This undergraduate-level course will introduce fundamental chemistry and physics principles, in the format of mathematical derivations, that are critical for the understanding of materials. It aims to provide students with the fundamental concepts of how the various physical, chemical, and electrical properties of a particular material derive from its atomic, molecular, crystal, and microscopic structures. The mechanisms of material degradation and failure in different working environments, and on the other hand the strengthening through different processing techniques will also be introduced, where the concept of structure-properties relationships is emphasized.
Sample Teaching Calendar from Fall 2020:
| Class Date | Topics | Reading* | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Basics (10 lectures + 1 worksheet) | |||
| Sept 14 | Greetings and Introduction | Ch 1 | |
| Sept 16 | Atomic structure: Bohr’s model | Ch 2 | |
| Sept 18 | Electronic configuration | Ch 2 | HW1 due on Sept 25 |
| Sept 21 | Interatomic bonding | Ch 2 | |
| Sept 23, 25 & 28 | Crystallography I, II & III | Ch 3 | HW2 due on Sept 30 |
| Sept 30 | Defects | Ch 4 | |
| Oct 2 & 5 | Diffusion I & II | Ch 5 | HW3 due on Oct 7 |
| Oct 7** | No lecture, Worksheet #1 | ||
| Part 2: Metals and Alloys (12+1) | |||
| Oct 9, 12 & 14 | Mechanical properties I, II & III | Ch 6 | |
| Oct 16 | Slip systems | Ch 7 | HW4 due on Oct 23 |
| Oct 19 | No lecture, Exam 1 (Part 1) | Chs 1-5 | Due on Oct 21 |
| Oct 21 | Critical resolved shear stress | Ch 7 | |
| Oct 23 | Fatigue and failure | Ch 8 | |
| Oct 26 | Phase diagram basics I | Ch 9 | |
| Oct 28 | Phase diagram basics II | Ch 9 | |
| Oct 30 | Iron-carbon system | Ch 9 | HW5 due on Nov 15 |
| Nov 2 | Microconstituents of Iron-carbon system | Ch 9 | |
| Nov 4 & 6 | Kinetics of phase transformation II & III | Ch 10 | |
| Nov 9** | No lecture, Worksheet #2 | ||
| Part 3: Ceramics (3+1) | |||
| Nov 11 & 13 | Structures I & II | Ch 12 | HW6 due on Nov 29 |
| Nov 16 | Properties | Ch 12, 18.16 | |
| Nov 18 | Processing | HW 7 due on Dec 6 | |
| Nov 20** | No lecture, Worksheet #3Q&A for Exam #2 | ||
| Nov 21-23 | No lecture on 11/23, Exam #2 (Part 2) | Due on Nov 23 | |
| Part 4: Polymers (2+1) | |||
| Nov 25 | Structures and classification of polymers | Ch 14 | |
| Nov 26 to 27 | Thanksgiving Holiday | No classes | |
| Nov 30 | Polymer properties: diffusion | ||
| Dec 2 | Polymer properties: mechanics | HW8 due on Dec 11 | |
| Dec 4** | No lecture, Worksheet #4 | ||
| Part 5: Contemporary Materials and Properties (2+1) | |||
| Dec 7 | Electrical properties | Ch 18, 21 | |
| Dec 9 | Semiconductors | ||
| Dec 11** | No lecture, Worksheet #5 | ||
| Dec 14 | Review of the course requirements and expectations | ||
| Dec 16-18 | No lecture, Exam 3 (Parts: 3, 4 & 5) | Due on Dec 18 |
* Reading chapters are based on the textbook Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (8th edition or later). William D. Callister, Jr., and David G. Rethwisch. WILEY.
** Dates for worksheet may change, depending on the progress and feedback from students.