Department of Mechanical Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
ME10232 Materials science 1 |
| Credits: 3 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 10%, EX 90% |
| Requisites: |
|
Aims: To develop an interest in the available range of building materials.
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this unit the student will have: * An understanding of the microstructure and properties of building materials and their practical advantages and limits. Skills: Problem solving; numeracy; working independently. Content: Building materials. Resources, usage and cost. Mechanical properties; stress, strain, strength stiffness, strain energy, toughness. Bonding and Packing of Atoms The periodic table. Primary (ionic, covalent, and metallic) and secondary (dipolar) bonding. Packing of equal and unequal size atoms. Imperfections in crystals. Point and line defects, grain boundaries. Metals and Alloys Iron and steel; phase diagram for Fe-C system, Heat treatment of steels. Alloy steels. Other metals. Glass, Ceramics and Concrete Glass structure, composition and properties. Volume-temperature relationships. Traditional and engineering ceramics. Sheet silicates. Clay bodies. Manufacture of cement. Special cements. Setting and strength of concrete. Stone as a building material. Polymeric Material and Wood Polymerisation. Amorphous and crystalline polymers. Thermosets and thermoplastics. |