The Essence of Materials for Engineers

Chapter 11

Using Processing to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Solids: Strengthening and Toughening Materials

Learning Objectives

After careful study of this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

1.  Explain why understanding the processing of materials is important during both the design and manufacturing stages of engineering.

2.  Explain why engineers seek stronger and tougher materials and identify the seven general or generic mechanisms of strengthening metals and the four generic mechanism for toughening ceramics.

3.  Describe how grain size reduction; strain or work hardening; solid-solution strengthening by alloying (both substitutionally and interstitially); the development of second solidsolution phase or, alternatively, ...