As an aspiring engineer, I have taken up some independent studies on the different types of materials that we use on a day-to-day basis, and I have found the following:
Materials science is the study of all materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and electronic materials, focusing on the characteristics and applications of all engineering materials. An essential component of any manufacturing process is the scientists’ decision-making over which materials to employ and how to transform them into useful components.
The most common materials that a material scientist or materials engineer will come across when developing a product are polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites. These materials are known as industrial materials, which stem from the forms of matter.
These materials have wide-ranging applications in the following industries:
Metals: Containers & Packaging, Transportation, Building & Construction, Electrical Industry, Home Appliances
Ceramics: Glass, Abrasives, Refractories (bricks), Cements, Whiteware, Turbine Blades, Space Shuttle Tile
Polymers: Packaging (Film, Containers), Coatings, Structural, Adhesives, Clothing, Household Goods, Electronics, Sporting Goods, Biomedical
Composites: Aircraft, Boats, Automobiles, Sports Equipment
Electronic Materials: Capacitors, Insulators, Resistors, Superconductors, Magnets, Computer Chips
Structural Materials: Bridges, Roadways, Transmission Towers, Buildings, Automobiles, Aircraft
Biomaterials: Bone/Teeth Replacements, Implants, Biomimetics
Altogether, this information shows how crucial materials science is to humanity, and how it also plays a significant role in our world’s future. Starting from glass all the way to insulators, the applications of materials science will be life-changing throughout the course of human history. This has not only deepened my passion for materials science, but it has also strengthened my commitment to making advancements in this field.