Seminar on

Functionally Graded Materials

Presentation By
S.Aravind,
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Mechanical Engg.,
SRM TRP Engineering College.
Definition

• Functionally graded materials (FGM) are composite

materials which are designed to present a particular
spatial variation of their properties.
• This is usually achieved by forming a compound of
two components whose volume fraction is changed
across a certain direction.
Introduction
• FGMs are innovative composite materials whose composition
and microstructure vary in space following a predetermined
law. The gradual change in composition and microstructure
gives place to a gradient of properties and performances.
Origin/Motivation
• The “first” FGM was developed in Japan in 1984-85 as the result of a
space plane project.
• Although the concept of FGM is recent, many materials that fit the
description have existed for decades.
• Some FGM also occur naturally:
 Bones and teeth
 Seashells
• Better adherence of a protective layer (against corrosion, for instance)
• Minimization of interfacial stresses between different materials (e.g. due
to temperature variation)
 ORIGIN/MOTIVATION
FGMs allow better customization and tailoring of materials for
specific tasks

Stiffer at clamped end gradation in Y direction

Material Softer at clamped end

More variety in material selection for engineering design

CLASSIFICATION OF FGMS

•FGMs may be compositionally or micro-structurally graded

•The gradient is established through a transition function

(usually volume fraction as a function of one or more
spatial coordinates)

•FGMs come in several types, depending on their

constituents (e.g. ceramic-metal, metal-metal…)
 GRADATION

Continuous

Stepped
Examples

Ceramic-Metal TiC-Ni, Mullite-Mo, Al-AlB2

Metal-Metal/Intermetallic W-Cu, W-Mo, Al-Al3Fe

Metal-Polymer Al-Polycarbonate

Others

Single material (variation in

porosity)
Glass - Ceramic

Ceramic - Ceramic
 TUNGSTEN-COPPER

Tungsten surface: Copper surface:

Hard, refractory Good electric

material and thermal
conductivity
 FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
Creating a porosity gradient in the electrodes, the
efficiency of the reaction can be maximized
 NUCLEAR FUSION REACTORS
Modification to heat exchangers in tokamak fusion
reactors

Reduction of interfacial stresses → prevention of

delamination effects → increase in lifetime
 JET
SOLIDIFICATION
- Solid freeform process
- Ultimately requires
sintering of the resulting
green body

PRESSURE
FILTRATION
- Versatile process that can be
adapted to produce both axial and
radial gradients
- Also requires sintering
 DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION

- Melt processing (no

sintering step required)
- Only axial gradients

- Material processed
at low speed on which the
shape of the transition
function is heavily dependant
upon
 SINTERING

- Using a conventional oven, microwave or

laser beam

- External pressure may or may not

be applied
PROCESSING METHODS
 CONCLUSIONS
Functionally graded materials are still a very
recent area of research (and thus very active)

Current research is mostly focused on

uncovering the complex nature of fracture mechanics due
to material nonhomogeneity as well as in
developing/improving forming processes so that the
target gradient is achieved with precision
Thank You