MAM College of Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering

ME 6403 Engineering Materials and Metallurgy Regulation 2013
Question Bank
TWO MARK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Unit-1- Constitution of Alloys and Phase Diagrams

1. What is Materials Science?
Materials Science is an interdisciplinary subject which is concerned with the study of materials
as a whole like behavior of the material, production of the material, applications and study of all
properties of the material along with its macro and micro- structures.
2. How do you select a material for the transformer windings?
Oxygen free high conductivity copper is the best material for transformer windings since it
has low joule heat losses, high corrosion resistance, high conductivity, high ductility to draw
into thin wires and high strength.
3. Mention the required properties of bearing materials.
1. It should have high conductivity.
2. It should have high strength and high impact strength.
3. It should have high fatigue resistance.
4. It should withstand the load without any deformation of friction.
4. What are the required properties of the materials for making thermocouples?
1)
The thermocouple material should have larger thermoelectric effect (i.e., produce more
voltage or more cooling effect per unit rise of temperature.)
2) It should have high melting point.
Example: Lead telluride semiconductor (where lead is then type and tellurium is the p type
semiconductor with 61.9% pb+ 38.1% Te). It has more thermoelectric generators to
produce more electric power and thermoelectric refrigerators to produce more cooling
effects.
5. What are metallic glasses?
Metallic glasses have the properties of metals and glasses such that they have ductility,
malleability and brittleness. Ferromagnetic metallic glasses are in the form of ribbons and are
used as light weight magnetic cores having no losses and high energy products.
6. What are advantages of FRP?
i. high strength to weight ratio ii. high heat resistance
iii.low cost tooling
iv.high electrical conductivity

7. What are SAW materials?

SAW materials are the materials producing surface acoustic waves. They are used in delay
lines, filters and oscillators.
Examples : Li Nb O3, Li Ta O3.
8. Mention few biomaterials and their applications.
a. stainless steels (ASTMF 138) have high tensile strength and high
biocompatibility and are used as steel wires, plates and implant devices.
b. Porous high density polyethylene is used in dental and cortical implants
c. Ceramic implants (Al2 O3 with some Si O2 and alkali metal oxide) are used to make
femoral head.
9. Mention few applications of fine ceramics
a. Piezoelectric ceramics are used as SAW devices.
b. Ti2 Ba2 Ca2 Cu3 O3 is a high Tc superconductor.
c. Si C is used as a substrates and varistors.
d. Ba Ti O3 is used as a capacitor dielectric and ferroelectric energy converter.
10. What are cermets?
Cermets are the composite materials having metallic and ceramic properties. Examples: iron,
nickel and cobalt carbide ceramics.
Uses: Due to their higher hardness they are used as cutting tools and to shape the Refractories
through machining.
11. What are requirements on thermoelectric materials used for power generation?
a. They should have high electrical conductivity b. They should have low thermal conductivity
c. They should have high thermoelectric power.
12. What are nanophase materials?
Nanophase materials have three dimensional structure having length less than 100nm. They have
hybrid properties such that high hardness and high ductility. Further they have nonlinear optical
and magnetic properties.
13. What are intermetallic compounds?
Intermetallic compounds have combined properties of metal and nonmetals.
Example: Cu Zn alloy. It has ionic bond along with metallic bond. So that it behaves as insulator
with high brittleness.
14. What are SMART materials?
SMART materials or intelligent materials are the materials which respond with a change is shape
on the application of mechanical stress or a change in viscosity on the application of magnetic or
electrical fields.
15. What are the applications of conducting polymers?
Conducting polymers are used to make transistors and diodes, large area light emitting
device display and photoconductors. They also act as piezo and pyroelectric materials.

16. What are elastic and plastic materials?

Elastic materials can regain their original shape after removal of the deforming forces and within
the elastic limit, the stress is proportional to strain and have high elastic modulus.
Example:
Steel, Brasses, Gold. Plastic m a t e r i a l s c a n undergo plastic deformation permanently in shape
and size by the deforming forces up to the ultimate strength without any fracture.
Example: PVC, Polymers.
17. What are true stress and strain?
True stress = l/lo * conventional stress.
Here l = length of wire at any instant while loading and lo = original length of wire before
loading and lo = original length of wire before loading
Conventional stress = F/Ao = Applied load/Initial cross section area of the wire
True stress > conventional strain since l > lo under tension
True strain = l/l = l/lo x lo/l = lo/l x conventional strain. True strain < conventional strain since
lo< l under tension
18. Define ductility and malleability of materials
Ductility is the wire drawing capacity of the material by plastic deformation without fracture.
Copper and platinum are highly ductile materials. Malleability is the sheet form ability of the
material by hammering without fracture. Gold and aluminium are the highly malleable materials.
19. Explain viscoelastic behavior of the polymers.
The combined viscous and elastic properties give rise to viscoelastic behavior for the materials.
By this phenomenon, a stress is applied there is an immediate increase of strain followed by
linear variation in strain even though the stress applied remains constant. When the stress is
removed, only the elastic strain is removed but the viscous strain resides permanently producing
permanent deformation.
20. What are creep and creep resistance
Creep is the property of a material by which it deforms continuously under a steady load
(yielding). The deformation during creep is non recoverable. The creep can produce
fracture
or rupture even though the applied stress is lower than the ultimate stress. So the creep
in materials should be avoided, particularly at high temperatures.
Creep resistance is the property of the material by which the continuation of creep is stopped.
21. Define fatigue
The failure of a material under repeated applied stress is called fatigue.
22. What are the factors affecting diffusion?
i) Temperature
: increases the rate of diffusion
ii) crystal structure : crystal with low packing factor increase the rate of diffusion
iii)Grain size
: fine grain material has more diffusion rate
iv)Concentration : value of diffusion coefficient varies with concentration
23. Distinguish between hardening and annealing.

