    Are there any known materials that will retract significantly when an electric current is run through it? I mean will it conduct electrons, but also take them in and form bonds causing the sample to retract. Thanks, -Scott
  23. A

    Seger equation for ceramics materials

    for ceramics materials, is there something called a seger equation or something? if so, how do you calculate that?
  24. Cyrus

    Designing a Beam for Materials Class Project

    I have to design a beam for my Materials Class design project to be tested on a univ. bending machine. We have to be within 2.5" by 5" in max size, and 24" long. I wrote a MATLAB prog to calculate every possible configuration to optimize what sizes to pick for a block, a T beam and an I beam...
  25. M

    Failures of Nuclear Reactors Materials

    Please Kindly porvide information about the failure of nuclear reactors materials
  26. Astronuc

    STRENGTH OF MATERIALS (Mech E Tutorial)

    http://physics.uwstout.edu/StatStr/Strength/indexfbt.htm#STATICS%20&%20STRENGTH%20OF%20MATERIAL The above link has become inactive (the author, Robert Foley has apparently retired), but another professor has put the course notes into a pdf...
  27. Cyrus

    Understanding Internal Moments in Mechanics of Materials

    In mechanics of materials we often look at elemental cubes or planar squares, and we write the normal stress and shear stress acting on the faces. Why are the internal moments acting on each face omited? When we cut a frame-machine, we include a shear, normal and moment, why not for the...
  28. Cyrus

    Mechanics of materials dx,dz,dz

    Im taking mechanics of materials. One of the things they talk about is cutting out a small elemental cube of a rigid body, that has sides dx,dz,dz. Is it always true that dy,dx, and dz have the same infinitesimal size? I thought that they would not necessarily be the same size, which could give...
  29. S

    Measuring Dielectric Constants of Materials in a Parallel Plate Capacitor

    I wanted to find the dielectric constant of different materials placed in a parallel plate capacitor using the equation: K = \frac{E_{dielectric}}{E_{original}} Where E = \frac{V}{d} I would use sensors connected to a computer to measure the voltage and i could easily measure the...
  30. T

    Radiation effects on materials.

    Can anyone point me toward a good resource that relates the effects of radiation on materials? I had asked my material science professor about it, but it seems we do not cover it in this introductory class. This class is the only material science class I have to take, and I want to learn more.
  31. M

    Hi friends about metallurgical & materials engineering

    I'm studying at Physics ,but I am interested in materials engineering,and I want to learn more about M.M.E.in the world. :confused: thanks, maria
  32. R

    Materials for physics project

    Hey guys, I looked in the science projects sticky and got a good idea for my physics project due on Friday. He only gave us a week to do it, so it doesn't really have to be all that complex, you basically get an A just for doing one, and the better you present it, the higher the A will be...
  33. M

    What materials are used in a nuclear reactor?

    [SOLVED] Materials for Nuclear Reactor Please briefly explain the Materials which are used in nuclear reactor. such canning material, moderator etc. :confused:
  34. Cyrus

    Mechanics of Materials: Design Analysis of Structural Elements 4th Ed.

    Hey, I just bought my book for mechanics of materials from the book store. Apparently its used in teaching statics and mechanics of materials all in one. I already took statics with Hibbeler, and I really did enjoy that book. It was VERY thorough. I looked through this books statics and felt...
  35. Cyrus

    Design Analysis of Structural Elements: Mechanics of Materials Review

    Hey, I just bought my book for mechanics of materials from the book store. Apparently its used in teaching statics and mechanics of materials all in one. I already took statics with Hibbeler, and I really did enjoy that book. It was VERY thorough. I looked through this books statics and felt...
  36. I

    Materials safe for food machines

    I've recently drawn up several machines that handle food. However I wanted to know if there are any materials that I should stay away from, for handling food. To clarify, I would like to go to a harware store to pick up supplies, but is it ok to run liquids or store food in pvc for example...
  37. D

    Mechanics of Materials Bending Stres Problem

    Mechanics of Materials Bending Stress Problem Hi, I have a homework problem for mechanics of materials involving bending stress. Here is the exact wording: "Show that the maxiumum bending stress for a beam of rectangular cross-section is Omax = Mc/I [(2n + 1) / (3n)] if instead of...
  38. S

    Where Can I Find Comprehensive Books on Ceramic Materials?

