Industrial Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Classification of Industrial Materials

A material is any substance that can be changed, both physically and chemically, to fabricate an object or part of an object. In the manufacturing processes used to convert raw materials, their types can be classified as:

• Natural materials: These are raw materials that have undergone hardly any change.
• Artificial materials: They are the result of the transformation of other materials or commodities.
• Synthetics: Created entirely in the laboratory.

Abundant Earth's crust materials, such as iron and aluminum, have been used in industry relatively recently. In the twentieth century, plastic polymers obtained from oil appeared on the scene, which began to be used to manufacture many products. Plastics eventually replaced other products.

Commercial Formats of Industrial Products

In the market, industrial products are available in different formats based on the functional selection of the desired application. These commercial forms can be classified into:

• Semi-finished products: Obtained from the transformation of basic raw materials; they require shaping and finishing.
• Finished products: Generally obtained from semi-finished products.
• Products made: Finished products which have been given a specific form and subsequent treatment.

Criteria for Selecting Materials

To make a proper selection of materials, you should keep the following points in mind:

• Form and function: Relate to the aesthetic qualities and usefulness of the object.
• Material properties: These include physical, chemical, and aesthetic properties.
• Construction process: We must bear in mind that materials are chosen to work with the available tools.
• Availability and cost: It is important that the material has a reasonable cost, considering both the initial acquisition and the cost of processes that can work the object.
• Environmental impact: Be sure to choose a material that is environmentally friendly, considering both the extraction of natural materials and possible later reuse and recycling.

Key Material Properties

• Physicochemical: Properties that indicate how the material reacts chemically in contact with others.
• Mechanical: Behavior of materials describing their reaction to external forces.
• Thermal (Heat): Describe how materials behave mechanically in relation to temperature.
• Optical: Determine if the materials are transparent and their color.
• Electromagnetic: Show the electric and magnetic behavior of materials.