<p>I heard that in materials science you don't get to use that much math and physics, but mostly chemistry, is that true? If not, what kind of physics do grads in material science have to learn?
And how is it combining material science with mechanical engineering?, is this a good idea?</p>
<p>I can't speak too much for the math/phys/chem, but it would stand to reason that when examining a material's structure, such as a crystal (or something), it would help to know what exactly the material's molecular structure is, which is chemistry.</p>
<p>As for combining, it would be easier to do MechE, and then just take electives in materials related courses. At my school, every MechE learns the very very basics of materials science, and can take the elective classes and whatnot. Material science majors however, don't learn any MechE (well, thermo might overlap, but other than that, nothing).</p>
<p>ChemE, ME, and CivE departments tend to let students specialize in materials, so I would say that there is a bit of overlap between MSE wand those disciplines (I'm speaking from my own university's perspective).</p>
<p>At my school, ChemE deals with polymers, reactions, and processes to manufacture them (particularly plastics). ME deals with metals, ceramics, and composites mostly, metallurgy, welding, tribology, fracture, fatigue, etc. CivE deals with what ME does, except most of the materials involved are steel and concrete. Again, I'm speaking from the perspective of my school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers, but can you look at some subjects for me and tell me if they are material science or mechanical engineering?, caue I am really not sure what they lead to.(The department is for borth mechanical engineering at materials)
- fracture mechanics
-mechanical vibrations
-tribology
-fatigue design
-finite element methods in engineering science
-mechanics of materials
-continuum mechanics
-polymers and composites</p>
<p>If someone had taken these courses, would you look at him as a mechanical engineer or a materials scientist or both maybe?</p>
<p>Mechanical Engineering
-mechanical vibrations
Tribology is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion. It includes the study and application of the principles of friction, lubrication and wear.
-fatigue design
-finite element methods in engineering science
-continuum mechanics</p>
<p>Material Science
-polymers and composites
-mechanics of materials</p>
<p>Both
Fracture mechanics is a method for predicting failure of a structure containing a crack. It uses methods of analytical Solid mechanics to calculate the driving force on a crack and those of experimental Solid mechanics to characterize the material's resistance to fracture.</p>
<p>So based on the above I would say more mechanical engineering than material science. But these 2 fields are interrelated.</p>
<p>PSU Material Science Program Undergraduate</a> Degree Programs: Baccalaureate Degree Programs</p>
<p>Materials</a> Science and Engineering - Penn State - University Park Campus</p>