    Are there any good books out there which contain information about ceramics like silicon carbide, silicon nitride, etc., how they are manufactured, history, etc?
  39. S

    Materials Database: Fiberglass & Carbon Fiber Properties

    does anyone know of a good online materials database for their properties more specifically i am looking for fiberglass and/or carbon fiber properties thanks
  40. 6

    Strength of materials and special relativity

    While mowing the grass, I thought of the following problem (to take my mind off of the heat!) Consider a vertical column of water in a container. The pressure exerted by the water on the sides of the container is rho x g x h, where rho is the density of the water, h is the height of the column...
  41. W

    Melting points of finite-sized materials

    Hi, does anybody know why the melting points of materials drop down when its size gets smaller down to nano-scale? For a nano particle set in another high-melting-point material, how does its Tm go?
  42. H

    Nature and Properties of materials

    Hi all ,, i have a course on nature and properties of materials next semester,,If u guys can pls advice me some good book which have nice coverage of the following topics ,,it will be highly appreciated. ESO 214 NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS, 3-1-3-1-5 Examples of materials...
  43. H

    How Does the Divergence of Magnetic Field Relate to Magnetizing Fields?

    Hi I am trying to derive the relation between magnetic field strength in materials and magnetizing field from the $\mathbf B$ field. More exactly, my question is: how do we get this expression $\nabla \centerdot \mathbf H = - \nabla \centerdot \mathbf M$ \\ knowing...
  44. T

    Young's Modulus for Two Materials connected

    If Aluminum and steel are connected as one rod, and are attached to the wall and is pulled upon. How would the change in length for each material of the rod be calculated? I'm given that the Aluminum section is twice as long as the steel section, and the total change in length of the whole rod...
  45. M

    Mangetostriction in antiferromagnetic materials

    I am interested in mangetostriction in antiferromagnetic materials and the machanism of it, would you like to give me some advice? Thank you sincerely.
  46. exequor

    Investigating Beta Particle Backscatter from Foil Materials

    I am designing an experiment to investigate how the number of beta particles scattered backwards depends on the thickness of a foil and the proton number of the foil material. I have an idea of what I will do, i.e. I will have the beta particles fired at the foil and place a GM tube next to the...
  47. D

    What are the materials needed to make a simple electromagnetic bell?

    what are the materials needed to make a simple electromagnetic bell? pleasezzzzzzzzzzzzz i've searched all over the web and would you believe it, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE PLACE THAT EXPALINS HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE ELECTROMAGNETIC BELL! i need to make one for this marking period, but I'm not quite...
  48. C

    Internal Forces in Coaxial Bars of Different Materials

    i have attached a doc file. it shows two coaxial circular bars of different material and a force(30kn) is applied in the top. I think the internal forces in both the bars will be 30kn. Am i correct. bar1 is made of steel and bar 2 of aluminium. the total length of the structure is 10metres.
  49. Astronuc

    MIT Courses - Nuclear Plant Safety and Materials Reliability

    MIT Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems (CANES) Courses for Professionals Nuclear Plant Safety: 20-24 June 2005 http://web.mit.edu/canes/education/plantsafety.html and Materials Reliability in Nuclear Power Systems: 27 June - 1 July 2005...
  50. N

    Building Grade 5 Titanium Battlebot: Materials & Tips

    This year my high school entered a battlebot into Battlebots IQ and we got 6 out of over 60 battlebots but I’m not here to brag. We had a full body spinner made out of Grade 5 (Military Grade) Titanium and 4 interchangeable Hardened S7 Tool steel Teeth each attached to the shell with 6 l9 bolts...
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