Course Details in 2022/23 Session

Module Title	LC Fundamentals of Materials Science
School	Metallurgy and Materials
Department	Metallurgy & Materials
Module Code	04 31173
Module Lead	Dr N Warnken
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-44 hours Tutorial-8 hours Guided independent study-148 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The aim of this course is to develop the students’ knowledge in the basic description of crystalline materials in terms of their bonding, crystal structure, phase, grain size, defects and composition. The thermodynamics of solutions will be covered as a basis for phase diagrams with nucleation and growth being exemplified using solidification, whilst thermally activated processes are illustrated through diffusion mechanisms and calculations.These link to the requirements in the QAA Materials benchmark statement of 2017, in particular:3.4.i atomic bonding, crystalline lattices, defects and disorder, amorphous materials 3.4.ii phase equilibria and phase transformations multiphase materials, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects3.4.iii structure on the nano, micro, meso and macro scales
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Use knowledge of basic chemistry and physics to classify materials according to their optical, electronic and mechanical properties; Describe the different types of defects present in crystalline materials and state how these affect properties; Construct simple binary phase diagrams, and use them to predict the presence of phases, their composition, and the resultant microstructure of the material; Describe the thermodynamic basis of phase diagrams, and the equations that describe the Gibbs free energy of ideal solutions; Use nucleation theory to describe the effect of undercooling on grain size during solidification Describe the mechanisms of diffusion at the atomic scale, building these concepts up to Fick’s first law of diffusion. These relate to the AHEP v4 learning outcomes: Apply knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. Some of the knowledge will be at the forefront of the particular subject of study (C1) Use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems (C12) Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations (C13) Use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems (M12) Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations (M13)
Assessment	31173-06 : Tutorial Sheet 1 : Coursework (20%) 31173-08 : Lab report : Coursework (20%) 31173-09 : Weekly MCQ : Coursework (20%) 31173-10 : Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Written Unseen (40%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Other
Reading List