Manufacturing materials

Abstract

An engineer must have a good knowledge of the types and properties of materials from which a product can be manufactured. The material must not be so expensive as to make the product uncompetitive in the market place, yet it must possess all the characteristics necessary for the functioning of the product. Factors such as cost, strength, hardness, and how easily it can be worked must be considered carefully by the designer. Although there is already a wide range of materials available, research and development ensure that new ones are constantly being created. In plastics alone it is estimated that hundreds of new variants are developed each year. Advances in various areas of technology can often stimulate the need for new materials. For example, the possibility of building spacecraft created a requirement for materials, including metals, that could withstand extremes of temperature, pressure, and vibration.