This article covers the thermal analysis and thermal properties of engineering plastics with respect to chemical composition, chain configuration, and/or conformation of the base polymers. The thermal analysis techniques covered are differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and rheological analysis. The basic thermal properties covered include thermal conductivity, temperature resistance, thermal expansion, specific heat, and the determination of glass-transition temperatures. The article further describes various factors influencing the determination of service temperature of a material. Representative examples of different types of engineering thermoplastics are discussed in terms of structure and thermal properties. The article also discusses the thermal and related properties of thermoset resin systems.

The physical properties of a material are those properties that can be measured or characterized without the application of force and without changing material identity. This chapter discusses in detail the common physical properties of metals, namely density, electrical properties, thermal properties, magnetic properties, and optical properties. Some physical properties for a number of metals are given in a table.

Beryllium, despite its relatively simple atomic structure, possesses a wide range of useful engineering properties. It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio and modulus of elasticity among structural metals and is an important alloy addition in copper, nickel, and aluminum alloys. It also has excellent thermal properties, low atomic mass, a small x-ray absorption cross section, and a large neutron scattering cross section. This brief introductory chapter provides an overview of the unique qualities of beryllium along with typical applications and uses.

This chapter describes the molecular structures and chemical reactions associated with the production of thermoset and thermoplastic components. It compares and contrasts the mechanical properties of engineering plastics with those of metals, and explains how fillers and reinforcements affect impact and tensile strength, shrinkage, thermal expansion, and thermal conductivity. It examines the relationship between tensile modulus and temperature, provides thermal property data for selected plastics, and discusses the effect of chemical exposure, operating temperature, and residual stress. The chapter also includes a section on the uses of thermoplastic and thermosetting resins and provides information on fabrication processes and fastening and joining methods.

This chapter provides a thorough review of the crystal structure of beryllium and its elastic, thermal, and nuclear properties. It also includes information on electrical and optical properties and an extensive amount of data in the form of tables and plots.

This article focuses on characterization techniques used for analyzing the physical behavior and chemical composition of thermoset resins, namely chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The main purpose is to give sufficient detail to permit the reader understand a particular test technique and its value to the thermoset resin field. Epoxy resins are emphasized in the examples because they dominate the airframe and aerospace industries. The article also provides information on two categories of characterization of the processing behavior of thermoset. The first studies the thermal properties of reactive thermoset systems, while the second utilizes these thermal characteristics as the basis for monitoring and control during processing.

This appendix is a collection of tables containing thermal, electrical, mechanical, and physical property data for metals under various conditions. It also includes the periodic table of elements.

This chapter presents basic principles and the theoretical results of heat transport in solids. Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity are the principal properties discussed. Discussions are also included on the effects of temperature, magnetic field, and metallurgical variations caused by composition, processing, and heat-treatment differences. Numerous graphs illustrate the qualitative and quantitative effects of these variables. Measurement methods and associated accuracies and pertinent empirical correlations are presented.

Compacted graphite iron (GCI) is a cast iron grade that is engineered through graphite morphology modifications to achieve a combination of thermal and mechanical properties that are in between those of flake graphite iron and ductile iron. This chapter discusses the advantages of compacted graphite iron over gray iron and ductile iron. It presents examples of low- and high-frequency thermal cycling, both of which affect the thermal stresses that castings are exposed to during temperature fluctations. Information on optimum carbon and silicon ranges as well as mechanical property standards for CGI are provided. The chapter describes the critical factors that control CGI and discusses methods of CGI manufacturing.

Generally, binders consist of at least three ingredients: a backbone to provide strength (compounds such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polystyrene); a filler, such as polyacetal and paraffin wax, to occupy space between particles; and additives, such as stearates, stearic acid, or magnesium stearate, as well as phosphates and sulfonates, to adjust viscosity, lubricate tooling, disperse particles, or induce binder wetting of the powder. In the case of binders deposited via ink jet printing, the binder contains solvents to lower the viscosity for easier jetting. The chapter provides a detailed description of these constituents. The requirements of a binder as well as the factors determining the physical and thermal properties of polymers are discussed. Then, two factors associated with solvation of polymers, namely solubility parameter and wetting, are covered. The chapter ends with information on the specification of polymers used in binders.

