Classification of materials
I. Classification of Materials
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Materials can be classified based on their properties, such as electrical, magnetic, thermal, mechanical, or optical properties.
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Broadly, materials are divided into three main groups: metals, polymers and ceramics.
II. Metals
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Metals are typically hard, have good thermal and electrical conductivity, and are malleable and ductile.
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They're generally characterised by their lustrous appearance, though not all of them are shiny.
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Metals can be further subdivided into ferrous (containing iron) and non-ferrous metals.
III. Polymers
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Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers.
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They have a wide range of properties and can be flexible like plastic bags or rigid like Perspex.
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Polymers are typically used for their insulating and chemical resistance properties.
IV. Ceramics
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Ceramics are hard, brittle, heat and corrosion resistant materials.
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They're generally poor conductors of electricity and heat.
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Ceramics, such as glass and clay products, are often used in applications where hardness, wear resistance, or insulation is needed.
V. Composite Materials
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Composite materials combine two or more materials to meet specific engineering requirements not met by individual materials.
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The properties of composite materials are a combination of the properties of the constituent materials.
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An example of a composite material is fibreglass, which is made of fine glass fibres combined with a plastic.
VI. Smart Materials
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Smart materials respond to changes in their environment (like temperature changes) with a substantial change in their properties.
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This includes shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials, and photochromic materials.
VII. Nano-scale Materials
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Nano-scale materials have particle sizes in the nanometre range.
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These materials possess unique physical and chemical properties due to their size.
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Such materials are used in a variety of applications in medicine, electronics, and materials science.