National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Other Disciplines Practice Exam

In high-temperature applications, the selection of materials is crucial, and one of the primary criteria is thermal stability and resistance to oxidation. High temperatures can cause significant changes in material properties, including deformation, loss of strength, and degradation due to chemical reactions, such as oxidation.

Materials that exhibit good thermal stability can withstand prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures without losing their mechanical integrity or structure. This is vital in applications such as aerospace, power generation, and chemical processing, where materials are subject to extreme temperatures. Additionally, resistance to oxidation is essential because many materials can oxidize and corrode when exposed to high temperatures and oxygen, which can lead to failure of components and systems.

While other factors like cost-effectiveness, availability, elasticity, and strength are important in overall material selection, they are not as critical as thermal stability and oxidation resistance specifically in high-temperature environments, where these properties determine the performance and longevity of the materials used.