You are presented with four samples, each of a different, unknown material. Each

Question

You are presented with four samples, each of a different, unknown material. Each sample is cubic in shape, l in^3 in volume. Two of the samples are known to be metals, one aluminum and one steel (you don't know which is which). One of the other cubes is a polymer and one is a ceramic (again, you don't know which is which). Choose two material properties that could be used to classify the metals as either aluminum or steel and explain how the values of those properties (qualitatively) differ between the two materials. Repeat the process for the polymer/ceramic pair.

Explanation / Answer

Differentiate between Aluminium and Steel using:

a) Density : Steel is about 7-8 gm/cc whereas Aluminium is about 2.5 gm/cc

b) Vicker's hardness : Vicker's Hardness for Steel would be approximately 3-4 times greater than that of aluminium.

Vicker's hardness is chosen over yield/tensile strength as it is easier to perform on given sample dimensions.

Differentiate between polymer and ceramic:

a) Tensile Strength : Polymers have lower tensile strength than Ceramics

b) Ductility : Polymers are more ductile than ceramics.

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