Hardening gives hardness to a material so that its yield strength, corrosion resistance, war
resistance and cutting ability are increased. Annealing gives softness and ductility to the
materials and also refines the grain size and removes the internal stresses.
24. What are the uses of Vickers hardness test?
i) The material is tested without any destruction so its a nondestructive testing. After testing the
material or product can be used or sold.
ii) Only smaller loads are applied. That would not produce cracks or fractures inside the
specimen.
iii) Micro hardness of the surface hardened materials can be determined accurately.
25. What are the advantages of gamma ray radiography over X ray radiography?
i) Smaller size and lower cost
ii) Power supply and water supply are not required
iii) A number of castings in one exposure can be inspected can be easily inspected.
26. What are the etchants in the case of microstructural examination of a specimen?
Etch ants are some chemicals which are used on the polished specimen surface to identify the
higher energy grain boundaries.
27. Define resolving power of microscope.
Resolving power of a microscope is ability of the microscope to show two closer objects as
separated ones. The electron microscope has high resolving power such that can it show the
individual images of two objects separated by a distance of 10 A.
28. What are the advantaged of laser welding and cutting?
i) Heat affected zone is very narrow. So that the surrounding layers are not affected in any way.
ii) The laser welding and cutting can done at room temperature without the preheating
vacuum condition.
iii) Titanium, quartz and ceramics can be welded or cut or drilled only by this laser material
processing.
iv) Higher welding speed of or cutting speed can be achieved.
29. What are the self lubricating bearings?
Self lubricating bearings are porous bearings mode up of bronze using powder metallurgy. The
porosities in the bearings hold the lubricating oil inside and while operation that oil is coming out
automatically to lubricate the parts. When there is no operation of the machine, the oil is stored in
the pores.
30. Show that in the case of unary phase diagram the number of degrees of freedom is zero
at the triple point.
At the triple point where the vapor, liquid and solid coexisting therefore P = 3. No.
of components C = 1.
Therefore F = C - P + 2 = 1 3 + 2 = 0
Here 2 represents the two variables pressure and temperature of pure metal

31. What are low carbon steels? What are their applications?
Low carbon steels have 0.08% to 0.25% carbon. These are soft, ductile and easy to weld. These
are used to make wires, rods and thin heats and boiler plates.
32. What are the effects of addition of boron, chromium and cobalt in steels?
Boron: increase the hardness
Chromium: improves wear and impact resistance and increases its strength. Cobalt: increase its
hardness, coercivity and residual magnetic induction.
33. What is corrosion? How will you control it?
Corrosion means the destruction of materials by chemical and electrochemical reactions. It can
be prevented by electroplating, cathodic protection, addition of inhibitors and by proper heat
treatment.
34. What is meant by fracture?
Fracture refers to the breaking of a component into two or more pieces either during service or
during fabrication.
35. What are the four types of fractures?
Four types of fractures are
i) Brittle fracture
ii) Ductile fracture
iii) Fatigue fracture and iv) Creep fracture.
36. What is ductile fracture?
Ductile fracture is the rupture of a material after a considerable of plastic deformation.
37. What is fatigue fracture?
Materials subjected to extend cyclic loading may result in delayed fracture called fatigue
fracture.
38. What is creep?
Under the influence of a constant applied stress many materials continue to deform indefinitely.
This process is called creep.
39. What is brittle fracture?
The failure of a material without apartment plastic deformation is called brittle fracture.
40. What are transgranular and intergranular fracture?
In m a n y brittle crystalline materials, crack propagation occurs along specific crystallographic
planes; such a process is termed cleavage. This type of fracture is said to be transgranular in
tragranular fracture because fracture cracks pass through grains. The fractured surface looks
grainy or granular. In some alloys, crack propagation along grain boundaries is also possible;
this is termed Intergranular fracture. This yields a relatively shiny and smooth fracture surface.
41. Distinguish between brittle and ductile fractures

Property
Deformation
Indication
Location
Macroscopic strain
appearance of fractured
surface

Brittle fracture
Minimum
No warning and occurrence
is sudden
Occurs at the point where
micro crack is larges
Relatively large sharp planar
facets.

Ductile fracture
Large plastic
Slow tearing of metals
Occurs in some localized
region when the deformation
is very less.
Negligible dirty with rough
contours.

42. What is fatigue?

Ductile materials may also fracture when subjected to cyclic stresses. The cyclic stresses are
considerably lower than the static fracture stress. Such a delayed fracture resulting from extended
service is called fatigue.
43. Define fatigue limit or endurance limit.
Fatigue limit or endurance limit can be defined as the stress that would cause failure after a
specified number of stress reversals.
44. What are the methods to increase the fatigue resistance?
The fatigue resistance of a component can be increased to improve its life by the following
methods:
i) Good design a voiding the sharp corners and thereby eliminating the stress concentration.
ii) Removal of surface irregularities which may initiate a crack by polishing the surface of the
component and
iii) Hardening the surface either by carburizing or nitriding to increase the resistance
to the
crack initiation at the surface.
45. What are the different mechanisms of strengthening of materials?
Different mechanisms of strengthening of materials are:
i) Strain (or work) hardening ii) Solution hardening and
iii) Precipitation and dispersion hardening
46. What are factors which affect creep resistant materials?
Creep is influenced by minor variations in metallurgical conditions. Some of these affecting
variables are:
i) Grain size ii) Prior strain
iii) Formation of solid solutions and
iv) Precipitation and dispersion hardening
47. What are the characteristics of creep resistance materials?
The characteristics of a creep resistance material are
i) Instantaneous extension produced as soon as the test load is applied.

