"Materials science is an interdisciplinary field of researching and discovering materials. Materials engineering is an engineering field of finding uses for materials in other fields and industries."
The study of the properties and uses of different materials, including their environmental impact and sustainability.
Structure of materials: The relationship between the atomic and molecular structure of materials and their properties, including crystal structure, defects, and microstructure.
Properties of materials: Physical, mechanical, electrical, and thermodynamic properties of materials, including elasticity, ductility, hardness, conductivity, and thermal expansion.
Material selection: The process of selecting materials for specific applications based on their properties and cost, including trade-offs between different properties and environmental considerations.
Processing of materials: Techniques used to modify the structure and properties of materials, including forming, machining, welding, and coating.
Corrosion and degradation: The role of environmental factors in the degradation of materials over time, including corrosion, weathering, and aging.
Sustainability: The impact of material selection, processing, and disposal on the environment and society, including embodied energy, life cycle assessment, and green technologies.
Recycling and waste management: Strategies for minimizing the environmental impact of materials through reuse, recycling, and waste reduction, including regulatory policies and economic incentives.
Materials characterization: Techniques for analyzing the structure and properties of materials, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and mechanical testing.
Nanomaterials: The unique properties and applications of materials at the nanoscale, including nanotechnology, nanocomposites, and nanofabrication.
Biomaterials: The use of materials in medical devices and implants, including biocompatibility, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Nanomaterials engineering: This branch of materials science deals with the design and development of materials on a nano-scale level.
Biomaterials engineering: This involves the creation and analysis of materials that are compatible with living tissue and can be applied to the human body to replace or repair damaged tissues.
Sustainable materials engineering: It comprises the design and development of materials and processes that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Composite materials engineering: It involves the combination of two or more materials to develop new materials that exhibit the sought-after properties of each individual component.
Metallurgical engineering: This branch focuses on the study and manipulation of metals and alloys, leading to the enhancement of existing materials and the development of new materials with improved properties.
Polymer engineering: This area of research is dedicated to designing and discovering polymers, which can be used in various applications such as coatings, adhesives, and plastics.
Electronic materials engineering: It involves designing and developing materials that have unique electrical properties in various applications such as semiconductors, robotics, photovoltaics, and more.
Materials characterization: It involves the analysis of the structure, composition, and properties of materials through various techniques.
Ceramic engineering: This branch of materials science deals with the design, manufacture, and testing of ceramics for applications such as energy storage, electronics, and aerospace.
Materials informatics: It combines materials science, computational techniques, and data science to expedite the discovery and development of new materials.
Surface and interface science: This area involves the study of surface and interface properties, such as adhesion, friction, and reactivity, which are critical to forming reliable interfaces between materials.
Corrosion engineering: It involves the study of the materials' ability to deteriorate over time and develops effective methods to prevent or slow down the process.
Optical materials engineering: This area deals with the design and manufacture of materials used in various applications such as data storage, instrumentation, sensors, and imaging.
Magnetic materials engineering: It involves the design and synthesis of materials that exhibit magnetic properties, such as high magnetic permeability, magnetic hysteresis, and magnetoresistance.
Structural materials engineering: It focuses on the design and development of materials used in various applications such as construction, transportation, and energy.
Computational materials science: It involves using computer simulations to study the properties and behavior of materials, leading to the development of new materials with desired characteristics.
Textile engineering: This area involves the design and manufacture of textiles and fabrics, which are used in various applications such as fashion, medical, and sports.
Geomaterials engineering: This branch of materials science deals with the study of geological materials such as rocks, minerals, and soils, leading to their use in various engineering applications.
Energy materials engineering: It comprises the design and development of materials used in various energy storage and conversion applications, such as batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells.
Packaging engineering: This field involves designing and developing materials used in various packaging applications such as food and beverage packaging, shipping containers, and consumer goods packaging.
"The intellectual origins of materials science stem from the Age of Enlightenment, when researchers began to use analytical thinking from chemistry, physics, and engineering to understand ancient, phenomenological observations in metallurgy and mineralogy."
"As such, the field was long considered by academic institutions as a sub-field of these related fields."
"Beginning in the 1940s, materials science began to be more widely recognized as a specific and distinct field of science and engineering."
"The understanding of processing-structure-properties relationships is called the materials paradigm."
"This paradigm is used to advance understanding in a variety of research areas, including nanotechnology, biomaterials, and metallurgy."
"Materials science is also an important part of forensic engineering and failure analysis – investigating materials, products, structures, or components, which fail or do not function as intended, causing personal injury or damage to property."
"Such investigations are key to understanding, for example, the causes of various aviation accidents and incidents."
"Materials scientists emphasize understanding how the history of a material (processing) influences its structure, and thus the material's properties and performance."
"Materials science still incorporates elements of physics, chemistry, and engineering."
"Materials engineering is an engineering field of finding uses for materials in other fields and industries."
"Major technical universities around the world created dedicated schools for its study."
"The understanding of processing-structure-properties relationships is called the materials paradigm."
"...research areas, including nanotechnology, biomaterials, and metallurgy."
"...understand ancient, phenomenological observations in metallurgy and mineralogy."
"...investigating materials, products, structures, or components, which fail or do not function as intended, causing personal injury or damage to property."
"...investigating materials, products, structures, or components, which fail or do not function as intended..."
"Beginning in the 1940s, materials science began to be more widely recognized as a specific and distinct field of science and engineering."
"When researchers began to use analytical thinking from chemistry, physics, and engineering to understand ancient, phenomenological observations in metallurgy and mineralogy."
"...incorporates elements of physics, chemistry, and engineering."