MSC2011

Nanostructure of materials ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Associate Professor Trevor Finlayson

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: Bonding: atomic/molecular arrangement. Crystal systems: directions & planes, stereographic projection; metallic, ionic & ceramic crystals. Defects; vacancies & interstitials; dislocations; stacking faults, twin & grain boundaries. Thermodynamics: condensed systems; entropy, Gibbs free energy; ideal &non-ideal solutions; surface energy & microstructure. Phase Equilibria and Microstructures: Gibbs phase rule; free energy diagrams; phase diagrams; deviations from ideality, phase separation; ordering; eutectic, eutectoid, peritectic and peritectoid reactions; non-equilibrium microstructures, implications for physical properties.

Objectives: On completion of this unit students will be able to: identify the different materials from which everyday products are made; understand the role of the different materials in the operation of that product; appreciate how the component would have been fabricated; present orally the results of findings from (i), (ii) and (iii) to groups of equivalently trained scientists on a regular basis; understand the origins of mechanical properties of materials at the macroscopic (continuum) and microscopic (atomic) levels;use the resources of a modern scientific library to retrieve information of relevance to Materials Science; appreciate the importance of a co-operative team effort in materials evaluation; and prepare and present written reports on laboratory experiments.

Assessment: Examinations (3 hours): 50% + Mid semester test: 10% + Laboratory work: 30% + Four written assignments: 10% + Students must achieve a pass mark in the laboratory component to achieve an overall pass grade.

Contact Hours: Three 1-hour lecture/tutorial classes and one 3-hour laboratory class per week

Prohibitions: MTE2541