PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M.J. Plater

Pre-requisites

none

Co-requisites

None

Notes

This is a general course in materials, sponsored by COPS. There are intentionally no prerequisites, although it is aimed at science students.

Overview

This course provides a grounding in basic materials science.
Individual content points include:
Classification of materials types
Solubility, phase equilibria and phase diagrams, lever rule.
Microstructure and isomorphous alloys. Systems with intermediate phases and compounds. Gibbs phase rule, kinetics of phase transformations
Crystals and atoms - the regular packing of atoms. Close packing of atoms: hexagonal and cubic close packing. Cubic unit cells - primitive, body-centred and face-centred. Atomic radius and close-packing. Density.
Packing and interstitial sites. Ceramics and structures: Rocksalt (NaCl), cesium chloride (CsCl), diamond, zinc blende (ZnS) and perovskite (CaTiO3). Density of ceramics. Piezoelectricity. Polymorphism. Diffraction in materials science.
Different types of imperfections and defects in solids
Fundamentals of corrosion of solids
Redox chemistry -- the standard EMF and galvanic series.
Different types of corrosion of solids
Corrosion prevention
Origins of magnetism
Diamagnetism, paramagnetism and ferromagnetism
Domains and hysteresis
Optical Properties
Introduction to electromagnetic radiation and Planck's constant.
Electronic polarisation and electron transitions
Applications of optical phenomena
Concept of monomers as repeating units.
Structure of polymers.
Number and weight average molecular weights and degrees of polymerisation.
Thermosets and thermoplastics.
Polymer crystalinity
Classification and uses of liquid crystals
The material properties of bone and soft tissues, including Elastic Modulus, compressive strength and tensile strength.
Causes of bone fracture or disease that require replacement by medical implants.
Materials used in medical implants, principally hip replacements, including the requirements of these materials.
Relate how the properties of these materials relate to the properties of the host bone.
Failure mechanisms of these implant materials
Summary of "next generation" medical implants

Structure

Two one-hour lectures per week, One 3-hour laboratory classes per fortnight and one 1 hour tutorial per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One three-hour written examination (60%), continuous assessment (40%).

Resit: One three-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment given during tutorial classes and laboratory classes.

Feedback

Marks for lab experiments and WebCT assignments available as soon as possible after the assessments; feedback on wrong answers provided. Informal discussion with students in lab sessions.