Material Science Flashcards

Which heat treatment process involves heating steel above its critical temperature and then cooling it slowly in the furnace to reduce hardness?

Answer: Annealing

Annealing involves heating steel above its critical temperature and slow furnace cooling to relieve stresses and reduce hardness.

What property describes a material's ability to return to its original shape after the applied stress is removed?

Answer: Elasticity

Elasticity is the ability of a material to recover its original shape and size when the deforming force is removed.

Which type of cast iron contains graphite in a flake form, making it brittle but with excellent compressive strength?

Answer: Gray cast iron

Gray cast iron contains graphite in flake form, which gives it high compressive strength but low tensile strength and brittleness.

What is the purpose of the carbon content in steel alloys for trade applications?

Answer: To control hardness and strength

Carbon content in steel primarily controls its hardness, strength, and hardenability through heat treatment processes.

Which bonding type is responsible for the high melting points and hardness of ceramic materials?

Answer: Ionic and covalent bonding

Ceramics have high melting points and hardness because of strong ionic and covalent bonds between their atoms.

A material that fractures without significant plastic deformation before the breaking point is described as:

Answer: Brittle

Brittle materials fracture suddenly with little or no plastic deformation when stressed beyond their elastic limit.

What is the term for the gradual deformation of a material under constant stress over time, especially at elevated temperatures?

Answer: Creep

Creep is the slow, time-dependent plastic deformation of a material under sustained load, especially significant at high temperatures.