Materials Science and Engineering

To introduce the issues surrounding long-term sustainability with respect to materials, including scarcity, recycling, climate change, and environmental stress on water resources, land resources and pollution. Scope of the issue at the present day will be discussed and projections of the effects of current patterns of material production, consumption, and recycling will be described. Methods of analysis will be developed.

The field of Materials Science drives technological innovations underlying all engineering fields. This course provides a scientific foundation to promote a rigorous understanding of materials from an atomistic to macroscopic viewpoint. Material systems (polymers, metals, ceramics, and electronic) are developed sequentially to provide a framework to explain the fundamental, physical origins of observable and important macro scale properties.

The properties of any material help determine its ultimate usefulness to society. We can modify and manipulate properties by processing materials in different ways to control their structure. This class will examine mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of materials-what they mean, how they depend on structure, how to measure them, how to change them, and how to analyze the measurements. The course includes both a lecture and a lab. MSE 2090 required as a pre- or co-requisite.

This course introduces state-of-the-art 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques for metals, polymers, ceramics, and other materials. Students will be familiarized with both the fundamental science and industrial process, and learn critical limitations and current development efforts to resolve existing challenges. The course will develop a basic understanding for future engineers in working with existing additive manufacturing systems.

We discuss how soft matter science, a new and growing area of materials science and engineering, underpins everyday cooking and haute cuisine. The goal is to use cooking to educate students about the fundamental concepts and behavior of soft materials. The benefit is that students will be able to interrelate cooking techniques and recipes to physical, chemical, and biological transformations in food.

Special topic courses in Materials Science and Engineering

The course includes (1) an overview of classical thermodynamics necessary for understanding the conditions for phase equilibria, phase stability and phase transformations in one-component and multi-component systems, (2) application of thermodynamic concepts to phase diagrams and construction of phase diagrams from thermodynamic data, (3) discussion of the thermodynamics of interfaces and the role the interfaces play in phase transformations. Prerequisite: APMA 2120 or MATH 2310.

Crystal structures of solids and their possible defects are examined. The structure-property paradigm is illustrated through discussion of the anisotropic properties of crystals, such as elasticity, thermal expansion, piezoelectricity, and magnetism. Point defects, dislocations, and interfaces are introduced along with the thermodynamic and kinetic principles that govern their interactions and roles during materials processing and application. Prerequisite: APMA 2120 or MATH 2310

The course aims to let students learn how to perform the analysis of the key kinetic processes, phase transformations, and the development of microstructure in real materials. We will study the atomic mechanisms of diffusion and the analytical and numerical methods to describe diffusion, kinetics of phase transformations and formation of complex microstructure as defined by the interplay of thermodynamics and kinetics of mass transfer. Pre-requisite: MSE 3050 or Instructor Permission

Covers the principles of electrochemistry governing corrosion, batteries and fuel cells at the materials science and engineering level. Describes the basic electrochemistry, terminology, and performance of specific corrosion, battery and fuel cell systems using various energy materials including ion and solid-state lithium. Explains corrosion in recycling/sustainability as well as degradation and failure of functional and structural materials. Pre-requisite: CHEM 1410 or equivalent.

The course amplifies topics covered in introductory materials science through laboratory demonstration and experimentation. An understanding of modern instruments and experimental techniques including x-ray diffraction, optical and electron microscopy is gained through lecture and laboratory experience. Experimental determination of the processing, structure, property relationship is emphasized. Laboratory report writing skills are developed. Prerequisite: MSE 2090

Introduces physical-chemical-microstructural-mechanical property relations for aerospace materials. Metal, polymer, ceramic, and composite material systems are covered. Topics include strength, fracture, corrosion, oxidation/corrosion, materials selection, phase diagrams, kinetics of phase change, and materials processing. Case studies include materials for aero turbine engines and ultralight structures. Prerequisite CHEM 1410 or 1610 or CHEM 1810. Corequisite MAE 2310 or CE 2310.

The course introduces the basics of materials interactions with electric and magnetic fields, including electromagnetic radiation. It describes the classes of materials that exhibit useful electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. Particular attention will be devoted to the intrinsic (structure, chemistry) and extrinsic (processing, microstructure) material features that determine these properties. Prerequisite: PHYS 2415 or equivalent.

