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Why is materials engineering important?
What does a materials engineer do? |
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Why is materials engineering important?
Materials engineering is very important. Everything that is human-made is composed of a material that has been carefully engineered to have specific properties — properties that have advantages over natural materials. What does a materials engineer do? We do a lot of things. One primary activity is the development of new or improved materials. Making a stronger metal or a high-temperature composite or a lighter plastic can have huge benefits — fuel efficient, cost savings, better performance. In some cases, a new or improved engineered material can spark an entirely new invention or industry. An easy example is the discovery of bronze, ages ago, which revolutionized tools and warfare for ancient peoples, or the development of implantable materials for joint replacements in humans. Our work enables new discoveries and improvements in our way of life. Some materials engineers use their experience to help solve material failures, i.e. failure analysis. One example includes the discovery that burning jet fuel was hot enough to soften the steel beams in the Twin Towers, leading to their collapse on 9/11. Another example is the determination that a hardened rubber O-ring was the cause of the explosion that destroyed the Challenger space shuttle. Materials science can be a major component in solving important mysteries. |
| Types of Materials |
| Materials |