Blogs
Look around you, everything you own is made of materials. But why is one plastic bendy and another one stiff? Why does metal conduct electricity, but ceramic doesn't? Can we modify ceramic to conduct electricity, and how?
What is Materials Science?
Materials science for the study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by the materials' composition and structure, both macroscopic and microscopic.
For example:
• Polymers (plastics) have long-chain molecules, giving flexibility.
• Metals have delocalized electrons—excellent electrical conductors.
• Ceramics have tightly bound electrons—insulating and brittle.
Material science has and continues to transform the automotive industry in many ways.
Application
Material Science Role
Lightweighting
Switched from steel to aluminum, magnesium, carbon‑fiber composites – cutting weight with strength
Braking / Engine Heat Management
Ceramic coatings on exhaust/TB components for thermal shielding. This gives cooler engine bays and improved performance.
Bearings
Silicon‑nitride ceramic bearings reduce friction and last longer
80 % less friction, 3–10× lifespan, lighter weight
Smart/Self‑healing surfaces
Coatings that repair microcracks or restore conductivity
Self Healing Carbon Fiber: Conceptualized by Lamborghini in collaboration with MIT, the Terzo Millennio has small cracks in the microchannels of the fiber to release liquid healing agents to fix the cracks.
Material science plays a role in all parts of life; however, to keep this short, in this series of blogs, I will explore the general principles of how it is used for performance and safety in automotive vehicles.