Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering (MATS64541)
Unit aims / introduction
This unit will provide an introduction to
- (i) the crystallography, phase relations and diffusion processes that control the structure of metals and ceramics, and
- (ii) the critical mechanical properties used to characterise metallic and ceramic materials.
Learning Outcomes
Unit dates (to be confirmed) - online distance-learning
- 14 September 2009 – 18 December 09
For information on the campus-based version of this unit, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team
Unit tutors
- Unit leader – Dr Colin Leach
- Contributors – Professor Bob Freer; Dr Joe Robson
Unit e-Tutor – Your e-Tutor, assigned when you start the unit, will act as a group mentor throughout the unit and will guide you through all the learning material.
Study time and method
This unit is delivered as an online distance-learning unit and a campus-based unit. This page concentrates on the online distance-learning version, if you would like information on the campus-based version of this unit, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team.
Online distance-learning (part-time)
This unit is delivered online through a virtual learning environment (VLE) system called Blackboard.
Each unit contains 12 study weeks over a 14-week period. Each study week normally comprises five study sessions, corresponding to five working days.
This unit requires approximately 12.5 study hours each week of the unit (excluding break weeks). You are able to study at a time that suits you, but some group discussions may be scheduled by your e-Tutor.
For more information on online distance-learning, please click here
Unit structure - online distance-learning
- Week 1 – Introduction to materials and atomic bonding
- Week 2 – The crystal lattice
- Week 3 – Crystallography
- Week 4 – Diffusion 1
- Break – Reflective and catch up week
- Week 5 – Diffusion 2
- Week 6 – Defects in crystals
- Week 7 – Gibbs free energy and equilibrium
- Week 8 – Introduction to phase transformation kinetics
- Break – Reflective and catch up week
- Week 9 – Mechanical properties: Quantitative analysis
- Week 10 – Plastic deformation
- Week 11 – Dislocations and the burgers vector
- Week 12 – Recovery and recrystallisation
For information on the campus-based version of this unit, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Team
Assessment
Assessment is a requirement if you are studying a postgraduate qualification. If you choose to take individual units only, the unit assessment is optional.
Assessed coursework
All coursework can be submitted via Blackboard, and feedback from e-Tutors will also be given online.
Unit examination
Formal examinations will take place two or more times each year. An examination will normally be available with six weeks of the unit completion date; you may take the examination at a later date but no more than one year after commencement of the unit.
Examinations can take place at The University of Manchester or at a University approved off-campus location, such as a British Council office / other university.
Please note that The University of Manchester will assist all students in finding a University approved off-campus examination location, but it is ultimately the student's responsibility to find and pay for this. All students are welcome to take their examination at The University of Manchester.
Credits
This is a 15-credit unit which can be built up to lead to a postgraduate qualification.
MSc Advanced Engineering Materials
This unit forms part of the MSc Advanced Engineering Materials. Other units included in the course are:
- Industrial Processing of Materials
- Advanced Composite Materials
- Advanced Analytical Techniques
- Engineering Design and Communication
- High performance Alloys
- Materials Performance Life Cycle Design
- Functional and Engineering Ceramics
Manchester Materials Masters
The MSc Advanced Engineering Materials is one of four courses under the Manchester Materials Masters (MMM) programme. Other MMM MSc courses include:
- MSc Corrosion Control Engineering
- MSc Polymer Materials Science and Engineering
- MSc Textile Technology
Pre-requisites and making an application
There are no formal pre-requisites to study for an individual unit, but we would advise you to have a relevant level of knowledge and understanding of the subject to ensure that you can cope with the postgraduate-level study. If you wish to progress onto a postgraduate qualification following completion of an individual unit, then you will need to complete a formal application.
To make an application to an individual unit or to a postgraduate qualification, please click here
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding this unit or other units and courses within the School of Materials, please contact our MMM Team:
- mmm@manchester.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)161 306 4869
Fees
- Full 12-week unit - £1,900
Your registration includes full access to the teaching material on Blackboard and allocated e-Tutor support throughout the programme.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course unit you will be able to:
- Identify the general classes of materials and the distinguishing features of metals and ceramics.
- Define the type of atomic bonding typical in metals and ceramics.
- Understand the concepts of a lattice, unit cell and motif.
- Understand the importance of symmetry in crystallography and identify basic point symmetry elements.
- Understand and use lattice vectors and Miller indices to describe crystallographic directions and planes.
- Appreciate the relationship between crystal shape and interfacial energies
- Describe the crystallography of cubic and hexagonal metals and simple ceramics.
- Understand lattice types and point symmetry in crystalline materials.
- Understand the concept of polycrystalline materials and grain boundaries.
- Describe common defects in crystals including vacancies, interstitials and dislocations.
- Understand the common diffusion mechanisms in metals and ceramics; describe and use Fick's first and second laws to solve diffusion problems.
- Understand the concepts of Gibbs free energy and equilibrium.
- Understand binary and simple ternary phase diagrams and use them to make quantitative predictions about microstructure.
- Describe qualitatively overall transformation kinetics (including time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams).
- Understand how materials respond to applied loads and the concepts of elastic and plastic deformation.
- Explain the different macroscopic aspects of mechanical behaviour - strength, ductility, hardness, wear, creep resistance, fracture.
- Describe the central role of dislocation motion in controlling the properties of metals including explaining phenomena such as work hardening.
- Describe how dislocations interact with microstructural features.
- Explain the influence of dislocations on microstructural evolution and describe the processes of recovery and recrystallization.