Materials Science

4 ECTS credits
110 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1008077BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Inschrijvingsvereiste: ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor Mechanica van materialen, vloeistoffen en constructies en Chemie: structuur en transformaties van de materie of voor Chemie: bouw van de materie en chemische reacties II en ingeschreven in BA fysica sterrenkunde of ingeschreven in het Voorbereidingsprogramma master fotonica.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering

Department

Materials and Chemistry

Educational team

Iris De Graeve (course titular)
Tom Hauffman

Activities and contact hours

24 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

As basic material types metals, ceramic materials and polymers are discussed. The starting point is the atomic built-up of the elements, with the electron configuration as important characteristic from which different types of bonding can result between atoms of one or more elements to form solid materials.
The possible atomic arrangement and order, (and also the molecular specifically for the polymers), result in either amorphous (for ceramics and polymers), crystalline (for metals and ceramics) or semi-crystalline (for polymers) solids.
Based on the knowledge and understandings of the structural characteristics of the various material types, the resulting properties are explained. On the one hand there are the mechanical properties, determined by the elastic and the plastic deformation behavior. The resulting values for the mechanical properties are experimentally measured and discussed for various materials during the problem driven practical sessions. On the other hand some important functional properties are dealt with: corrosion/degradation and mechanical failure in the context of material’s durability, and further the optical, the electrical, the thermal and the magnetic properties. In the practical sessions some functional properties are created and measured on metals.
The concept of composites, combining various material types and shapes for complementary properties, is discussed.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Materials science and engineering, Callister - Rethwisch, 10de, John Wiley & Sons, 9781119453918, 2020
Digital course material (Required) :

Additional info

The slides (in Dutch) of the theoretical teaching sessions are based on the following textbook:
W.D.Callister, Jr. “Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering: An integrated Approach”, 2nd edition, J.Wiley&Sons Inc, 2005.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The aim of this course is to gain knowledge and understanding in the various types of material and properties. This course forms an essential basis for engineering students, because independent of the employment sector that they choose for, they will need to apply their knowledge and understanding in materials.
Understanding and being able to explain the relationship between the structure of materials and the properties – i.e. the mechanical and some functional properties – are crucial competencies for the student to achieve.
The theoretical teaching sessions are complemented with problem driven practical sessions where the theoretical knowledge and understandings are tested and applied. In a team the students need to solve a project problem and present the findings to their peers. The projects involve working as a team for literature research, experimental lab work, a written report and an oral presentation, skills that are sharpened by this experience.
Aside from the group work, the students can also manifest themselves individually; this is explicitly stimulated during the questions and answers rounds following the presentations.
The transfer of knowledge and understanding between peers is stimulated by formulating different problems and focus points per team.
In the written report the studied application, the followed method and the results must be scrutinized and possible alternative, better and/or more creative solutions can be proposed.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 67% of the final mark.
PRAC Teamwork determines 33% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

ex Iris De Graeve with a relative weight of 45 which comprises 45% of the final mark.
ex Tom Hauffman with a relative weight of 22 which comprises 22% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Teamwork category, the following assignments need to be completed:

verslagen en presentaties with a relative weight of 33 which comprises 33% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

There is an oral examination consisting of two parts that follow each other (in random order) on the same day:
- The first part concerns the matter treated by Iris De Graeve and accounts for 2/3 of the exam score. Iris De Graeve is the examinator.
- The second part concerns the matter treated by Tom Hauffman and accounts for 1/3 of the exam score. Tom Hauffman is the examinator.
The total examination score counts for 2/3 of the final score.

The score for the practical sessions is based on individual input, presentation and written report, and counts for 1/3 of the final score.

The student has to achieve a final score of at least 10/20, with on each separate part (exam I.De Graeve, exam T.Hauffman, practical sessions) at least a score of 7/20 to pass this course. If the student receives a score less than 7/20 on one of the parts of the oral exam he/she will receive this score for the total oral exam.

There will be no partial passes granted.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context