Basically Engineering Materials Can be classified into two categories-

 Metals
 Non-Metals

Metals

Metals are polycrystalline bodies which are having number of differentially oriented
fine crystals. Normally major metals are in solid states at normal temperature. However,
some metals such as mercury are also in liquid state at normal temperature. All metals
are having high thermal and electrical conductivity. All metals are having positive
temperature coefficient of resistance. Means resistance of metals increase with increase
of temperature.

Non-Metals

Non-Metal materials are non-crystalline in nature. These are in both solid & gases
forms at normal temperature. Normally all non-metals are bad conductor of heat and
electricity Examples: Plastics, Rubber, Leathers etc.

As these non-metals are having very high resistivity which makes them suitable for
insulation purpose in electrical machines.
Difference between Metals and Non-Metals

Property Metals Non-Metals

1 Structure All metals are having crystalline All Non-metals are having amorphic &
structure mesomorphic structure
2 State Generally metals are solid normal State varies material to material. Some are gas state
temperature and some are in solid state at normal temperature
3 Valance Valance electrons are free to move Valence electrons are tightly bound with nucleus
electrons with in metals which makes them which are not free to move. This makes them bad
and good conductor of heat & electricity conductor of heat & electricity
conductivity
4 Density High density Low density
5 Strength High strength Low strength
6 Hardness Generally hard Hardness is generally varies
7 Malleability Malleable Non malleable
8 Ductility Ductile Non ductile
9 Brittleness Generally non-brittle in nature Brittleness varies material to material
10 Lustre Metals possess metallic lustre Generally do not possess metallic lustre (Except
graphite & iodine)
What Is Heat Treatment?

Heat treatment is the process of heating and cooling metals to change their
microstructure and to bring out the physical and mechanical characteristics that make
metals more desirable. Metals undergo heat treatment are to improve their strength,
hardness, toughness, ductility and corrosion resistance.

All heat-treating operations involve the heating and cooling of metals, the common
forms of heat treatment for ferrous metals are hardening, tempering, annealing,
normalizing,

 Hardening

A ferrous metal is normally hardened by heating the metal to the required temperature
and then cooling it rapidly by plunging the hot metal into a quenching medium, such as
oil, water, or brine. The hardening process increases the hardness and strength of metal,
but also increases its brittleness.

Quenching is the process of sudden cooling of metal by dipping metal into a cooling
medium bath.

 Tempering

Tempering consists of heating the metal to a specified temperature and then permitting
the metal to cool. The rate of cooling usually has no effect on the metal structure during
tempering. Therefore, the metal is usually permitted to cool in still air. Temperatures
used for tempering are normally much lower than the hardening temperatures. The
higher the tempering temperature used, the softer the metal becomes. High-speed steel
is one of the few metals that becomes harder instead of softer after it is tempered.

 Annealing

Metal is annealed by heating it to a prescribed temperature, holding it at that

temperature for the required time, and then cooling it back to room temperature. The
rate at which metal is cooled from the annealing temperature varies greatly. Metals are
annealed to relieve internal stresses, soften them, make them more ductile, and refine
their grain structures.

 Normalizing

Normalizing is achieved by heating the metal to a specified temperature (which is

higher than either the hardening or annealing temperatures), soaking the metal until it is
uniformly heated, and cooling it in still air. Ferrous metals are normalized to relieve the
internal stresses produced by machining, forging, or welding.