Changes in materials technology

Since the technology of any age is founded upon the materials of the age, the era of new materials will have a profound effect on engineering ofthe future.

Not onlynew materials, but related, and equally important, new and improved and less wasteful processes for the shaping, treating and finishing of both traditional and new materials are continuously being developed.

It is important that an engineer should be familiar with them. These include casting, injection molding and rotational molding of components of ever increasing size, complexity and accuracy; manufacture of more complex components by powder metallurgy techniques; steel forming and casting processes based on new, larger and more mechanized machines, giving reduced waste and closer tolerances; the avoidance of waste in forging by the use of powder metallurgy or cast pressforms and new finishing processes for metals and plastics, just to name a few. A high proportion of these processes is aimed at the production of complex, accurate shapes with a much smaller number of operations and with far less waste than the traditional methods of metal manufacture.

Joining techniques have developed to unprecedented level of sophistication and are also providing opportunities for economies. It is necessary to mention that these newer techniques allow the manufacture of complicated parts by welding together simpler sub-units requiring little machining; such assemblies саn be made from a variety of materials. The methods can also be used effectively; for assembly allowing savings to be made in both materials and machine utilization.

The brief review of new processes above has indicated that a new materials technology is rapidly emerging, providing new opportunities and challenges for imaginative product design and for more efficient manufacture.