ii) A steady state or secondary creep during which the work-hardening effect of plastic
deformation is balanced by recovery
iii) Primary or transient creep stage during which further work hardening occurs iv) A period of
accelerating or tertiary creep leading to eventual fracture.
48. What important characteristics should the bearing metals possess?
A bearing metal should possess the following important characteristics:
a) It should have enough compressive strength to possess adequate load carrying capacity.
b) It should have good plasticity to allow for small variations in alignment and fitting.
c) It should have good wear resistance to maintain a specified fit.
d) It should have low co-efficient of friction to avoid excessive heating.
49. What is a phase or equilibrium diagram? What information may be obtained from an
equilibrium diagram?
Phase or equilibrium diagrams are maps or plots that give the relationships between the phases
in equilibrium in a system as a function of temperature, pressure and composition. Information
concerning the phase changes in many alloy systems can be had from equilibrium diagram.
50. What is meant by a phase? State Gibbs phase rule.
A physically homogeneous and distinct portion of a material system. The number of phases
present in an alloy depends upon the number of elements of which the alloy is composed. From
thermo dynamical considerations of equilibrium. Gibbs derived following phase rule:
F=CP+2
Where F = degree of freedom system (temperature, pressures, concentration, composition of
phases)
C = number of compounds forming the system (i.e. elements or compounds) P = number of
phases in the alloy (in equilibrium state)
2 = number of external factors
51. State lever rule
The lever rule is a convenient method of calculating the relative proportions of different
phases (solid and liquid) at any given temperature for a given alloy composition. According to
the lever rule the tie-line (horizontal line to a given temperature in a phase diagram) is treated as
a lever arm, with the fulcrum at the overall composition. The weight at each end corresponds to
the amount of the phase at that end of tie-line phase diagram.
52. What is an alloy?
An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals, or a mixture of metal and a non-metal, with the
mixture exhibiting metallic properties.
53. Define eutectic reaction
A reaction wherein, upon cooling, one liquid phase transforms isothermally and reversibly into
two new solid phases that are intimately mixed is called eutectic reaction.
54. Define eutectoid reaction

A reaction wherein, upon cooling, one solid phase transforms isothermally and reversibly into
two new solid phases that are intimately mixed is called eutectoid reaction.
55. What do you understand by allotropy?
The possibility of existence of two or more different crystal structures for a substance (generally
an elemental solid such as iron) is known as allotropy.
56. What is meant by liquidus?
In a constitution or equilibrium diagram, the locus of points representing the temperature at
which the various compositions in the system begin to freeze on cooling or to finish melting on
heating is called liquidus.
57. What is meant by solidus?
In a constitution or equilibrium diagram, the locus of points representing the temperature at
which the various compositions finish freezing on cooling or begin to melt on heating is called
solidus.
58. What is ferrite?
Ferrites are body centered cubic solid solutions and body centered cubic allotropes of and iron. It is stable over the temperature range from 273 o to 908 o C in iron
59. What are the possible microstructures of iron and steel?
The possible microstructures of iron and steel which reveal the arrangement, size and shape of
the grains and molecules are a)Ferrite b) Austenite c) Cementite d) Martensite f) Bainite g)
Sorbite and troostite
60. What is T-T-T diagram?
T-T-T diagram is also called isothermal transformation diagram. It is a plot of temperature versus
the logarithm of time for a steel alloy of definite composition. It is used to determine when
transformation begin and end for an isothermal (constant temperature) heat treatment of a
previously austentized alloy.
61. What are the three classes of plain steels?
On the basis of the iron-carbon equilibrium diagram it is possible to describe three classes of
plain steels.
i) Hypo-eutectoid steels
These have carbon contents varying from 0.008% to just below 0.83%.
ii) Eutectoid steels
These have carbon contents, ideally, of 0.83%
iii) Hyper-eutectoid steels
These have carbon contents greater than 0.83%
62. What are the stainless steels and what are the possible classifications based on their
microstructure?
The stainless steels are iron-chromium alloys with atleast 11 wt% of chromium. Addition of
nickel and molybdenum enhances the corrosion resistance.

Stainless steels are divided into three classes on the basis of the microstructure a) martensitic
stainless steels b) ferritic stainless steels and c) austenitic stainless steels
63. What are cast irons and what are their basic types?
Any ferrous alloy made up primarily of iron with about 2% or more carbon is considered to be
cast iron. Most commercial alloys contain from about 2.5% to 3.8%carbon. There are four basic
types of cast iron a) Grey cast iron b) White cast iron c) Malleable iron d) Nodular iron
64. How does the yield strength vary with grain size?
The variation of yield strength with grain size is given by Hall-Petch relation = o +
kyd-1/2
Where d is the average grain diameter, while o and ky are constants for a particular material.
Fine grained material is harder and stronger than one that is coarse grained.
Unit-II HEAT TREATMENT
1. What is meant by heat treatment? What are the different methods of heat treatment?
Heating and cooling a solid metal or alloy in such a way as to obtain desired conditions
or properties is called heat treatment. There are different methods of strengthening and hardening
by heat treatment. They are
i) Age hardening (precipitation hardening)
ii) Annealing
iii) Normalizing
iv) Tempering and v) Case hardening
2. What is age hardening or precipitation hardening?
By uniformly dispersing extremely small particles within the original phase matrix the strength
and hardness of metal alloys may be enhanced; this process of heat treatment is called
precipitation hardening or age hardening.
3. What is overaging?
For some alloys, aging occurs spontaneously at room temperature over extended time periods.
With increase of time the strength increases and after reaching a maximum a value, if finally
diminishes. This type of reduction in yield strength and hardness that
occurs after long time periods is known as overaging.
4. What is annealing and what is its purpose?
Annealing means heating the material to and holding at a suitable temperature and then, cooling
at a suitable rate. Annealing is for the purpose of
i) Reducing hardness
ii) Improving machinability iii) Facilitating cold working
iv) Producing a desired microstructure and
v) Obtaining desired mechanical, physical and other properties.
5. What is normalizing?

