Introductory description

In any engineering activity the performance of materials needs to be understood to ensure that the processes of design and manufacturing can consistently deliver new products to the market. Today, with increasing environmental legislation and greater competition, the engineer is tasked with using novel materials, which in turn means they have to be proportionately more reliable and their properties even better controlled. Many aspects affect material properties. At the most basic level the arrangement of the individual atoms within the structure is important. Other factors include the effects of inhomogeneities that are caused by the manufacturing processes used to form the material into the component's shape.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Bulk materials. Engineered materials. Fabricated products. Servicing of products. Recycling/disposal. The materials cycle relates directly to all streams of engineering and examples from civil, electronic and mechanical/manufacturing will be used for each area.

Nature and family of materials with an emphasis on understanding the structure/property relationship.
Metallic. Ceramics. Polymers. Composites. Electronic materials.

Atomic structure. Molecular structure and bonding. Structure of solid materials. Crystal systems. Crystal imperfections. Substitutional solid solutions. Interstitial solid solutions.
Properties of materials: Mechanical properties. Electrical properties. Dielectric properties. Magnetic properties. Optical properties. Manufacturing properties. Thermal properties. Electrochemistry- electrolysis, corrosion and its prevention. Testing standards.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Explain the nature of materials, information and systems and be able to select appropriate materials for engineering use, whilst considering sustainability.
• Explain and be able to describe how to exploit the structure property relationship in order to enhance the utility of engineering materials in use and in manufacture
• Appreciate the available range and limitations of manufacturing processes and sustainability and propose suitable processes for simple products
• Appreciate the basic concepts and the terminology of materials science as applied in all major branches of engineering so that they are sufficiently able to hold discussions with specialists in a multi-disciplinary team
• Describe the purpose and benefits provided by thermal treatments including the associated processes.

Indicative reading list

• Manufacturing Processes for Engineering Materials. Kalpakjian and Schmid ISBN 9789810679538
• Manufacturing Engineering Technology: Kalpajian and Schmid ISBN 9789810694067
• Materials Science for Engineers, James F Shackelford. ISBN 0-13-127619-0
• Callister W.D., Materials Science and Engineering ISBN 9781119453918
• Ashby, M.F, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design ISBN 9780081005996
• Askeland, D.R. The science of engineering materials ISBN 9781305077102
• Principles of Modern Manufacturing - Materials Processed and Systems, MikellP. Groover ISBN 978-1-119-24912-2

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Domain knowledge
Interpreting phase diagrams, isothermal tranformation diagrams, stress-strain curves
Calculating composite stiffnesses and densities using theory of composites
Developing Performance Indices for Materials Selection
Materials selection processes
Granta Edupack software

Transferable skills

Technical writing
Communication
Team working
Leadership