Ceramics

Ceramics

Ceramics

02/15/26

“What material properties make ceramics special?”

We use ceramics in our everyday life, whether it’s the mug for our morning coffee, the bricks in the buildings we inhabit, or the fillings in our teeth. But what material properties make them so special? Well, ceramics are materials made up of nonmetallic, inorganic chemical compounds strung together by ionic and/or covalent bonding. This gives them high compressive strength, hardness, melting points, and wear resistance, with the drawbacks of high brittleness, low toughness, and vulnerability to cracks. Ceramics are also corrosion-resistant and thermally stable, making them well-suited for chemically and thermodynamically intense applications. 

Yield Point

Yield Point

Yield Point

02/14/26

“At what point is a material so stressed so much that it doesn’t return to its original form?”

Materials stretched by a small amount may return to their original shape. But if they’re stretched beyond a certain Yield Point they may not return. Materials that move beyond the yield point transition from elastic to plastic behavior.

Image credit: https://pubs.sciepub.com/

Corosion

Corosion

Corosion

02/13/26

“Why do objects corrode?”

You’ve probably heard people talking about objects corroding away. You may have even used the term itself. But what does it mean, and what’s the process behind it? Well, when a metal is exposed to environmental factors, it may lose electrons, becoming an anode. These electrons may then travel along the metal where a reduction reaction occurs (cathode), such as oxygen and water. The products of this redox reaction will then react with the metal ions to form oxides, leading to a degradation of the material. This Corosion process is affected by the presence of potential anodes, cathodes, electrolytes, and electrical conductors. Rusting is a form of corosion. Corrosion is a critically important factor for material design, whether it’s for water supply pipes or electrical transformers.

Road Paving

Road Paving

Road Paving

02/12/26

“Why do we need to pave roads?”

Roads are the lifeblood of civilizations, whether it’s the ancient Roman empire or the modern metropolises of the world. One of the most important aspects of roads is a smooth surface for people and vehicles to move across. Consequently, Road Paving, or building usable surfaces for roads, is an upkeep necessity. 

Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand

Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand

02/11/26

“How can we represent the amount of oxygen bacteria use to break down carbon-based matter?”

Bacteria use oxygen to power themselves while they break down material. Sometimes, people want to know only the amount of oxygen for consuming specific materials. The amount of oxygen bacteria use to solely consume carbon-based matter is known as Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand.

Superheated Water

Superheated Water

Superheated Water

02/10/26

“How can water stay in liquid form while hotter than its boiling point?”

Water at atmospheric pressure levels boils at 100 degrees celsius. But if water is subject to high pressures, it can become Superheated Water at higher temperatures. Superheated water is useful for a multitude of industrial applications such as cleaning and heating.

Flow Nets

Flow Nets

Flow Nets

02/09/26

“How can we visualize how water moves through soil?”

While it may not be obvious, water actually moves through soil. One way we can visualize this is to draw flowlines from the origin to the destination and then equipotential lines going through right angles at equal potentials. These Flow Nets are a great way to spatially describe how water moves through soil. You can use the ratio of the number of flow channels and the number of equipotential drops to estimate the flow through the soil. 

Image credit: https://www.geoengineer.org/

Oxidation State

Oxidation State

Oxidation State

02/08/26

“How can we quantify the number of electrons an element is likely to have after it breaks all bonds?”

Chemical bonds may be broken. With bonds involving shared electrons, some elements may take all shared electrons with them. The number of electrons that an element is likely to take or give in a chemical breakup is known as the Oxidation State. Oxidation states range from +2 (alkaline earth metals) to -2 (oxygen).

Air Voids in Asphalt Pavement

Air Voids in Asphalt Pavement

Air Voids in Asphalt Pavement

02/07/26

“Why are air voids in asphalt pavement so important?”

Asphalt pavement is composed of many different components. Air voids found in this substance play a key role in its uses. Air voids allow for thermal expansion and water storage in asphalt. Asphalt with excessive air voids handles heavy loads worse, while asphalt with too few air voids is less flexible. Precast porous concrete panels have extra air voids to allow for more water seepage. These are the properties of Air Voids in Asphalt Pavement.