Heating a ferrous alloy to a suitable temperature above the transformation range and then
cooling in air to a temperature substantially below the transformation range is called
normalizing.
6. What is tempering?
Tempering is the process of re-heating the hardened steel to some temperature below its critical
temperature in order to impart toughness and to reduce brittleness. This reduces the internal
stresses developed during hardening.
7. Explain austempering
The heat treatment for ferrous alloys in which a part is quenching from the autenitizing
temperature at a rate fast enough to avoid formation of ferrite or pearlite and held at a
temperature just above that of martensite formation until transformation to bainite is complete
is called austempering.
8. Explain martempering
The process of quenching an austenitized ferrous alloy is a medium at a temperature in the
upper part of the martensite range, or slightly above that range, and holding it in the medium
until the temperature throughout the alloy is substantially uniform is known as martempering.
The alloy is then allowed to cool in air through the martensite range.
9. What is case hardening?
For many industrial applications, we need a hard wear-resistant surface called yhe case and a
relatively soft, tough inside called the core. The process of hardening the surface (case) alone is
known as case hardening.
10. What is sub-zero treatment of steel?
Whenever the steel is hardening some amount of austenite is always retained by it. This results
in the reduction of hardness, thermal conductivity and wear resistance. The sub-zero treatment
of hardened steel reduces the retained austenite. In this process the hardened steel part is cooled
to sub-zero temperature (between-30o C to -120o C).
11. What is patenting?
A special application of isothermal hardening is called patenting and is used for steel wire.
Steel wire with 0.40 1.10% carbon is quenched from the hardening temperature in a
bath of molten lead to about 400o C to 500o C. A structure results with possesses good ductility
in addition to a hardness.
12.What is annealing?
A heating and cooling operation implying usually a relatively slow cooling. Annealing is a
comprehensive term. The process of such a heat treatment may be: to remove stresses; to induce
softness; to alter ductility; toughness; electrical magnetic, or other physical properties; to refine
the crystalline structure; to remove gases; to produce a definite micro-structure. In
annealing, the temperature of the operation and the rate of cooling depend upon the material
being heat treated and the purpose of the treatment.

13. State the Abbreviation of A.S.T.M.

Abbreviation for American Society for Testing Material. An organization for issuing standard
specifications on materials, including metals and alloys.
14. What is austempering?
A trade name for a patented heat treating process that consists of quenching a ferrous alloy
from temperature above the transformation ranges, in a medium having a rate of heat
abstraction sufficiently high to prevent the formation of high-temperature transformation
products and in maintaining the alloy, until transformation is complete, at a temperature below
that of pearlite formations and above that of martensite formation.
15. What is austenite?
Phase in certain steels, characterized as a solid solution, usually off carbon or iron
carbide, in the gamma form of iron. Such steels are known as austenitic. Austenite is stable
only above 1333F. in a plain carbon steel, but the presence of certain alloying elements, such as
nickel and manganese, stabilizes the austenitic form, even at normal temperatures.
16. What is martensite?
A distinctive needle like structure existing in steel as a transition stage in the transformation of
austenite. It is the hardest constituent of steel of eutectoid composition. It is produced by rapid
cooling from quenching temperature and is the chief constituent of hardened carbon tool steels.
Martensite is magnetic.
17. State the percentage of carbon for medium-carbon steel.
Contains from 0.30% to 0.60% carbon and less than 1.00% manganese. May be made by any of
the standard processes.
18. What is meant by metallography?
The science concerning the constituents and structure of metals and alloys as revealed by the
microscope.
19. What is meant by normalizing?
A heat treatment applied to steel. Involves heating above the critical range followed by cooling
in still air. Is performed to refine the crystal structure and eliminate internal stress.
20. What is austenitic steel?
Steel, because of the presence of alloying elements, such as manganese, nickel, chromium, etc.,
shows stability of Austenite at normal temperatures.
21. What is process annealing?
In the sheet and wire industries, a process by which a ferrous alloy is heated to a
temperature close to, but below, the lower limit of the transformation range and is
subsequently cooled. This process is applied in order to soften the alloy for further cold
working.
22. What is meant by quenching?

In the heat treating of metals, the step of cooling metals rapidly in order to obtain desired
properties; most commonly accomplished by immersing the metal in oil or water. In the case of
most copper base alloys, quenching has no effect other than to hasten cooling.
23. What is meant by quench hardening?
A process of hardening a ferrous alloy of suitable composition by heating within or above the
transformation range and cooling at a rate sufficient to increase the hardness substantially.
The process usually involves the formation of martensite.
24. What is meant by recrystallization?
A process whereby a distorted grain structure of cold worked metals is replaced by a new, stressfree grain structure as a result of annealing above a specific minimum temperature for a specific
time.
25. What is sorbite?
Structure of steel, resulting from the tempering of martensite. In a truly sorbitic structure, the
cementite is completely dispersed in the matrix. The trend is to call this structure tempered
martensite.
26. What is meant by spheroidizing?
Any process of prolonged heating and slow cooling of steel which will convert the carbide
content into rounded or spheroid form.
27. Define the structure of PEARLITE.
Lamellar structure resembling mother of pearl. A compound of iron and carbon occurring in steel
as a result of the transformation of austenite into aggregations of ferrite and iron carbide.
28. How bainite is formed?
A slender, needle-like (acicular) microstructure appearing in spring steel strip characterized by
toughness and greater ductility than tempered Martensite. Bainite is a decomposition product of
Austenite best developed at interrupted holding temperatures below those forming fine pearlite
and above those giving Martensite.
29 What is full annealing?
Used principally on iron and steel, means heating the metal to about 100F. above the critical
temperature range, followed by soaking at this point and slow cooling below the critical
temperature.
30. What is meant by case hardening?
Carburizing and subsequently hardening by suitable heat-treatment, all or part of the surface
portions of a piece of iron-base alloy.

UNIT 3 FERROUS AND NON FERROUS METALS

1. Name the industrially important copper alloys.

a) Copper-Zinc (the Brasses)
b) Copper-Tin (the Tin Bronzes)
c) Copper-Tin-Phosphorus (the Phosper Bronzes) d) Copper-Aluminium (the Aluminium
Bronzes) e) Copper-Nickel (the Cupro-Nickels)
2. What are the uses of high resistivity materials?
High resistivity materials are used
a) In resistor applications
b) As heating elements and
c) In resistance thermometers
3. What is the chemical composition of michrome? Mention its use.
The chemical composition of michrome is 80% Ni and 20% Cr. It is used as heating elements in
heaters and furnaces.
4. What is the chemical composition of manganin? What are its properties and uses?
The chemical composition of manganin is 87% Cu and 13% Mn.
Properties:
It has low temperature coefficient of resistance (20* 10-6K-1) It has high resistivity (48*108m)
It has higher ductility
It has good resistance to atmospheric corrosion
Uses:
It is used as standard resistances and shunts.
5. What is the chemical composition of constant? What are its uses?
The chemical composition of constant is 60% Cu and 40% Ni.
It is used for making thermo couples, rheostats and starters for electric motors.
6. Define the term age hardening.
The term as applied to soft or low carbon steels, relates to slow, gradual changes that take place
in properties of steels after the final treatment. These changes, which bring about a condition of
increased hardness, elastic limit, and tensile strength with a consequent loss in ductility, occur
during the period in which the steel is at normal temperatures.
7. What is meant by aging?
Spontaneous change in the physical properties of some metals, which occurs
at
atmospheric temperatures after final cold working or after a final heat treatment. Frequently
synonymous with the term Age-Hardening.
8. What is air hardening steel?
Alloy steel which may be hardened by cooling in air from a temperature above the
transformation range. Such steels attain their martensitic structure without going through the

