Materials Courses

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

MTE 510/ME 5310. Principles of Materials Science and Engineering
This course provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental principles of materials science and engineering. The classical interplay among structure- processing-properties-performance in materials including plastics, metals, ceramics, glasses and composites will be emphasized. The structure in materials ranging from the subatomic to the macroscopic, including nano-, micro- and macromolecular structures, will be discussed to highlight bonding mechanisms, crystallinity and defect patterns. Representative thermodynamic and kinetic aspects such as diffusion, phase diagrams, nucleation and growth, and TTT diagrams will be discussed. Basics of elasticity, plastic deformation and viscoelasticity will be highlighted. Salient aspects pertaining to the corrosion and environmental degradation of materials will be discussed. This course will provide the background for students in any engineering or science major for future course and research work in materials. (Prerequisites: senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)

MTE/MFE 520. Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Processes
The first half of the course covers the axiomatic design method applied to simultaneous product and process design for concurrent engineering, with emphasis on process and manufacturing tool design. Basic design principles as well as qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis of designs are developed. The second half of the course addresses methods of engineering analysis of manufacturing processes, to support machine tool and process design. Basic types of engineering analysis are applied to manufacturing situations including elasticity, plasticity, heat transfer, mechanics and cost analysis. Special attention will be given to the mechanics of machining (traditional, nontraditional and grinding) and the production of surfaces. Students, with the advice and consent of the professor, select the topic for their term project.

MTE 525/ME 5325. Advanced Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics of solutions-phase equilibria- Ellingham diagrams, binary and ternary phase diagrams, reactions between gasses and condensed phases, reactions within condensed phases, thermodynamics of surfaces, defects and electrochemistry. Applications to chemical thermodynamics as well as heat engines. (Prerequisites: ES 3001, ME 4850 or equivalent.) Offered each year.

MTE 530/ME 5330. Crystallography, Diffraction and Microscopy of Materials
The fundamentals of crystallography and X-ray diffraction of metals, ceramics and polymers will be presented and discussed. The techniques for the experimental determination of phase fraction and phase identification via X-ray diffraction will be highlighted. The theory and practice of optical and electron microscopy will also be included. Both scanning and transmission electron microscopy will be theoretically and experimentally investigated. (Prerequisites: ES 200 or equivalent, and senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)

MTE 540/ME 5340. Analytical Methods in Materials Engineering
Heat transfer and diffusion kinetics are applied to the solution of materials engineering problems. Mathematical and numerical methods for the solutions to Fourier's and Pick's laws for a variety of boundary conditions will be presented and discussed. The primary emphasis is given heat treatment and surface modification processes. Topics to be covered include solutionizing, quenching, and carburization heat treatment. (Prerequisites: ME 4840 or MTE 510 or equivalent.)

MTE 550/ME 5350. Phase Transformations in Materials
This course is intended to provide a fundamental understanding of thermodynamic and kinetic principles associated with phase transformations. The mechanisms of phase transformations will be discussed in terms of driving forces to establish a theoretical background for various physical phenomena. The principles of nucleation and growth and spinodal transformations will be described. The theoretical analysis of diffusion controlled and interface controlled growth will be presented The basic concepts of martensitic transformations will be highlighted. Specific examples will include solidification, crystallization, precipitation, sintering, phase separation and transformation toughening. (Prerequisites: MTE 510, ME 4850 or equivalent.)

MTE/ME/BME 554. Composites with Biomedical and Materials Applications
Introduction to fiber/particulate reinforced, engineered and biologic materials. This course focuses on the elastic description and application of materials that are made up of a combination of submaterials, i.e., composites. Emphasis will be placed on the development of constitutive equations that define the mechanical behavior of a number of applications including biomaterial, tissue and materials science. (Prerequisites: Understanding of stress analysis and basic continuum mechanics.)

MTE 560/ME 5360. Materials Performance and Reliability
The failure and wear-out mechanisms for a variety of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites and microelectronics) and applications will be presented and discussed. Multi-axial failure theories will be discussed. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate the basic failure mechanisms of plastic deformation, creep, fracture, fatigue, wear and corrosion. The methodology and techniques for reliability analysis will also be presented and discussed. A materials systems approach will be used. (Prerequisites: ES 2502 and ME 3023 or equivalent, and senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.)

