Thirty-Second Overview

One-Sentence Description: This activity is designed to provide real context for how annealing affects metals and influences their workability.    

Course: Any Introductory Material Science Course 

Topic: Annealing   

Type: Out-of-class activity

Time: 1.5 hours

Materials: Jason's Works Master Deluxe Kit {LINK}, blow torch, quarters, safety glasses

Detailed Card Description

Overview

In order to create a coin ring, the ring must be annealed at several points throughout the process to aid in workability and to prevent cracking. Alternatively, too much annealing can deform the material too much. If your school is equipped with a ring making set up of some sort, this is an excellent means of connecting what impact annealing has on a material's properties and associated workability.  

At George Fox University, the maker space is equipped with a jewelry station. To demonstrate familiarity and competence with this station, a ring making exercise has been created {LINK} that doubles as means of gaining tactile experience with the annealing process. When incorporated into an introductory material science course, this activity promotes student curiosity through connection of a fundamental engineering process with a personally created artifact (a coin ring). 

Method

1. Annealing should be introduced in class prior to assigning this activity. 
   
2. Assign as an out-of-class activity. Should be able to be completed in a week unless more time is necessary to schedule access to the ring making equipment. 
3. An important component of this activity is space for student reflection. An example assignment and expected reflection can be seen in the attached documents.
4. After the activity has been completed, it is recommended that a portion of the next class period is spent allowing the students to showcase their creations. This is also a good time to discuss what they learned through the experience and to discuss their connections to the engineering experience.

Motivating Curious Questions

• How might the processing (i.e. annealing) of a material affect it's properties and consequently it's performance?
• What different processes would be good for different applications?

Discussion Points (if appropriate)

• How was annealing utilized in this exercise?
• Why does this process involve quarters as apposed to other coins?
• (revisit) What different processes would be good for different applications?