quenching process. Additions of chromium, nickel, molybdenum and manganese are effective
toward this end.
9. What is AISI STEELS?
Steels of the American Iron and Steel Institute. Common and alloy steels have been
numbered in a system essentially the same as the SAE. The AISI system is more elaborate than
the SAE in that all numbers are preceded by letters: A represents basic open-hearth alloy steel,
B acid Bessemer carbon steel, C basic open-hearth carbon steel, CB either acid Bessemer
or basic open-hearth carbon steel, E electric furnace alloy steel.
10. State the meaning of aluminum killed steel.
A steel where aluminum has been used as a deoxidizing agent.
11. What is an alloy?
Metal prepared by adding other metals or non-metals to a basic metal to secure desirable
properties.
12.What is alloy steel?
Steel containing substantial quantities of elements other than carbon and the commonlyaccepted limited amounts of manganese, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorous. Addition of such
alloying elements is usually for the purpose of increased hardness, strength or chemical
resistance. The metals most commonly used for forming alloy steels are: nickel, chromium,
silicon, manganese, tungsten, molybdenum and vanadium. Low Alloy steels are usually
considered to be those containing a total of less than 5% of such added constituents.
13.What is alpha brass?
A copper-zinc alloy containing up to 38% of zinc. Used mainly for cold working.
14. Which steel is called as carbon steel?
Common or ordinary steel as contrasted with special or alloy steels, which contain other alloying
metals in addition to the usual constituents of steel in their common percentages.
15. State the meaning of carburizing.
(Cementation) It is the process of adding carbon to the surface of iron-base alloys by absorption
through heating the metal at a temperature below its melting point in contact with carbonaceous
solids, liquids or gasses. It is the oldest method of case hardening.
16. What is a cast steel?
Any object made by pouring molten steel into molds.
17. What is cementite?
A compound of iron and carbon known as Iron Carbide, which has the approximate chemical
formula Fe3C containing 6.69% of carbon. Hard and brittle, it is the hard constituents of cast

iron, and the normal form in which carbon is present in steel. It is magnetizable, but not as
readily as ferrite.
18. What is meant by cyaniding?
It is the process of Surface hardening of an iron-base alloy article or portion of it by heating at a
suitable temperature in contact with a cyanide salt, followed by quenching.
29. What is meant by decarburization?
It is the process of removing the carbon from the outer surface of iron or steel, usually by
heating in an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. Water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide are
strong decarburizers. Reheating with adhering scale is also strongly decarburizing in action.
20. Sate the composition of duralumin.
The trade name applied to the first aluminum-copper-magnesium type of age-hardenable alloy
(17S), which contains nominally 4% Cu, % Mg. The term is sometimes used to include the
class of wrought aluminum-copper-magnesium alloys that harden during aging at room
temperature.
21. What is ferritic stainless steel?
Has a body centered cubic (BCC) structure. These alloys are the chromium stainless steels
containing low carbon levels. They are hardenable primarily by cold working, although some
will harden slightly by heat treating. Ferritic stainless steels work harden much slower than
austentitic stainless steels
22. What is meant by flame hardening?
A process of hardening a ferrous alloy by heating it above the transformation range by means of
a high-temperature flame, and then cooling at the required rate.
106 What is a grain?
A solid polyhedral (or many sided crystal) consisting of groups of atoms bound together in a
regular geometric pattern. In mill practice grains are usually studied only as they appear in one
plane. (1) Direction of: Refers to grain fiber following the direction of rolling and parallel to
edges of strip or sheets. (2) To bend across the grain is to bend at right angles to the direction of
rolling. (3) To bend with the grain is to bend parallel to the direction of rolling. In steel, the
ductility in the direction of rolling is almost twice that at right angles to the direction of rolling.
107 What is grain boundary?
Bounding surface between crystals. When alloys yield new phases (as in cooling), grain
boundaries are the preferred location for the appearance of the new phase. Certain
deteriorations, such as season cracking and caustic embrittlement, occur almost exclusively at
grain boundaries.
108 What is meant by graphitizing?
A heating and cooling process by which the combined carbon in cast iron or steel is
transformed, wholly or partly, to graphitic or free carbon.

110 What is meant by hardness?

Degree to which a metal will resist cutting, abrasion, penetration, bending and stretching. The
indicated hardness of metals will differ somewhat with the specific apparatus measuring
hardness. (See Brinell Hardness, Rockwell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Scleroscope
Hardness) Tensile Strength also is an indication of hardness.
111. What is heat treatment?
Altering the properties of a metal by subjecting it to a sequence of temperature changes, time of
retention at specific temperature and rate of cooling therefore being as important as the
temperature itself. Heat treatment usually markedly affects strength, hardness, ductility,
malleability, and similar properties of both metals and their alloys.
112. What is high brass?
65% - A copper-zinc alloy containing 35% zinc. Possesses high tensile strength and is used for
springs, screws, rivets, etc.
113. What is hydrogen embrittlement?
(1) Brittleness of metal, resulting from the occlusion of hydrogen (usually as a by- product of
pickling or by co-deposition in electroplating). (2) A condition of low ductility resulting from
hydrogen absorption and internal pressure developed subsequently. Electrolytic copper
exhibits similar results when exposed to reducing atmosphere at elevated temperature.
114. What is a hypereutectoid steel?
A steel having more than the eutectoid percentage of carbon.
115. What is a hypoeutectoid steel?
Steel with less than eutectoid percentage of carbon.
116. What is induction hardening?
A process of hardening a ferrous alloy by heating it above the transformation range by means
of electrical induction, and then cooling as required.
117. What is iron?
(Chemical Symbol Fe.) Element No. 26 of the periodic system; Atomic weight 55.85. A
magnetic silver-white metal of high tensile strength ductile and malleable. Melting point of
pure iron about 2795F. Chemically iron is chiefly base forming. The principal forms of
commercial iron are steel, cast iron and wrought iron.
118. What is meant by ironing?
Thinning the walls of deep drawn articles by reducing the clearance between punch and die.
119. What is isothermal annealing?