Covers the phenomena exhibited by materials below one hundred nanometers and their use in technology. The course will provide students with fundamental principles to analyze nanoscale phenomena, assemble nanostructures characterization. Electrical, mechanical and optical properties and synthesis will be discussed. Current and potential applications will be discussed with consideration of economic and societal aspects. Prerequisite: MSE 3670.

This course introduces state-of-the-art additive manufacturing techniques for metallic materials, processing considerations, unresolved challenges and future opportunities. The course focuses on the underlying mechanisms such as energy-matter interaction, solidification, melt pool characteristics, defects, as well as the impact on resulting materials properties based on the processing-structure-property relationships. Prerequisite: MSE 3070

This course examines the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, materials science, and manufacturing which underlie the making, shaping, and fabrication of engineering components from casting and deformation processing (e.g. rolling, extrusion, forging) of metals, to powder processing of metals and ceramics, to polymer injection molding, to thin-film processing and lithography relevant to microelectronic circuit fabrication. Prerequisite: MSE 3070 or Instructor Permission

This course provides a rigorous understanding of polymers and polymeric materials from molecule to macroscopic viewpoint. Topics covered include single polymers, solutions, melts, gels, and networks. The knowledge obtained is universal to all polymeric systems across various length scales and can be applied to both synthetic and biopolymers. Thus, this course can serve as general guidance for the design and development of soft (bio) materials. Pre-requisite: MSE 3050 or CHE 3316 or MAE 2100 or instructor permission

Introduction to classical atomic-level simulation techniques (molecular dynamics, Metropolis and kinetic Monte Carlo). The basic concepts, capabilities and limitations of the methods are discussed, an overview of the state-of-the-art is provided, and examples of recent success stories are considered. The emphasis is on getting practical experience in designing and performing simulations. Prerequisite: 3rd year standing or instructor permission. Prerequisite: 3rd year standing or instructor permission.

Explores the microstructural origins of material deformation and fracture in response to mechanical loading. Deformation and creep are understood based on elasticity theory and dislocation concepts. Fatigue and fracture are understood based on continuum fracture mechanics and microstructural damage mechanisms. Prerequisite: MSE 3060

Advanced undergraduate course on topics not normally covered in other course offerings. The topic usually reflects new developments in the materials science and engineering field. Offerings are based on student and faculty interests.

This course is the first semester of a two-semester senior capstone design experience where groups of students bring together coursework fundamentals and laboratory practice skills to develop solutions to a major engineering design problem. Students will apply principles of engineering design to generate iterative concept and design reports in written and oral form.  Co-requisite: STS 4500; Pre-requisite: APMA 3110, MSE 2101, 3050, 3060, 3070, and 3101.

A fourth-year project in MSE, under the supervision of a faculty member, is designed to give undergraduate students an application of principles learned in the classroom. The work may be experimental or computational, and the student is expected to become proficient in techniques used to process, characterize, or model materials. The project should make use of design principles in the solution of a problem. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

Provides a fundamental understanding of the structure of crystalline and non-crystalline engineering materials from electronic to macroscopic properties. Topics include symmetry and crystallography, the reciprocal lattice and diffraction, quantum physics, bonding and band theory. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

Basic course designed to provide a foundation for correlating defect structure and microstructure with physical, mechanical and chemical properties of engineering materials. The fundamental properties of point, line and surface defects in ordered media will be formulated. The thermodynamics of point defects in various types of solids will be discussed as well as the geometry and mechanics of crystal dislocations and their role in crystal plasticity elucidated. The essential elements of microstructure will be characterized emphasizing the concepts of phase constitution, microconstituent, polycrystalline aggregate and multiphase materials. The concept of real materials embodying a hierarchy of structures is emphasized. The principles governing the genesis and stability of material structure at various levels will be discussed. Prerequisite: MSE 6010.

Introduces the concepts of electrode potential, double layer theory, surface charge, and electrode kinetics. These concepts are applied to subjects that include corrosion and embrittlement, energy conversion, batteries and fuel cells, electro-catalysis, electroanalysis, electrochemical industrial processes, bioelectrochemistry, and water treatment. Prerequisite: Physical chemistry course or instructor permission.