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Materials science Study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the material's composition and structure, both macroscopic and microscopic. Materials science grew out of solid-state physics, metallurgy, ceramics, and chemistry, since the numerous properties of materials cannot be understood within the context of any single discipline. With a basic understanding of the origins of properties, materials can be selected or designed for an enormous variety of applications, from structural steels to computer microchips. Materials science is therefore important to many engineering fields, including electronics, aerospace, telecommunications, information processing, nuclear power, and energy conversion. Definitions "Materials are the
stuff from which all things are made, be they mundane household utensils or
sophisticated integrated circuits that drive all of our modern technological
society" (TMS Career Resource Center, n.d.). "Materials Science
encompasses the study of the structure and properties of any material, as well
as using this body of knowledge to create new types of materials, and to tailor
the properties of a material for specific uses. The field encompasses the
spectrum of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), semiconductors,
and combinations of materials called composites" ( A comprehensive PowerPoint presentation is available for download and study: New: Material Science (To be used in conjunction with the 2008 - 2010 past papers.)
For further details and information follow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_science http://www.answers.com/topic/metal http://www.answers.com/topic/polymer |
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