MTE2501

Structure of engineering materials I

6 points · 3 hours per week lectures/tutorials, 3 hours per week directed learning · First semester · Clayton

Objectives The subject establishes essential knowledge of the structures of both crystalline and amorphous engineering materials, and of the diffraction techniques used to characterise these structures. It seeks to develop both understanding of the basis for interpreting structure and structural defects in materials, and a practical familiarity with elementary techniques of structural characterisation. It also provides a basis for establishing the key roles of structure and structural defects in determining the properties and performance of engineering materials.

Synopsis The definitive characteristics of the key classes of engineering materials and their origins in electronic structure, bonding and atomic/ molecular arrangement; the role of structure and structural defects in determining the mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical properties of materials. Crystalline materials and the elements of crystallography required to characterise common crystal structures; lattices and lattice indices, symmetry and the use of stereographic projection; prototype structures for metallic, ionic, ceramic and molecular crystals. Real crystalline materials; geometry, crystallography and elastic properties of common crystal defects: point' line and planar defects; vacancy formation; dislocation origins, motion and interaction; stacking faults, twins and grain boundaries. Characterisation of crystalline and amorphous materials using diffraction techniques: production and properties of x-rays; theory of diffraction; experimental applications of x-ray, neutron and electron diffraction in determination of crystal structure, dimensions and orientation, and characterisation of polycrystalline texture.

Assessment Assignments: 30% · Mid-semester test: 15% · Final examination: 55%

Recommended texts

Cullity B D Elements of x-ray diffraction 2nd edn, Addison-Wesley, 1978
Hull D and Bacon D J Introduction to dislocations 3rd edn, Pergamon, 1984
Kelly A and Groves G W Crystallography and crystal defects Longman, 1970
McKie D and McKie C Essentials of crystallography Blackwell, 1987
Putnis A Introduction to mineral sciences 1992

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