Page 38 - Materials Science and Engineering An Introduction
P. 38
10 • Chapter 1 / Introduction
Figure 1.10 Common objects made of
ceramic materials: scissors, a china teacup, a
building brick, a floor tile, and a glass vase.
© William D. Callister, Jr.
other material types (Figures 1.5 and 1.6). However, on the basis of their low densities,
many times their stiffnesses and strengths on a per-mass basis are comparable to those
of the metals and ceramics. In addition, many of the polymers are extremely ductile
and pliable (i.e., plastic), which means they are easily formed into complex shapes. In
general, they are relatively inert chemically and unreactive in a large number of environ-
ments. One major drawback to the polymers is their tendency to soften and/or decom-
pose at modest temperatures, which, in some instances, limits their use. Furthermore,
they have low electrical conductivities (Figure 1.8) and are nonmagnetic.
Figure 1.11 shows several articles made of polymers that are familiar to the reader.
Tutorial Video: Chapters 14 and 15 are devoted to discussions of the structures, properties, applications,
Polymers and processing of polymeric materials.
Figure 1.11 Several common objects
made of polymeric materials: plastic
tableware (spoon, fork, and knife), billiard
balls, a bicycle helmet, two dice, a lawn
mower wheel (plastic hub and rubber tire),
and a plastic milk carton.
© William D. Callister, Jr.
