Materials science and materials engineering

When materials are viewed from the vantage point of how they are processed and used rather than from the science that underlies and explains their behavior, it is difficult to differentiate problems associated with different classes of materials; hence, the trend toward materials scientists and engineers.     

Triple lines in materials science and engineering

We assess the impact of triple lines in materials preparation and use by considering several examples of materials behavior in which they have identifiable effects. The microstructural roles of triple lines are also considered and some persistent scientific questions are raised.     

Aqueous processing in materials science and engineering

Reviews of aqueous processing in JOM have traditionally focused on hydrometallurgical process routes. This article, however, addresses the application of aqueous processing in materials engineering and presents some promising developments that employ aqueous-based routes for the manufacture of high-tech components and specialty products. Such applications include producing metallic and ceramic powders; etching; surface modification by electroplating and electroless plating; manufacturing jewelry and intricate components by electroforming; and producing advanced ceramics, composites, and nanophase materials by sol-gel and biomimetic processing.     

Biological issues in materials science and engineering: Interdisciplinarity and the bio-materials paradigm

Biological systems and processes have had, and continue to have, important implications and applications in materials extraction, processing, and performance. This paper illustrates some interdisciplinary, biological issues in materials science and engineering. These include metal extraction involving bacterial catalysis, galvanic couples, bacterial-assisted corrosion and degradation of materials, biosorption and bioremediation of toxic and other heavy metals, metal and material implants and prostheses and related dental and medical biomaterials developments and applications, nanomaterials health benefits and toxicity issue, and biomimetics and biologically inspired materials developments. These and other examples provide compelling evidence and arguments for emphasizing biological sicences in materials science and engineering curricula and the implementation of a bio-materials paradigm to facilitate the emergence of innovative interdisciplinarity involving the biological sciences and materials sciences and engineering. Enhanced for the Web This article appears on the JOM web site (www.tms.org/JOMPT) in html format and includes links to additional on-line resources.     

Computational materials science and engineering education: A survey of trends and needs

Results from a recent reassessment of the state of computational materials science and engineering (CMSE) education are reported. Surveys were distributed to the chairs and heads of materials programs, faculty members engaged in computational research, and employers of materials scientists and engineers, mainly in the United States. The data was compiled to assess current course offerings related to CMSE, the general climate for introducing computational methods in MSE curricula, and the requirements from the employers’ viewpoint. Furthermore, the available educational resources and their utilization by the community are examined. The surveys show a general support for integrating computational content into MSE education. However, they also reflect remaining issues with implementation, as well as a gap between the tools being taught in courses and those that are used by employers. Overall, the results suggest the necessity for a comprehensively developed vision and plans to further the integration of computational methods into MSE curricula.     

Complexion: A new concept for kinetic engineering in materials science

Interfaces and the movement of atoms within an interface play a crucial role in determining the processing and properties of virtually all materials. However, the nature of interfaces in solids is highly complex and it has been an ongoing challenge to link material performance with the internal interface structure and related atomic transport mechanisms. Interface complexions offer a missing link to help solve this universal problem. We have theoretically predicted the existence of multiple interface complexions by thermodynamics, but the present work represents the most comprehensive characterization and proof of their existence in a real material system. An interface complexion can be considered as a separate phase, which can be made to transform into different complexions (phases) with vastly different properties by chemistry and heat treatment, thereby enabling the engineering control of material properties on a level not previously realizable. As such, complexions offer a solution to outstanding fundamental scientific mysteries, such as the origin of abnormal grain growth in inorganic materials, a problem which leading researchers in the field have struggled to explain for the past 50 years. It is also described how interface complexions will likely have widespread impact across all branches of material science and related disciplines.