Introduction
The Material Science and Manufacturing Processes course(MET 1010) at Pellissippi State Community College(PSTCC) is an introductory course with no prerequisites. While the text covers metals, composites, polymers and ceramics, the two laboratories in this course focus on metals.
Personal Goals
My personal goals are:
 | Increase the number of laboratory experiments in MET 1010 |
| Increase my knowledge of composites, polymers, and ceramics |
| Cover composites, polymers, and ceramics in greater detail |
Goals
The following goals will be met:
| Introduce a ceramics laboratory to MET 1010 |
| Provide an example of slip casting |
| Study the effects of sintering time on a slip casting |
| Include critical thinking |
Project Concept
The idea for this experiment came from "Use of Bells to Illustrate Ceramic Firing Effects" by L.R. Bunnell at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland WA and Steven W. Piippo at Richland High School in Richland WA. This paper was presented at the National Educators’ Workshop, Standard Experiments in Engineering Materials Science and Technology, November 3-5, 1993 at NASA Langly Research Center in Hampton, VA. The original experiment used porcelain bells purchased from a hobby shop. The students at PSTCC will use slip casting to make the bells.
Prior to the semester, an upper level student will use a CNC to machine an aluminum pattern for the bell.
At the beginning of the laboratory, team positions and tasks will be assigned. Depending on the size of the class, the students may be split up into two teams. Each team will devise a procedure to be followed in order to ensure consistent bells. If there are two groups, they will meet, debate and decide on the procedure to be used.
The students will make a four molds for the bell using plaster of paris. A hole will be drilled next to the bell mold using a ½ inch drill bit. The slip casting from this ½ inch hole will be used as a control and to determine relative density.
The bells and controls will be made using the slip casting method. The dimensions and weight of the bells will be measured to verify consistent results.
Each bell will be fired at a different temperature. The bell will be placed in a cold furnace, the temperature brought up to the desired temperature and allowed to hold for one hour. The power to the furnace will be turned off and the bell will be cooled in the unopened furnace.
The porosity and relative density of each will be recorded after cooled.
The difference in sound when struck with a metal hammer and the amount of light that can be transmitted through the bell will be observed and recorded.
The observations and conclusions will be discussed as a group.
A formal laboratory report will be written by each student.
Timeline
Task |
Completion Date |
| Purchase ceramic bell from hobby shop | 9/1/97 |
| Introduce project to CAM course and determine which student will make pattern | 9/15/97 |
| Research type and cost of various ceramic powders and determine the type that will be used for the experiment | 10/1/97 |
| Complete lab instructions | 10/14/97 |
| Purchase ceramic powder, plaster of paris, material for form | 10/21/97 |
| Complete pattern (to be done by student) | 10/21/97 |
| Construct form for plaster of paris | 10/28/97 |
| Instructor completes experiment | 11/14/97 |
| Make revisions to experiment and/or lab instructions | 12/15/97 |
| Students complete experiment in class | 2/7/98 |
Mary Kocak
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Mechanical Engineering Technology
10915 Hardin Valley Road
P.O. Box 22990
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
(423)694-6426
Word 97 doc file of this project: kocak.doc
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