A process on which a ferrous alloy is heated to produce a structure partly or wholly austenitic,
and is then cooled to and held at a temperature that causes transformation of the austenite to a
relatively soft ferrite-carbide aggregate.
120. What is killed steel?
The term killed indicates that the steel has been sufficiently deoxidized to quiet the molten
metal when poured into the ingot mold. The general practice is to use aluminum ferrosilicon or
manganese as deoxidizing agents. A properly killed steel is more uniform as to analysis and is
comparatively free from aging. However, for the same carbon and manganese content.
Killed Steel is harder than Rimmed Steel. In general all steels above 0.25% carbon are killed,
also all forging grades, structural steels from 0.15% to 0.25% carbon and some special steels in
the low carbon range. Most steels below 0.15% carbon are rimmed steel.
124. What is a metalloid?
(a) Element intermediate in luster and conductivity between the true metals and non- metals.
Arsenic, antimony, boron, tellurium, and selenium, etc., are generally considered metalloids;
frequently one allotropic modification of an element will be non-metallic, another metalloid in
character. Obviously, no hard and fast line can be drawn. (b) In steel metallurgy, metalloid in has
a specialized, even of erroneous, meaning; is covers elements commonly present in simple steel;
carbon, manganese, phosphorus, silicon and sulfur.
125. What is muntz metal?
(A Refractory Alloy) - Alpha-beta brass, 60% copper and 40% zinc. Stronger than alpha- brass
and used for castings and hot-worked (rolled, stamped, or extruded) products. High strength
brasses are developed from this by adding other elements.
126. What is a nitriding steel?
Steel which is particularly suited for the nitriding process, that is, it will form a very hard and
adherent surface upon proper nitriding (heating in a partially dissociated atmosphere of
ammonia gas). Composition usually.20-.40% carbon, 90-1.50% chromium, 15-1.00%
molybdenum, and 85-1.20% aluminum.
127. What is meant by nitriding?
Process of surface hardening certain types of steel by heating in ammonia gas at about 9351000F. The increase in hardness being the result of surface nitride formation. Certain
alloying constituents, principal among them being aluminum, greatly facilitate the hardening
reaction. In general, the depth of the case is less than with carburizing.
129. What is meant by oil hardening?
A process of hardening a ferrous alloy of suitable composition by heating within or above the
transformation range and quenching in oil.
130. What is oil-hardening steel?

Steel adaptable to hardening by heat treatment and quenching in oil.

132. What is phosphor bronze? State its applications.
Copper base alloys, with 3.5 to 10% of tin, to which has been added in the molten state
phosphorous in varying amounts of less than 1% for deoxidizing and strengthening
purposes. Because of excellent toughness, strength, fine grain, resistance to fatigue and wear,
and chemical resistance, these alloys find general use as springs and in making fittings. It has
corrosion resisting properties comparable to copper.
133. What is pig iron?
Iron produced by reduction of iron ore in a blast furnace. Pig iron contains approximately 92%
iron and about 3.5% carbon. The balance is largely silicone and manganese with a small
percentage of phosphorus, sulphur, and other impurities.
134. What is polymorphism?
The ability of a material to exist in more than one crystallographic structure. Numerous metals
change in crystallographic structure at transformation temperatures during heating or cooling. If
the change is reversible, it is allotropy. The allotropy of iron, particularly the changes between
the alpha body-centered and the gamma face centered form, is of fundamental importance in
the hardening of steel.
135. What is meant by precipitation hardening?
A process of hardening an alloy in which a constituent precipitates from a supersaturated solid
solution. (See also Age Hardening and Aging)
136. What is meant by precipitation heat treatment?
Any of the various aging treatments conducted at elevated temperature to improve certain of the
mechanical properties through precipitation from solid solution.
143. What is stabilizing treatment?
A thermal treatment designed to precipitate material from solid solution, in order to improve the
workability, to decrease the tendency of certain alloys to age harden at room temperature, or to
obtain dimensional stability under service at slightly elevated temperatures.
144. State the salient property of stainless steel .
Corrosion resistant steel of a wide variety, but always containing a high percentage of
chromium. These are highly resistant to corrosion attack by organic acids, weak mineral acids,
atmospheric oxidation, etc.
145. What is a steel?
Iron, malleable in at least one range of temperature below its melting point without special
heat treatment substantially free from slag, and containing carbon more than about

0.05% and less than about 2.00%. Other alloying elements may be present in significant
quantities, but all steels contain at least small amounts of manganese and silicon, and usually as
undesirable constituents, also sulfur and phosphorus.
146. What is strain aging? Aging induced by cold working
Strain ageing is a process involving atoms in interstitial solid solution in iron (ferrite) and the
elastic stresses related to the presence of dislocations. Work hardening, also known as strain
hardening or cold working, is the strengthening of a metal by plastic deformation. This
strengthening occurs because of dislocation movements and dislocation generation within
the crystal structure of the material
147. What is meant by strain hardening?
An increase in hardness and strength caused by plastic deformation at temperatures lower than
the recrystallization range.
148. What is meant by stress relieving? Reducing residual stresses by heating.
Stress relieving is applied to both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys and is intended to remove
internal residual stresses generated by prior manufacturing processes such as machining, cold
rolling and welding. The thermal method involves changing the temperature of the entire part
uniformly, either through heating or cooling. When parts are heated for stress relief, the process
may also be known as stress relief bake. Cooling parts for stress relief is known as cryogenic
stress relief and is relatively uncommon
149. State the tempering process.
A process of re-heating quench-hardened or normalized steel to a temperature below the
transformation range and then cooling at any rate desired. The primary purpose of
tempering is to impart a degree of plasticity or toughness to the steel to alleviate the brittleness
of its martensite.
150. What is troosite?
Tempered martensite that etches rapidly, usually appears dark, and is not resolved by the
microscope.
151. What is a wrought iron?
Iron containing only a very small amount of other elements, but containing 1-3% by weight of
slag in the form of particles elongated in one direction, giving the iron a characteristic grain. Is
more rust-resistant than steel and welds more easily.
Unit-IV NON METALLIC MATERILS
Part-A
1. What is PTFE?
Ploy tetra fluoro ethylene
2. What is PE?
Ploy etylen

