The Department of Physics

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Materials Science is a Level 2 course which is offered as an elective course for Materials Science minor. This course provides an introduction to the field of Materials Science and will serve as a prerequisite to more advanced Materials Science courses in the minor including PHYS 3165- Further Materials Science and PHYS 2166 - Technological Materials: processing & characterization. Through in-class discussions, and problem solving sessions, Students would have an opportunity to improve their ability to reason through challenging situations in the physical Universe using basic principles to develop appropriate solutions. Assessment and evaluation is done in the form of in-course tests and a Final examination. 

COURSE CONTENT

The scope of materials science, importance of studying materials, interdisciplinary nature of materials science, principal aim to relate properties to structure, brief historical survey, the basic classification of materials – metals, polymer, ceramics, alloys, composites with brief description of structure, properties and applications.

The Structure of Solids: Structure of atom, molecules, bonding, relationship between bonding and properties, thermal vibration and structure sensitivity, crystal structure, lattice parameters, crystal geometries, defects in materials, point defects, line defects, area defects, defects in polymers, strengthening mechanisms, alloys. Amorphous structure, microstructure, alloys and composites.

Phase Diagrams: Introduction, solubility limit, phases, microstructure, phase equilibria, unary and binary phases, interpretation of phase diagrams, lever rule, eutectic and eutectoid alloys (binary systems), Iron-Iron carbide phase diagram, influence of alloying elements.

Polymers: Introduction, various polymer materials, molecular weight distribution, synthesis, properties, crystalline polymer, amorphous polymers, applications, models for various polymers.

Properties of Materials: Electrical properties, thermal properties, magnetic properties, optical properties, mechanical properties.

GOALS/AIMS

The aims of this course are to:

• Impart fundamental knowledge of materials science as basis for appreciation of the importance of engineering materials to technological development. 
• Provide a foundation for the future development of the career of prospective practitioners in endeavours where expertise in materials science is requisite. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, the students should be able to do the following: 

• Identify and describe various materials and their applications. 
• Analyze different materials and their properties. 
• Analyze and study phase diagrams and understand how to develop new materials. 
• Explain how properties are affected in materials and the factors that are responsible for them.

Assessment