Materials Science Teaching Module as Adjunct to Introductory Chemistry

A materials science teaching module was developed by a team of scientists and teachers that incorporates aspects of chemistry, physics, materials, and engineering with emphasis on engineering of materials. The level is geared towards high school, but with modification it can be taught at the middle school level. Three general classes of materials are studied, namely metals, ceramics, and polymers. Students fabricate test bars of sample materials from each of the three classes. Tin was selected for the metal due to its low melting temperature, availability, and nontoxicity. A commercially available, fine grained cement is the ceramic of choice. A one-component polyester resin was selected s a representative polymer. Size and shape of samples provide good mechanical properties with convenient geometry for testing. A number of chemical, physical, and mechanical properties are determined and compared. The module has been used to convey the interrelationship of processing, structure, and bonding to engineered materials. the module has been implemented as part of the chemistry or general science curriculum. Teachers often set the students up in groups to encourage problem solving as a team for the multidisciplinary experiments.