3. What is PS?
Poli strine
4. Define the degree of polymerization.
Degree of polymerization (DP) is usually defined as the number of monomeric units in a
macro molecule or polymer or oligomer molecule.
M
n
DPn=Xn=

M
o
Mn Number average molecular weight
Mo Molecular Weight of Monomer
5. What is PVC?
Polyvinyl chloride
5. What is copolymerization?
A polymer derived from more than one species of monomer is called copolymerization.
7. What is PMMA?
Poly methyl meth acrylate
8. What is PET?
Poly ethylene terephthalate
9. What is ABS?
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
10.What is PI?
Poly imide
11.What is PAI?
Poly amide-imide
12.What is PPO?
Polyphenylene oxide
13.What is PPS?
Poly phenylene sulfide
14.What is PEEK?

Poly ether ether ketone

15.What is PTFE?
Poly tetra fluro ethylene
16.What is PA?
Poly amide
17.What is PP?
Poly propylene
18.What are acrylics? Mention their application.
Acrylics polymers belongs to a group of polymers which could be referred to generally as
plastics. They are noted for transparency, resistance to breakage, and elasticity. They are
also commonly known as polyacrylates.
19.Distinguish between hard and soft glasses.
Hard glass also known as high boro silicate glass. It can with stand high temperature , high
corrosion resistance, high pressure and mechanical strength.
Soft glass heating to soften soon.
20.How is alumina ceramics produced?

Unit-V MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND TESTING

1) Define slip planes
The usual method of plastic deformation in metals by the sliding of blocks of the crystal
over one another along definite crystallographic planes, called slip planes
2) What are the types of hardness test?
1.
2.
3.

Rockwell hardness test

Brinell hardness test
Vickers hardness test

3) Write different Types of fracture

1.
2.

Brittle fracture
Ductile fracture

4) Write different types of torsion failures

a. Shear (ductile) failures

b. Tensile (brittle) failures
5) Write different Types of fatigue stress cycle
a. Reversed stress
b. Repeated stress
c. Irregular stress or random stress
6) Define SN curve
The basic method of presenting engineering fatigue data is by means of the SN curve, a
plot of stress S against the number of cycles to failure N. A log scale is almost always used for N.
7) Write the effect of stress concentration on fatigue
1. There is an increase or concentration of stress at the root of the notch 2. A stress gradient
is setup from the root of the notch in toward the center of the specimen. 3. A triaxial stage of
stress is produced.
8) Mechanism of creep
a.
b.
c.
d.

Dislocation glide
Dislocation creep
Diffusion creep
Grain boundary sliding
9) Difference between Slip and twinning
Slip occurs when the shear stress exceeds a critical value. Blocks of the crystal slide over
oe another along slip plane. The atom moves an integral number of atomic distances along slip
planes.
Twinning results when a portion of a crystal takes upon orientation of the un winded
lattice, symmetrical way.
10) Different stages of creep
Primary creep
Secondary creep
Tertiary

11) Define creep

Creep is a tendency of a solid material move slowly or deform permanently under the
influence of mechanical stress.
12) Mechanism of plastic deformation
a. Slip
b. Twinning
13) Strengthening mechanisms

Strain hardening

Grain boundary hardening

Solid solution strengthening

Strengthening from fine particles

14) Difference between slip and twinning
SLIP

TWINNING

1. Stress required to produce

slip is less

1. Stress required to produce

twinning is high

2. The stress necessary to

propagate slip is usually
higher than the stress
necessary to start slip

2. The stress necessary to propagate

twinning is less than the stress
required to initiate it

3. Slip takes several

milliseconds to form a slip
band

3. Twins can form in a time as short

as a few microseconds

15) What is Cold working?

Plastic deformation without relieving strain hardening is called cold working

16) Define fatigue?

Fatigue is due to the repeated loading and unloading.

Fatigue can be prevented with good design practice.

1.

A smooth surface finish reduces the chance of surface cracking.

2.

Sharp corners should be avoided.

3.

Corrosion should be avoided as this can cause fatigue cracks.

17) Distinguish between resilience and toughness.
Resilience is measured by a quantity is called modulus of resilience, which the strain
energy per unit volume that is required to stress the specimen in a tension test to the elastic
limit point.
Toughness is the ability of the material to absorb energy before the fracture takes place.
18) What do you mean by double shear test?
The type of force which causes or tends to cause two contiguous parts of the body to slide
relative to each other in a direction parallel to their plane of contact is called Double Shear Force.
ShearStrength is defined as the maximum load typically applied normal to a fasteners axis that
can be supported prior to fracture.
19) Define endurance limit in fatigue test.
The highest stress that a material can withstand for an infinite number of cycles without
breaking called also endurance limit
20) Define fatigue strength in fatigue test.
Fatigue is the weakening of a material caused by repeatedly applied loads. It is the
progressive and localised structural damage that occurs when a material is subjected to
cyclic loading. The nominal maximumstress values that cause such damage may be much
less than the strength of the material typically quoted as theultimate tensile stress limit, or
the yield stress limit.
21) Differentiate between elasticity and plasticity.
Elasticity is the tendency of material to temporarily deform when placed under stress and
regains its original shape and size upon removal of stress.It spreads, it stretches; it alters to
accommodate the strain.
Plasticity is the tendency of a material deform permanently under the application of external
load. Think clay, putty; it retains the shape or can be re-shaped into something entirely new.
The point at which a material's elasticity turns into plasticity is considered that object's
yield.
22) Differentiate between ductility and malleability.
Malleability is the ability to be bent or molded into different forms. Ductility is the
ability to be drawn out into a thin wire form.
23) Define the terms brittleness and hardness.
Tendency of a material to fracture or fail upon the application of a relatively
small amount of force, impact, or shock. Opposite of toughness. Hardness is
usually defined as resistance to material.
24) Sketch a creep curve explaining different stages of it.

creep (sometimes called cold flow) is the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or
deform permanently under the influence of mechanical stresses.

