Materials Science: Lithic, Ceramic, Polymer and Metal Materials
Lithic Industry Materials
Lithic industry materials consist of a set of natural stones used as tools, which are obtained directly from nature. The materials obtained after the first artificial modification of natural raw materials, and the synthetic products obtained totally in the laboratory through chemical and industrial processes at high temperatures, are also part of this field.
Ceramics
Ceramics have high hardness, are durable and resist scratches. They are made from abundant clays that are dried and then baked. Naturally formed clays were the first ceramics used, since they are easy to mold, dry and then bake.
Uses of Clays
Clays are used to produce bricks, tiles, slabs and similar products. Porcelain, pottery, dental prostheses and sanitary ware can also withstand demanding conditions.
High-Temperature Applications
Refractories are used at high temperatures in the construction of furnaces, nuclear reactors and the thermal walls of power plants, as well as in exterior coatings.
Cement, Mortar and Concrete
Cement is used in the construction of rockets and other structures. Its materials are plaster, lime or Portland cement. When mixed with water, they form plastic masses that harden over time. Mortar is made by adding sand, and concrete by adding sand and gravel.
Abrasives
Abrasives are used for cutting and surface finishing of metals. Instead of powder, diamond is used in expensive fusion processes.
Vitreous Materials
Vitreous materials are silica and oxide-based structures that are generated with transparent or other properties. Examples include glass, glass-ceramics and fiberglass used in architecture, Vycor and Pyrex, which are temperature resistant, and tableware resistant to acids and chemical aggression.
Polymers
Polymers are chemical compounds formed by monomers, simple molecules containing hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. Polymers can be:
- Natural (rubber, cellulose)
- Artificial (celluloid, rayon)
- Synthetic (polyethylene, melamine)
Plastics are polymers derived from oil. They are organic, light, easily molded and biodegradable, and they resist atmospheric agents and hydrocarbons. Recycling is important for reducing their environmental impact.
Metals and Metallurgy
Metallurgy is the set of processes that go from the extraction of minerals up to the useful metal. Pure metals are used less than in the past, since alloys improve metals and lower production costs.
Steels and Ferrous Metals
Siderurgical products are based on iron. Steels containing chromium are especially used in construction and vehicles.
Precious Metals
Precious metals such as gold, silver, copper and platinum are used in jewelry and electronic circuits because they conduct energy well.
Light Alloys
Light alloys and ultralight materials are formed mainly from aluminum and magnesium. They are used in engine parts, structures and explosive devices.
Superalloys
Superalloys are alloys that are mechanically resistant, such as titanium or cobalt-chromium, and are used in prosthetics and chassis.