Advanced Materials Science and Engineering

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge outcomes:
Describe the relation between Gibbs free energy, phase stability and driving forces.
Understand models for chemical potential and activity of components in solution.
Understand the different diffusion coefficients and when to use each.
Describe recovery, recrystallization and grain growth, when each is important and the effect on material properties.
Describe casting microstructures and casting defects and how to reduce them.
Describe the evolution of microstructure in Al alloys and steels during processing.
Describe evolution of welding microstructures and resultant properties.
Describe uses and limitations of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).

Skills outcomes:
Sketch the Gibbs free energy curves that correspond to simple phase diagrams.
Predict equilibrium structure of alloy from phase diagram.
Calculate driving forces for phase transformations.
Solve diffusion problems corresponding to common materials processing routes.
Apply equations of nucleation and growth to solidification and solid-state phase transformations.
Calculate rates of transformation and understand relation to TTT diagrams.
Design processing routes to achieve desired properties in Al alloys and steels using CCT diagrams.

Personal attributes developed:
Ability to communicate technical materials concepts with other engineers.
Ability to interpret technological handbook information for ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Ability to locate and synthesise relevant technical materials literature into a written literature review and presentation.

Prerequisites

Restrictions

Recommended Preparation

For further information see Mechanical Engineering .