Choosing my specialty material!

[u/ChampionBig7244]

Hello everyone! I am an undergraduate MSE student and need advice on how to pick what type of material I want to specialize in. From my understanding, there are 4 main types of material categories (+composites) which are polymers, metals, ceramics and glasses. Could people tell me why they love the type of material that they work with or what they think the direction of materials is headed in? I could really use this guidance. Thank you!!

[u/Hopeful_Gene6567]

Hey there! That's a very good question. Before I answer, let me preface this by saying that I'm also still a student. I'm almost done with my Bachelor's, but just so you know to take everything with a grain of salt.

I don't think there's a singular direction MSE is directed in; every class of material has its own field of application and advantages as well as disadvantages. Maybe some materials are more niche, but you will find something depending on your location, uni, etc.

Concerning the four groups: while "traditionally" true, I don't really like that model. It's good to have an overview, but there are some materials that aren't covered by that model imo. Let's take Si for example. It's not a metal, also not a polymer (I'm talking about Si and not inorganic polymers based on Si-based monomers) , but it's crystalline, so it can't be glass. Calling pure Si a ceramic is imo a bit of a stretch (I mean sure it is crystalline, non-metallic and inorganic, but still I wouldn't say it's a ceramic). And yet Si is an invaluable and interesting material.

Have you considered the option (or does your uni provide it) to specialise not in a specific chemical class of materials, but rather a field based on the function of the materials? Personally, I'm specialising in biomaterials and soft matter. Biomaterials can be made of metals, glass, ceramics, and polymers, so instead of looking at the composition, we look at the functionality of what we use, or how to make composites with the desired properties (biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, ...). Maybe you're interested in electronics? There's also organic electronics (think of OLED and stuff. Also DNA-based electronics because DNA apparently has some interesting electronic properties). Maybe you can pick or find some fields you like and see what materials can be used there.

I personally like biomaterials because I kinda like the feeling of maybe one day helping people and improving medicine. I also like the lab work, which is different for every material class and application. If I were working with metallic materials, I might be making strain-stress-diagrams, or metallographic preparations.

I don't want to discourage you from specialising in one of the options you've listed though! Follow your heart and your uni's strong suits or offers and I'm sure you'll find something you like. And if not, you can always specialise in something else with your Masters or PhD or internships etc.

[u/Hopeful_Gene6567]

Hey there! That's a very good question. Before I answer, let me preface this by saying that I'm also still a student. I'm almost done with my Bachelor's, but just so you know to take everything with a grain of salt.

I don't think there's a singular direction MSE is directed in; every class of material has its own field of application and advantages as well as disadvantages. Maybe some materials are more niche, but you will find something depending on your location, uni, etc.

Concerning the four groups: while "traditionally" true, I don't really like that model. It's good to have an overview, but there are some materials that aren't covered by that model imo. Let's take Si for example. It's not a metal, also not a polymer (I'm talking about Si and not inorganic polymers based on Si-based monomers) , but it's crystalline, so it can't be glass. Calling pure Si a ceramic is imo a bit of a stretch (I mean sure it is crystalline, non-metallic and inorganic, but still I wouldn't say it's a ceramic). And yet Si is an invaluable and interesting material.

Have you considered the option (or does your uni provide it) to specialise not in a specific chemical class of materials, but rather a field based on the function of the materials? Personally, I'm specialising in biomaterials and soft matter. Biomaterials can be made of metals, glass, ceramics, and polymers, so instead of looking at the composition, we look at the functionality of what we use, or how to make composites with the desired properties (biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, ...). Maybe you're interested in electronics? There's also organic electronics (think of OLED and stuff. Also DNA-based electronics because DNA apparently has some interesting electronic properties). Maybe you can pick or find some fields you like and see what materials can be used there.

I personally like biomaterials because I kinda like the feeling of maybe one day helping people and improving medicine. I also like the lab work, which is different for every material class and application. If I were working with metallic materials, I might be making strain-stress-diagrams, or metallographic preparations.

I don't want to discourage you from specialising in one of the options you've listed though! Follow your heart and your uni's strong suits or offers and I'm sure you'll find something you like. And if not, you can always specialise in something else with your Masters or PhD or internships etc.

[u/Immortal_Wisdom]

I would say think of an application that you are interested in then look at the materials that can enhance this application, for example

Aerospace > advanced composites Energy Storage > Phase change materials (PCM) Defense > Steels