An Introduction to Different Types of Material
There are many types of
materials that are most commonly used in daily life. The knowledge of different
types of materials allows for the comparison of everyday materials, for
example, different types of wood, rock, metal, paper, and plastic, according to
their properties.
The properties of
material include hardness, strength, flexibility and magnetic behaviour. Different
types of material and their properties can be used in the making of many
different objects which can be used in day-to-day life. For instance, the
hardness of iron, ductility of gold, and silver, the conductivity of copper
etc. Let us learn more about such materials and their properties ahead.
Different Types of
Materials
Biomaterials
A biomaterial is any
substance that can be engineered for interaction with biological systems for a
medical purpose. For example, they are used for therapeutic purposes, i.e. to
treat, augment, repair or replace a tissue function of the body or a diagnostic
one. The study of biomaterials is known as biomaterials science or biomaterials
engineering. Biomaterials science encompasses the elements of medicine,
biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science.
Ceramics
Ceramic is a non-metallic
material made up of inorganic molecules. The ceramic is normally prepared by
heating a powder or slurry. So many common ceramics are made up of oxides
or nitride compounds, high in a crystalline form with long-range molecular
order. The ceramics are halfway or fully amorphous and with no long-range
molecular order. These are typically classified into glassy materials.
Metals
The metals are malleable
comparatively. The metals are optically reflective and electrically conductive.
Mostly the metals and alloys can be easily shaped by forming. The metals
disassociate electron bonding and make them good conductors of electricity and
heat. Each metal has an orderly arrangement of atoms, resulting in a
crystalline structure that may have multiple crystal phases bordering each
other.
Nanomaterials
The nanomaterial is
defined as the material with any external dimension in the nanoscale or having
an internal structure or surface structure in the nanoscale. The nanoscale is
defined as the length range, approximately from 1 nm to 100 nm. This includes
both nano-objects and nanostructured materials.
The nanomaterials are
discrete pieces of material, and the nanostructured material has an internal or
surface structure on the nanoscale. The nanomaterial can be a member of both
these categories.
Wood
Wood is called a
composite material. It is made from lignin and cellulose. It uses a lignin
matrix and cellulose fibre to form a polymer composite. The lignin helps to
hold the cellulose compressively in place so that the cellulose fibre can carry
the tensile loads. Wood has excellent structural properties in light of its low
weight and high strength.
Different Types of Materials
Different Types of
Materials and Their Properties
Materials can also be
explained based on their properties. It is important to understand the
material's properties to decide whether the material is suitable for its
use. When we talk about a material's properties, we mention the features
we can sense, measure or test. For example, if we have any kind of sample of
metal in front of us, we can identify what the colour of that material is,
whether it is hard or shiny.
Testing the materials
shows that they can conduct heat and electricity and that they will react with
an acid. These are some properties of metals, which enable us to identify them.
Image Showing Properties of Different Materials
Physical and Chemical Properties
Almost all materials
contain physical properties. A physical property is a property that a person
can measure without changing the material. Examples of physical properties are
colour, amount, hardness, and temperature.
Similarly, materials
also have chemical properties. A chemical property tells us how a material will
change into a different substance under specific conditions. For example, some
metals rust if they are kept out in the rain. Paper and wood burn to ashes if
they come in contact with the flame.
Summary
Any type of substance
used to make something is known as material. For example, the school desk can
be prepared from wood, plastic, or metal or a mixture of all three materials.
When any kind of object is designed and made, it is very important to choose
the best material for the job. Materials have certain qualities or properties.
For example, the properties of materials include strength, colour, and
hardness, which must be considered carefully. Some other factors, such as cost
and availability, are also important.
