This is a module that covers techniques and methods for the structural and spectroscopic characterisation of materials. Introducing and highlighting techniques such as X-ray Diffraction, X-ray spectroscopy, electron microscopy, thermal analysis and vibrational spectroscopy.  The concepts are treated from a theoretical and practical point of view; letting the students gain deeper insight into the ideas behind the techniques, alongside the practical ability to undertake measurements.  This module is designed to help students select the most relevant microscopy or spectroscopy methods and enable them interact knowledgeably with equipment experts to optimize their own future materials characterisation experiments. 

To compliment the characterisation techniques the skills, statistics and processing needed to present and interpret the data and information gained will be covered, to enable students to effectively communicate the significances of the obtained results and conclusions.  

These link to the following topics in the 2017 QAA Materials Subject Benchmark Statements:

• Knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and methodology necessary to underpin their education in their engineering discipline, to enable appreciation of its scientific and engineering context, and to support their understanding of relevant historical, current and future developments and technologies (SM1)
• Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support study of their own engineering discipline (SM3)
• Communicate their work to technical and non-technical audiences (D6)
• Knowledge and understanding of management techniques, including project management, that may be used to achieve engineering objectives (ELSE3)
• Awareness of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health & safety, contracts, intellectual property rights, product safety and liability issues (ELSE5)
• Knowledge and understanding of risk issues, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk, and of risk assessment and risk management techniques (ELSE6)
• Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (eg operations and management, application and development of technology, etc) (EP1)
• Knowledge of characteristics of particular materials, equipment, processes, or products (EP2)
• Understanding of the use of technical literature and other information sources (EP4)
• Understanding of, and the ability to work in, different roles within an engineering team (EP9)
• Ability to work with technical uncertainty (EP8)
• Ability to apply relevant practical and laboratory skills (EP3)

• Relate complex advances in materials-related research to theory and fundamental knowledge covered elsewhere in the course;
• Use background reading, and scientific literature, to achieve a better understanding of an unfamiliar research topic;
• Apply fundamental knowledge of materials science to more advanced, state-of-the-art and emerging research fields;
• Communicate complex information to a technical audience in the format a literature review, report, scientific proposal or paper.
• Communicate complex information to a non-technical audience in the format of a science-dissemination article or high-level recommendations to board of directors/non-specialist stakeholders;
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific principles and methodology necessary to underpin their education in their engineering discipline, to enable appreciation of its scientific and engineering context, and to support their understanding of relevant historical, current and future developments and technologies (SM1)
• Ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support study of their own engineering discipline (SM3)
• Communicate their work to technical and non-technical audiences (D6)
• Knowledge and understanding of management techniques, including project management, that may be used to achieve engineering objectives (ELSE3)
• Awareness of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health & safety, contracts, intellectual property rights, product safety and liability issues (ELSE5) (partial)
• Knowledge and understanding of risk issues, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk, and of risk assessment and risk management techniques (ELSE6)
• Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (eg operations and management, application and development of technology, etc) (EP1)
• Knowledge of characteristics of particular materials, equipment, processes, or products (EP2)
• Understanding of the use of technical literature and other information sources (EP4)
• Understanding of, and the ability to work in, different roles within an engineering team (EP9)
• Ability to apply relevant practical and laboratory skills (EP3)
• Ability to work with technical uncertainty (EP8)