Aim
To provide the students with a deep and broad insight into the basic concepts and processes in materials science which are necessary to choose, modify and use materials in various applications.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• show an understanding of important phenomena and processes which affect the behaviour of materials under different conditions.

• show an understanding of materials characterization principles

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

• show the ability to identify structure - property correlations.

• show the ability to use scanning electron microscopy for materials characterization.

• show the ability to develop materials treatment processes for getting desirable structures and properties.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• show the ability to analyse material behaviour

• show the ability to conduct experiments in a group, prepare and present written reports and take part in technical discussions.

Contents
Relevant principles of solid state physics, thermodynamics, continuum mechanics and applications. Crystalline and amorphous materials. Phase equilibria. Defects in solids. Materials characterisation. Diffusion. Mechanical behaviour of materials - plastic deformation, Creep and Viscoelastic deformation, Fatigue and Fracture mechanisms. Common types of engineering materials including light metals and alloys. Corrosion and surface engineering.

Literature
Smallman, R.E. & Bishop, R.J.: Modern Physical Metallurgyand Materials Engineering, Butterworth and Heinemann (1999) ISBN 0 7506 4564 4