MTE 570. Electronic, Magnetic and Optical Materials Science and Processing
This course discusses the fundamentals of materials science and processing for information technology devices. Optical, electrical and magnetic properties of materials will be studied. The theory and technology of integrated circuit fabrication will be presented. The focus will be on understanding the underlying physical principles of the unit processes which are the basis for most fabrication steps, such as bulk crystal growth, thin film deposition, lithography, metallization, ion implantation, etching, reliability, electrical behavior and materials device characterization. The emphasis of this course will be on materialsprocessing principles and the relationship with structure, properties and performance.

MTE 580. Materials Science and Engineering Seminar
Reports on the state-of-the-art in various areas of research and development in materials science and engineering will be presented by the faculty and outside experts. Reports on graduate student research in progress will also be required.

MTE 5811. Physical Ceramics
Examination of the interrelationships among crystal structure, microstructure, processing and properties. Fundamentals of microstructure development; nucleation, grain growth, precipitation, sintering, vitrification. Mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic properties in various ceramic systems and their relationship to microstructure will be discussed. (Prerequisite: ME 4813.)

MTE/MFE 5822. Solidification Processes
A course designed for in-depth study of industrial processes based on liquid- solid transformations. Fundamentals are developed and applied to commercial processes. The topics covered include qualitative treatment of casting processes, sand casting, die casting, investment casting, semisolid forming, various welding processes, laser welding, rapid solidification, spray forming, compocasting and other emerging technologies which utilize liquid-solid transformations. Library and laboratory work will be included. (Suggested preparation: an understanding of heat transfer, fluid flow, solid state diffusion and microscopy [ES 2001, ES 3003, ES 3004, ME 3811, ME 4840] or equivalent.)

MTE/MFE 5823. Particulate Processing of Materials
Particulate processing is used to manufacture net-shaped components from particulate materials as in powder metallurgy (PM), metal injection molding (MIM) and the processing of ceramic and refractory materials. Processing of particulate materials is covered in detail, including atomization to produce powders, compaction, sintering and postsintering operations. Interfacial issues to control flow and final density are studied, as are the fundamentals of phase flow, compaction and densification. Industrial applications and plant trips will augment classroom experience. (Suggested background: [ES 2001, ME 2820, ME 3811, ME 4840] or equivalent.)

MTE/MFE 5841. Surface Metrology and Tribology
This course examines the methods for measuring and analyzing surface texture (roughness) in order to make functional correlations between the texture and performance, and to improve the understanding of texture-dependent surface phenomena like adhesion, scattering, fracture, friction and wear. Tribology, the study of friction, lubrication and wear, will be reviewed in the context of surface texture. Selection of surface measurement instruments and analysis methods, including fractal-based analysis, for finding functional correlations, for quality control and for the design of surface textures will be discussed. Examples from a broad range of applications will be discussed, including skin, runways, thermal spray adhesion, hard disks, machining and grinding.

MTE 5842. Corrosion and Corrosion Control
Advanced topics in corrosion. Stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen effects on metals. High-temperature oxidation, carburization and sulfidation. Discussions focus on current corrosive engineering problems and research. Course may be offered by special arrangement.

MTE 594. Special Topics
As arranged Theoretical or experimental studies in subjects of interest to graduate students in materials science and engineering.

MTE 594P/ME 489P. Analysis and Control of Materials Processes
The fundamentals of the processing-structureproperty- performance relationships for casting, powder metallurgy, heat treating and coating manufacturing processes will be developed. The fundamental relationships between the process parameters and the specifications will be examined in terms of process control requirements and process capability. Process parameter measurement and control strategies will also be discussed. The course will include team projects and industrially supplied problems. Recommended background: ES 2001 Introduction to Materials, ME 2820 Materials Processing.

MTE 594N/ME 489N. Introduction of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
This course introduces students to current developments in nanoscale science and technology. The current advance of materials and devices constituting of building blocks of metals, semiconductors, ceramics or polymers that are nanometer size (1- 100 nm) are reviewed. The profound implications for technology and science of this research field are discussed. The differences of the properties of matter on the nanometer scale from those on the macroscopic scale due to the size confinement, predominance of interfacial phenomena and quantum mechanics are studied. The main issues and techniques relevant to science and technologies on the nanometer scale are considered. New developments in this field and future perspectives are presented. Topics covered include: fabrication of nanoscale structures, characterization at nonoscale, molecular electronics, nanoscale mechanics, new architecture and nano-optics. Recommended background: ES 2001 Introduction to Materials, ME 2820 Materials Processing.

Research
As arranged
Additional acceptable courses, 4000 series, may be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

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Last modified: Jul 19, 2007, 13:29 EDT