Masters in Physics

SUBJECT DESCRIPTION

Details

Subject

Name of subject: Materials and their Technological Applications

Code: 10099

Type: Optional

Level: Postgraduate

Year: 1

Semester: 1

Language: Catalan / Spanish. English for reading. The subject may be taught in English, depending on the students.

Teaching staff

Subject leader

Name: Jaume Pons MorroContact:

Other staff

Name: Sergey KustovContact:

Name: Rubén Santamarta MartínezContact:

Pre-requisites:

Bachelor’s degree in Science

Number of ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 30

Independent study hours: 95

Key terms:

Properties-structure relationship. Classical families of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers and composite materials. Production and processing techniques. Technological applications and current trends.

Subject skills and objectives

Specific:

  1. To study the basics of materials science.
  2. Be aware of basic selection criteria for materials for specific applications.

General:

  1. Understand and express meanings in physical, mathematical and programming language.
  2. Find, analyse and synthesise information from various sources.
  3. Be aware of writing and presentation skills for personal and research work.
  4. Introduction to research in the field.

Content

Section 1. Introduction

  • Concept of structure on different levels: atomic, microscopic, mesoscopic
  • Structural defects
  • Relationship of structure with properties

Section 2. Metals

  • General properties (electric, thermal, mechanic). Metallic bond
  • Production and process. Conformation
  • Thermal treatments
  • Ferrous alloys: steels and cast-iron.
  • Non-ferrous alloys

Section 3. Ceramic materials and glass

  • General properties. Covalent and ionic bond
  • Production and process. Compacting. Sintering
  • Classical ceramics. Clays. Silicates
  • Glass and glass-ceramics

Section 4. Polymers

  • General properties. Intermolecular bonds. Vitreous transition
  • Production and process. Polymerisation. Moulding
  • Thermoplastics
  • Elastomers

Section 5. Composite materials

  • General aspects
  • Composites hardened by particle dispersion
  • Composites hardened by fibres
  • Sandwich structures

Section 6. Current trends in materials science

  • Intelligent materials
  • Lightweight materials
  • Materials for high temperatures
  • Biomaterials
  • Nanomaterials

Methodology

Subject-specific skills / Learning method / Type of group / Student hours
1, 2, 6 / Class / Intermediate / 15
1, 2, 3, 4 / Practical class / Intermediate / 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / Tutorial / Small / 2
4, 5 / Presentation group work / Intermediate / 2
4, 5 / Seminar / Intermediate / 1
1, 2, 6 / Study of theory / 40
1, 2, 3, 4 / Study of practice / 30
3, 4 / Theory work / 10
2, 3, 4 / Practical work / 10
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 / Complementary activities / 5

For this subject, 10% of attendance-based activities will be carried out via e-learning.

Learning agreement and assessment criteria and instruments

Assessment criteria:

  1. Gaining the subject-specific skills

Assessment instruments:

  1. Carrying out and presenting work
  2. Preparing a subject to present in a seminar
  3. Continuous assessment of all activities

Marking criteria:

  1. 50% of mark: Carrying out and presenting work
  2. 40% of mark: Preparing a subject to present in a seminar
  3. 10% of mark: Continuous assessment of all activities

Is assessment organised by means of a learning agreement? No

Bibliography, resources and appendices

Introducción a la Ciencia e Ingeniería de los Materiales, Vols. 1 y 2. William D. Callister, Editorial Reverté, 1997

Introducción a la Ciencia e Ingeniería de los Materiales. William F. Smith, Mc Graw Hill, 2004

The Science and Engineering of Materials. Donald R. Askeland, PWS Publishing Company, 1994

Introducción a la Ciencia de Materiales. J.M. Albella, A.M. Cintas, T. Miranda, J.M. Serratosa (eds), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1993

Physical metallurgy. R.W. Cahn, P. Haasen (eds), North-Holland, 1997

Prácticas de Ciencia de Materiales. Fundamento y desarrollo. M.D. Bermúdez Olivares et al., Universidad de Murcia, 1992

Introduction to biomedical engineering. J. Enderle, S. Blanchard, J. Bronzino, Elsevier Academic Press, 2005

Biomaterials: an introduction. J.B. Park, R.S. Lakes, Plenum Press, 1992

Material available on the web and photocopies provided by tutor