This chapter provides an overview of the physical metallurgy of beryllium, discussing phases and phase transformations, physical and mechanical properties, heat treatment, and alloying. It explains how the atomic structure of beryllium, particularly its sp hybrid state, contributes to the anisotropy of elastic constants and slip properties, resulting in a specific stiffness, or modulus-to-density ratio, six times higher than that of any other structural material.

Composite systems for cryogenic applications are discussed in this chapter. This chapter emphasizes filamentary-reinforced composites because they are the most widely used composite materials. It begins with a discussion on the approach to designing and fabricating with low-pressure laminate composites. This is followed by a section providing an overview of the materials in modern cryogenic technology. Then, the chapter describes the effect of cryogenic temperatures on materials properties; it also introduces the various joining techniques developed for composite materials. The effects of radiation on the properties of the materials are covered as well as the processes involved in testing laminates at cryogenic temperatures. Finally, the chapter provides information available on concrete aggregate composites.

This article introduces procedures an engineer or materials scientist can use to investigate failures. It provides a brief survey of polymer systems and key properties that need to be measured during failure analysis. The article begins with an overview of the problem-solving approach pertinent to structure analysis. This is followed by a review of the characterization of plastics by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The article then provides information on the distribution of molecular weight of an engineering plastic. It further discusses the methods used in thermal analysis, namely differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, thermal-mechanical analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The following sections provide details on X-ray diffraction for analyzing crystalline phases and on a minimal scheme for polymer analysis and characterization to assist the design engineer. The article ends with a discussion on the thermal-analytical scheme for analyzing the milligram quantities of polymer samples.

This chapter discusses the basic principles of induction heating and related engineering considerations. It describes the design and operation of induction coils, the magnitude and distribution of magnetic fields, and the forces that generate eddy currents in metals. It explains how induced electrical current causes metal to heat in proportion to their electrical resistance and how it affects temperature dependent properties such as resistivity and specific heat and, in turn, heating rates and efficiencies. It also discusses the effect of hysteresis and explains why eddy currents tend to be confined to the outer surface of the workpiece, a phenomenon known as the skin effect. The chapter includes several data plots showing how the depth of heating varies with frequency and how heating time, power density, and thermal conduction rate correspond with hardening depth.

Ceramic-matrix composites possess many of the desirable qualities of monolithic ceramics, but are much tougher because of the reinforcements. This chapter explains how reinforcements are used in ceramic-matrix composites and how they alter energy-dissipating mechanisms and load-carrying behaviors. It compares the stress-strain curves for monolithic ceramics and ceramic-matrix composites, noting improvements afforded by the addition of reinforcements. It then goes on to discuss the key attributes, properties, and applications of discontinuously reinforced ceramic composites, continuous fiber ceramic composites, and carbon-carbon composites. It also describes a number of ceramic-matrix composite processing methods, including cold pressing and sintering, hot pressing, reaction bonding, directed metal oxidation, and liquid, vapor, and polymer infiltration.

Fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composites have carved out a niche in applications requiring high strength to weight ratios, but they are susceptible to failure when exposed to high temperatures and cyclic loads. This chapter discusses the obstacles that must be overcome to improve the creep-fatigue behavior of these otherwise promising materials. It addresses six areas that have been the focus of intense research, including thermal-expansion and elastic-viscoplastic mismatch, thermally induced biaxiality and interply stresses, creep and cyclic relaxation of residual stresses, and enhanced interfaces for oxidation.

Beryllium is an important additive in the production of amorphous metal alloys, achieving low density and high strength. It also plays a role in amorphous alloys that can be slowly cooled and still retain their amorphous structure. This chapter provides information on the development of amorphous alloys that contain beryllium and the applications for which they are suited.