Abstract: The method of Fractional Graph Area（FGA），which is one of the important methods for the graph scientometrics，uses the proportion of the scientific graph area occupying the entire article area as a quantify index． The FGA method is applied as the research on the discipline development of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)．Having ten journals measured， the original data are acquired， the tendency which the FGA changes over time is obtained, and the data is collected and analyzed by means of various statistical methods. Using quantitative and qualitative methods to study trends in the development of MSE， it is indicated that from the 1950s to the late of 1960s， the MSE got a rapid development．After going through a period of oscillation and development, the MSE gains a new growth tendency since the end of the 20th century．Through analyzing the development of MSE among China and abroad， although the development level in MSE of China is relatively behind other developed countries, but the growth rate is far exceeded．By analyzing the development of the various branches of MSE， it is found that the various branches of MSE are developed with more balance pattern, and they will become more intersection and integration.

Key words: scientometrics, scientific graph, FGA;