MTE2545 - Polymers and ceramics 1 - 2019

Introduction to common ceramics: industrial ceramics: ceramic crystal structures, clay based industrial ceramics, alumina, mullite; their general compositions, microstructures, processing and properties; understanding the characteristics of these materials from phase diagrams. Introduction to polymers: Polymer coil; molecular weight and molecular weight distribution; chain and step-growth polymers; tacticity; random, block and graft copolymers; solution properties; thermal properties and Tg; thermoplastics and crosslinked polymers; polymer blends.

At the successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Discern the properties of commonly used industrial ceramics
2. Describe the structural basis of the common industrial ceramics
3. Discern the structure and synthesis of commonly used engineering polymers
4. Appreciate the link between polymer structure and morphology and polymer thermal and mechanical properties
5. Conducts experiments investigating the properties of ceramics and polymers

NOTE: From 1 July 2019, the duration of all exams is changing to combine reading and writing time. The new exam duration for this unit is 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Assignments: 30%

Laboratory: 20%

Examination (2 hours): 50%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

3 hours lectures, 3 hours of laboratory and 6 hours of private study per week.

See also Unit timetable information

Materials science