Unit IV: Non-Metallic Materials - Self-Assessment Questions

 Self-Assessment Questions: Non-Metallic Materials - Engineering Materials and Metallurgy

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTONS

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

On Polymers

1. What are polymers?

2. List any four attractive characteristics of polymers.

3. Classify polymers.

4. Define the following terms: 

(i) Monomer, 

(ii) Homopolymer,

(iii) Copolymer, and 

(iv) Linear polymer.

5. What is meant by isomerism?

6. What is meant by the term 'unsaturated molecule'? State its significance in plastics.

7. What is polymerisation?

8. Define the term 'degree of polymerisation'.

9. What is the difference between addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation?

10. Why are additives added to polymers?

11. Why are the fillers and plasticizers added to polymers?

12. What are the characteristics of plastics which account for their wide use as engineering materials?

13. What is the most common use classification of plastics? What accounts for this?

14. Differentiate commodity plastics with engineering plastics. 

15. Name any four commodity plastics and engineering plastics. 

16. Distinguish between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics. 

17. Name any four thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.

18. Why is it important to know whether a plastic is thermoplastic or thermosetting?

19. What advantages do thermoplastic polymers have over thermo- setting polymers, and vice versa?

20. What are the sources of raw materials for plastics?

21. What do the following ‘acronyms' refer: PE, PP, PS, PVC, PTFE, PMMA.

22. Name any three hydrocarbon thermoplastics. Also state their applications.

23. List the properties and typical applications of PVC.

24. What are acrylic materials? Name two of them.

25. Write short notes on nylons.

26. What do you mean by heterochain polymers? Name any four of them.

27. What are bakelites? Also state their applications.

28. List the characteristics and typical applications of urea- formaldehyde.

On Engineering Ceramics

29. What are engineering ceramics?

30. List some of the distinct characteristics of engineering ceramics.

31. What are the main classifications of ceramic materials?

32. Name any four engineering ceramics.

33. Compare the fracture toughness of alumina, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride.

34. What is meant by PSZ?

35. What are sialons? State their applications.

36. Why do most ceramics not have tensile strengths?

On Composites

`37. What are composites?

38. What are the constituents of composites?

39. How are composite materials classified?

40. What is the role of matrix material in a composite?

41. List the various matrix materials used.

42. List the various fibre materials used in the fibre-reinforced composites.

43. What are cermets? What are two common uses of cermets?

44. List the advantages and limitations of composite materials.

45. List the applications of composite materials.