Basic Materials Technology

• Structure of solids
• Defects, dislocations and strengthening mechanisms
• Diffusion in the solid state
• Mechanical properties of materials and measurement of mechanical properties: elastic and plastic deformation
• Phase diagrams and phase transformations, with focus on steel and aluminum alloys
• Properties and applications of the major metal alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites
• Environmental aspects of the production and use of different materials

After passing the course, the candidate:

- knows basic crystallography and can perform relevant crystallographic calculations in order to describe and predict the crystal structure of ceramic materials

- knows how defects and diffusion in materials affect the structure and mechanical properties of the material

- has an overview-level knowledge of mechanical properties of materials, and can use experimental data from tests to evaluate selected properties

- understands the principles of binary phase diagrams and can use binary phase diagrams to determine phase composition and explain how microstructure develops in metallic and ceramic materials

- has insight in key properties and applications of metals, ceramics, composites and polymers, and can use this insight to discuss advantages and disadvantages with the different classes of materials

- can use relevant computational tools (e.g., Python) to process experimental data and find numeric solutions to selected problems in materials science

- can use relevant software (e.g., GRANTA EduPack) to compare and discuss different material properties, phase diagrams and simple life cycle analyses

- can plan, carry out and communicate a project work in writing and orally, and participate in high-level discussions on material choice and environmental aspects of the production and use of materials

- can plan and carry out laboratory work and document the work in written reports

Lectures, problem sets, laboratory work, project work and independent study. Estimated time spent: Lectures: 80 hours, problem sets: 40 hours, laboratory work: 20 hours (including preparation and report writing), project work: 40 hours, independent study: 90 hours. Total: 270 hours.