In this blog post, we will look at how materials engineering has enabled the development of various technologies and highlight its unlimited potential and importance in future industries.
Sometimes, you come across a drink called Red Bull. It says, “Red Bull, gives you wings.” Like Red Bull, materials science is a field of study that gives wings to other engineering and technology fields. As materials science advances, other fields of technology also spread their wings and develop. Since the Stone Age, humans have continued to develop new materials. Materials have played such an important role in human history that they have even divided history into the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. In modern times, as mentioned above, it has become a field of study that influences everything from small everyday appliances to spacecraft in outer space. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is, in a way, a major with an unclear focus. My original major was shipbuilding and ocean engineering, and the focus of all the courses was on designing the ideal ship, which is very different from the focus of my current studies.
In naval architecture and ocean engineering, we focused on ship design and the stability of marine structures, which is a field with relatively clear objectives. However, materials engineering—or “new materials engineering” as it is now called at other universities—involves research in various fields with different focuses. Therefore, during my undergraduate studies, I studied materials engineering at a general level. Upon entering graduate school, students specialize in one of three fields: metallurgy, ceramics (related to semiconductors and displays), or polymers (formerly known as fiber engineering, which is based on high-polymer compounds). These fields are studied in depth. The courses taken during the undergraduate program are truly foundational, serving as required general education courses or the basics of the field.
This was the reason I transferred. I wanted to study various fields before focusing on one area, as I believed this would allow me to pursue research in the field I truly desired. I wanted to make a choice after learning more than I did in undergraduate studies. However, while the breadth of options is vast, defining and explaining each field succinctly is challenging due to the comprehensive nature of the subject matter. Materials engineering studies the arrangement of atoms in materials through three major categories: crystal structures (i.e., methods for finding regular arrangements) and phase transition processes (simply put, the process by which water turns into ice and then into vapor). Through this research, we identify the physical and chemical properties associated with these arrangements and utilize the most necessary characteristics.
As mentioned earlier, metallurgy analyzes the atomic structures of various metals to develop effective smelting methods and create various alloys required in our daily lives. Duralumin, an aluminum alloy used in aircraft, is a material developed in this field of metallurgy. Second, ceramic engineering encompasses a wide range of fields, from compounds containing silicon (Si), ceramics, and cement to advanced science and materials related to human medicine, such as semiconductors and display materials. In particular, since silicon, the raw material for ceramics, is the largest constituent element of the Earth’s crust, this field generates enormous added value when new technologies are discovered and new materials are developed. Lastly, there is the field of polymer compounds, which was introduced in the third section. While it was previously limited to the narrow field of fibers, it now encompasses the field of carbon compounds. Using organic compounds, it produces materials ranging from vinyl-related PVC and PET plastics to those used in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, due to the characteristics of carbon compounds, which allow for immense transformation and the existence of numerous compounds, the potential for further development is enormous.
As such, materials engineering is involved in every aspect of our daily lives, from the foundations of large structures such as steel and metal to micro-materials such as semiconductors and plastics. It is an engineering field that has had an absolutely enormous impact on humanity and plays a fundamental role in all other fields, making the importance of materials engineering increasingly significant. Furthermore, as the demand for new materials continues to grow with each passing century, the development of such materials has become so important that it can determine the progress of a nation.
In particular, in the field of display research, which I have chosen as my career path, AMOLED displays, led by companies such as Samsung and LG, are gaining significant attention. AMOLED is a type of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) that emits light on its own, offering superior clarity, vibrant colors, faster response times, reduced visual fatigue, and lower power consumption compared to traditional LCDs. Unlike LCDs, AMOLEDs do not require a backlight because they emit light on their own, enabling thinner designs. While LCDs and PDPs, which use ceramics, once dominated this field, the trend is now shifting toward the use of polymer compounds and organic compounds in various applications. Samsung and LG, which have developed technologies aligned with this trend, have secured a significant market share compared to other companies.
Given this trend, it seems that the importance of materials engineering cannot be overstated. My dream is to contribute, even in a small way, to making the world a better place. Though it may be a simple thought, I believe that studying materials engineering will enable me to achieve this dream. Isn’t the materials engineering that gives wings to the technology hidden in our daily lives fascinating?
Furthermore, materials engineering plays a crucial role in addressing future energy challenges. To solve the energy issues we currently face, we need efficient energy storage and conversion technologies. For example, next-generation battery technology, solar panels, and fuel cells all rely on advancements in materials engineering. These technologies can provide more efficient and eco-friendly energy solutions, contributing to the protection of our planet’s environment.
Additionally, biomaterials engineering is an important branch of materials engineering. Biomaterials such as artificial organs and bones must have biocompatibility with the human body. This enables the development of innovative medical technologies that replace or restore bodily functions. For example, artificial joints, artificial blood vessels, and tissue engineering have become possible through advancements in materials engineering.
Therefore, materials engineering goes beyond simply developing new materials; it has become a core technology for improving the quality of human life and building a sustainable future. For these reasons, studying materials engineering is a highly meaningful endeavor. Don’t you feel excited thinking about how materials engineering could transform humanity’s future? Look forward to the endless possibilities of materials engineering!
