Paradox of Materials Science—A Coherent Discussion

Author: Feng Duan, Shi Changxu, Liu Zhiguo (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: Materials are substances used to manufacture items, devices, components, machines, or other products. Materials are a type of matter, but not all matter can be classified as materials. For example, fuels, chemical raw materials, industrial chemicals, food, and drugs are generally not considered materials. However, this definition is not entirely strict. For instance, explosives and solid rocket propellants are often referred to as "energetic materials" because they are components of firearms or rockets. Materials are the material foundation upon which human survival and development depend. In the 1970s, information, materials, and energy were hailed as the three pillars of modern civilization. In the 1980s, the new technological revolution represented by high-tech clusters ranked new materials, information technology, and biotechnology as important markers of the new technological revolution. This is primarily because materials are closely related to national economic construction, national defense construction, and people's livelihood. In addition to their importance and universality, materials also exhibit diversity. Due to their variety, there is no unified standard for classification. Based on physical and chemical properties, they can be divided into metallic materials, inorganic non-metallic materials, organic polymer materials, and composite materials composed of different types of materials. Based on applications, they are further categorized into electronic materials, aerospace materials, nuclear materials, building materials, energy materials, and biodegradable materials, among others. The two most common classification methods are structural materials and functional materials; traditional materials and new materials. Structural materials are based on mechanical properties and are used to manufacture load-bearing components. Of course, structural materials also have certain requirements for physical or chemical properties, such as luster, thermal conductivity, radiation resistance, corrosion resistance, and oxidation resistance. Functional materials are a type of material that primarily utilize unique physical, chemical properties, or biological functions. A material can often be both structural and functional, such as iron, copper, and aluminum. Traditional materials refer to those that have matured and are already mass-produced and widely used in industry, such as steel, cement, and plastics. This type of material, due to its large volume, high output value, and broad scope, is also known as basic materials because it forms the foundation of many pillar industries. New materials (advanced materials) refer to a category of materials that are currently developing and possess excellent performance and application prospects. There is no clear boundary between new materials and traditional materials. Traditional materials can become new materials by adopting new technologies, increasing technical content, improving performance, and significantly enhancing added value. New materials, after long-term production and application, also become traditional materials. Traditional materials are the foundation for developing new materials and high technology, while new materials often drive the further development of traditional materials.