Materials Characterization and the Selection Process

Selecting a material is one of the most critical design decisions an engineer can make. With the advent of new age materials and evolving technology in manufacturing processes, there is a tremendous opportunity for innovation in design by utilizing the materials in products that provide greater performance at lower cost. Compromises and trade-offs among various design variables are routinely made and factors that are important in one system may be insignificant in another. In this self-guided digital course, students will learn " with the help of rich visuals, narrated animations, demonstration videos, and interactive quizzes " how to evaluate the various factors that impact material selection for component design. The course also includes real world case studies in materials selection for different products, based on their design specifications.

Target Audience: 

• Design Engineers
• Operators
• Technicians
• Process Engineers
• QA Managers
• Product Development Specialists
• Sales and Purchasing Professionals
• Anyone with an interest in metallurgy

Learning Objectives:

• List the main categories of material properties that must be consid­ered in design
• Summarize the service requirements that affect materials selection
• Describe the materials selection process
• List the resources available to aid in the materials selection process

Course Outline

• Engineering materials including metals, polymers, ceramics, composites
• Material properties and characterization: Mechanical property considerations, Engineering property considerations, Commercial property considerations
• Case Studies- Electric knife, Bicycle, Automobile exhaust system
• Specifications and Classification