In the initial stage, or primary creep, the strain rate is relatively high, but slows with
increasing time. This is due to work hardening. The strain rate eventually reaches a minimum
and becomes near constant. This is due to the balance between work hardening
andannealing (thermal softening). This stage is known as secondary or steady-state creep. This
stage is the most understood. The characterized "creep strain rate" typically refers to the rate in
this secondary stage. Stress dependence of this rate depends on the creep mechanism. In tertiary
creep, the strain rate exponentially increases with stress because of necking phenomena. Fracture
always occurs at the tertiary stage
25) Define the term hardenability.
The ability of a metal, usually steel, to harden in depth as distinguished from the terms
hardness.

UNIT1
Part-B
1. Show the different steel and cast iron region in the iron carbon diagram with its
microstructure and write down its composition, mechanical properties and
application.
2. Draw a neat sketch and explain TTT diagram.
3. Draw Iron carbon diagram and label all fields?

4. Draw a typical equilibrium diagram for an isomorphous system and explain the
equilibrium cooling of any one alloy from the above diagram.
5. Draw a typical equilibrium diagram for a eutectic type of system with limited
solid solubility and explain its important features.
6. Explain the Peritectic temperature using a binary equilibrium peritectic phase
diagram
7. What is the effect of small quantities of
(a) Sulphur
(b) manganese
(c) phosphorus
(d) Silicon upon the properties of steel?
8. Explain the method of plotting an equilibrium diagram and derive the lever rule
as applied to equilibrium diagram.
9. Discuss the effect of Silicon, Manganese elements in cast iron.
10.Describe the composition, microstructure, properties and applications of grey
cast iron.
Unit-II HEAT TREATMENT
Part-B
1. Describe the method of plotting isothermal transformation or TTT diagram?
2. Draw an IT diagram or TTT diagram for an eutectoid steel .Indicate the various
decomposition products on it and explain?
3. Draw a schematic CCT diagram for a carbon steel containing 0.8% C .Using
this diagram explain how different cooling curves lead to the
(a)Annealing heat treatment
(b) Normalizing heat treatment

(c) Hardening heat treatment

4. Explain how Jominy end quench test is used for determining the harden ability
of steels.
5. Describe the heat treatment cycle following carburizing.
6. Describe the process of carbonitriding. Differentiate between carburizing and
carbonitriding.
7. Explain flame hardening.
8. Explain Induction hardening.
9. Give a detailed account on
(a) Annealing (b) Normalizing (c) Austempering
(d) Case hardening.
10.Explain how surface hardening is achieved using flame hardening.
Unit-III Ferrous and Non Ferrous Metals
Part-B
1. Write short note on compositions and properties of the following stainless
steels,
(a) Ferritic stainless steel
(b) Austenitic stainless steel
(c) Martensitic stainless steel
(d) Precipitation hardening stainless steel
2. State the types, compositions and properties of high speed steel.
3. Discuss Hadfield and Mar aging steels on the following lines
(a) Chemical composition
(b) Heat treatment

(c) Mechanical properties

(d) Applications
4. Explain the various methods to achieve high strength in HSLA steels.
5. Explain Bearing alloys.
6. Explain Tool steels.
7. Name different alloys of copper. Give its composition, properties and uses.
8. Explain Mar aging steels.
9. Explain Stainless steels, High speed steels.
10.Explain, bearing metals, Explain brasses
1. What is PTFE?
2. What is PE?
3. What is PS?

Unit-IV NON METALLIC MATERILS

Part-B
1. Explain the properties and application of the PVC,PE, PTFE, ABS
2. Give the detailed account on: (a) Urea formaldehydes
(b) Fibre reinforced plastics
(c) Cellulose nitrate.
3. Explain PMMA.
4. What is polymerization?
condensation polymerization.

Describe

addition

polymerization

and

5. How plastic materials are classified? Explain each classification.

6. Write brief notes on following traditional ceramics
(a) Clay products
(b) Glasses
(c) Cements
(d) Refractory's
7. Describe the properties and applications of following structural ceramics
(a) Alumina
(b) Partially stabilized zirconia
(c) Silicon carbide (d) Silicon nitride (e) Sialon
8. Describe the structures, properties and applications of following commodity
thermoplastic polymers
(a) Polyethylene
(b) Polyvinylchloride

(c) Polystyrene
9. Describe the strictures, properties and applications of the following
commodity thermoplastic polymers
(a) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
(b) Polytetrafluoroethylene
(c) Nylons
(d) Polycarbonates
(e) Polyethylene terephthalate
10. Describe the structures, properties and applications of the following thermoset
polymers
(a) Phenol formaldehyde (b) Urea formaldehyde (c) Epoxies
(d) Unsaturated polyesters

Unit-V MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND TESTING

Part-B
1. Describe with neat sketch fatigue test.
2. Describe with neat sketch creep test.
3. Explain the mechanism of plastic deformation by slip and twinning with neat
sketch.
4. Describe how the torsion test is conducted and what are the properties deter
from this test?
5. Explain the testing procedure for Vickers hardness test and mention the
advantages and limitations.
6. Describe the procedure of Charpy impact testing and the properties obtained

from it.
7. Explain the method of testing the materials for fatigue and how is the fatigue
data presented.
8. Draw a typical creep curve and explain the various stages of creep.
9. What is meant by ductile fracture? Explain the mechanism of it.
10.Compare and contrast the Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell hardness tests.