Material Selection in the Digital Age
Too much choice can be paralysing. Just think if you went to a shop to pick up some glue and there were thousands of different
Category: Engineering Materials
6061-T6 Aluminium – The Ultimate Guide
Aluminium 6061-T6 is a subcategory of the 6061 aluminium alloy, one of the most widely used aluminium alloy categories in the world. The alloy is
Ti-6Al-4V Titanium – Essential Reading
Stronger than some steels, but almost 45% lighter….. Twice as strong as aluminium, but just about 60% heavier….. That’s titanium for you! Titanium is a
When Lego and Origami Inspire New Materials
The primary source of human inspiration is nature. To a generation that grew up with cartoons and games all around them, maybe it is not
The Galvanic Series – the essential guide
Have you been wanting to understand more about the Galvanic Series – what it is exactly, and how it can help you make decisions about
Gold engineering alloys – the ultimate guide
Let’s talk about gold engineering alloys. Gold has been one of the most revered precious metals from the birth of civilisation. As a symbol of
MatWeb – Top 6 Alternative Websites
Material scientists and engineers rely on good quality and reliable information provided via the internet. Gone are the days of huge compendiums of material data
304 Stainless Steel Properties
In this article, we’re going to look at 304 stainless steel properties and what makes it such a popular choice across a range of applications.
Maraging Steel: Unique Properties and Uses
While there are many materials which are tough and long-lasting and others which are malleable it is difficult to find materials which have all of
A Quick Guide to Ferrous Metals
Have you noticed how some materials rust over time, due to prolonged exposure to the environment? Those materials invariably contain iron and are called ferrous
Making Carbon Fibre More Cost Effective
Lightweight and extremely rigid, carbon fibre was a game changer for the aerospace and motorsport industry. Although some manufacturers have been doing a good job
Amazing materials: Transparent Wood
Transparent wood is a type of a composite material that has the potential to revolutionise the fields of construction and the manufacturing of various products. It
4 Unique Engineering Materials you have never heard of
Metals, plastic, ceramics, and composites are used by engineers every day. We all know common properties like; metals are strong but heavy, plastics are lighter
INVAR: The amazing super-low thermal expansion alloy you’ve never heard of – that’s been around for over 100 years.
While it is highly likely that many people have never heard of Invar this is an alloy which has been round for more than 100
Recycling Carbon Fibre
Since the turn of the century, carbon fibre and composites have been the making of the aerospace and aeronautics industry: their mechanical properties and lightweight,
What is Marlex and what is it used for?
Like so many of the most influential feats of industry the vast majority of us will have no idea what Marlex is, what it does
What is Rilsan and what is it used for?
Rilsan is the trading name for Nylon 11/Polyamide 11 which is a polyamide and bioplastic member of the nylon family of polymers. In basic terms
What are Wacker silicones?
Wacker Group is the leading light in the world of silicones with a history going back to 1903. Engineers across the globe will forever be
3D Woven Interlock Composites
There was a time when the idea of using textile material for primary load parts was scary. Thankfully we now live in the post-era of
Self Healing Composites
The main issue with a parts’ life cycle is failure by fatigue which ultimately comes through crack propagation. Step forward fracture mechanics which is a
What is Stellite and what is it used for?
Stellite® is a non-magnetic alloy which contains a variety of different metal components with the main elements being cobalt and chromium. The material itself has
What is Kovar, and where is it used?
Kovar is an iron nickel cobalt alloy with a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of hard glass. This might make sense to those of
10 Material Properties Every Mechanical Design Engineer Should Know
For a beginning engineering student, it might not be totally clear what is meant by “material properties”. What we consider material properties in engineering are those
Material Selection Made Simple
One of the most common problems a design engineer faces when designing a product is how to select an appropriate material. Selecting a single material
Amazing Materials: Gold
“Eureka! Gold is found!” …though the expression “Eureka” is often attributed to Archimedes, it was likely not he who coined the phrase. The ancient legend says
Materials Spotlight – Graphene
With the 21st century came a new goal: creating lighter materials with more advanced properties. The evolution started with new alloys, continued with polymers, and now
Corrosion Protection of Springs
Where a spring operates in a corrosive environment some form of surface protection is required. Depending on the application, this can take a number of
Thermal design basics: materials and calculations
This article is a basic look at thermal materials that are available today, and general design considerations for thermal design. This article covers thermal conductivity,
Materials for Flat Strip Springs
As with wire, there is a wide range of strip materials available to the spring manufacturer. As many parts produced in strip are not primarily
Spring Wire Materials
Spring materials are chosen for their strength and are amongst the strongest materials used in industry. Springs are designed to work to far greater working
Factors affecting the Fatigue Performance of Helically Wound Springs
Reliability is of great importance to many spring users. Without the spring many applications will either cease to work or work less efficiently. Therefore much
Aluminium alloy wheels manufacturing process, materials and design
Aluminium alloy wheels manufacturing process have developed a lot since 1970s. Due to sophisticated wheels design, casting has become the dominant manufacturing process. Alloy wheel
