MS2201 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

This is a first course in Materials Science and Engineering and emphasizes the basic principles of microstructure-property relationships in materials of engineering and naval relevance. Topics include crystalline structure and bonding, defects, thermodynamics and kinetics of reactions in solids, deformation, strengthening mechanisms and heat treatment. Students will acquire a working vocabulary and conceptual understanding necessary for advance study and for communication with materials experts.

Prerequisite

Undergraduate courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry

Lecture Hours

3

Lab Hours

2

Course Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the course students will be able to:

• Understand electronic configuration of atoms, types of primary and secondary bonding.
• Identify, compare and describe three-dimensional packing of atoms for different types of materials. Recognize the concept unit cell and Bravais lattice, differentiate crystal structures, and examine basic X-ray diffraction patterns. Justify knowledge on crystallography and propose materials for specific applications.
• Recognize, illustrate structures of polymeric materials – calculate molecular weight and % of crystallinity.
• Identify type of defects and recognize effects in materials properties.
• Understand fundamental laws of diffusion. Identify and contrast diffusion mechanisms and estimate values for concentration or time in diffusion problems. Examine factors that influence diffusion.
• Learn basic principles of stress and strain, and related mechanical properties of materials.
• Given an engineering stress-strain diagram determine modulus of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength and estimate percentage of elongation. Compute ductility in terms of elongation and area reduction for material loaded in tension to fracture. Identify and compare hardness testing techniques.
• Understand slip systems and their implication in plastic deformation. Review plastic deformation of ceramic and polymer materials.
• Describe and differentiate strengthening mechanisms and heat treatment of metals.
• Examine fundamentals of failure mechanism of materials – crack propagation and stress concentration. Describe impact fracture testing techniques.
• Explain and perform computations related to phase transformation including lever rule, interpretation and construction of phase diagrams. Revise Iron-carbon phase diagram and identify microstructural implications.
• Recognize nanomaterial and nanotechnology definitions, exemplify uses for materials at nanoscale and identify basic approaches to nanomaterials production.