Properties of Materials I
 
 
Subject Code: EME1056
Aim of Subject: To provide the students with the basic understanding of the properties of materials.
Learning Outcome of Subject: At the completion of the subject, students should be able to :
  • Determine mechanical, physical, thermal and electrical property of materials.
  • Able to analyze ionic bond, metallic bond, covalent bond and intermolecular bond of a material.
  • Determine space lattices, plane indices, indices of directions, lattice coordinates of a typical crystal structure.
  • Determine property of non-crystalline structure which includes amorphous and partly crystalline materials.
  • Identify various crystal defects with analysis on elastic and plastic deformation.
  • Determine phase equilibrium diagram and transformation with emphasis on plain carbon steel.
Programme Outcomes:
  • Ability to acquire and apply fundamental principles of science and engineering(60%)
  • Capability to communicate effectively(10%)
  • Acquisition of technical competence in specialised areas of engineering discipline(10%)
  • Ability to identify, formulate and model problems and find engineering solutions based on a systems approach(10%)
  • Ability to work independently as well as with others in a team(10%)
Assessment Scheme:
  • Lab Experiments - work in groups, lab report writing, oral assessment at the end of lab (10%)
  • Tutorial / Assignment - group assignment,focus group discussion at tutorial,to enhance understanding of basic concepts in lecture(15%)
  • Test Quiz - written exam (15%)
  • Final Exam - written exam (60%)
Teaching and Learning Activities: 51 hours (lectures,tutorials and laboratory experiment)
Credit Hours: 3
Pre-Requisite: None
References:
  • W.D. Callister Jr., "Materials Science and Engineering", Wiley and Sons, 1997. (Textbook)
  • J.F. Shacklford, "Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers", Prentice-Hall, 1996. (Textbook)

Subject Contents

  • Types of Properties

    • Physical and mechanical properties. Thermal and electrical properties. Toughness, tensile and compressive strength.
     
  • Atomic

    • Ionic bond, covalent bond, metallic bond, binding energy, intermolecular forces (e.g. Van der Waals - London forces, dipole forces and hydrogen bond).
     
  • Crystal Structure

    • Space lattices, plane indices, indices of directions, lattice coordinates, methods of determining crystal structures, Bragg's equation. Typical crystal structures, atomic packing, metallic, ionic, covalent and molecular structure, polymorphism.
     
  • Non-crystalline Structure

    • Amorphous and partly crystalline materials, e.g. glasses and polymers. Comparison of properties: glass transition temperature, melting point and transparency.
     
  • Crystal Defects

    • Point defects, formation of point defects, vacancies, interstitials, impurity defects, dislocation movement, screw and edge dislocation, interaction of dislocations, dislocation in polymer crystal. Grain boundaries, structure and properties.
     
  • Elastic and Plastic Deformation

    • Elasticity (generalized Hooke's law, module of elasticity, thermoelastic effect, anelasticity), plasticity and flow (slip, twinning, dislocations, and plastic deformaion), energies of dislocation, dislocation and strength, strain hardening, cold work, stress - strain curves.
     
  • Destructive and Non-destructive Testing

    • Tensile, hardness, impact, fatigue, creep and fracture.
     
  • Phase Equilibria and Transformation

    • Phase rule, solid solution, phase equilibrium diagrams, cooling curves, solid solutions equilibrium diagram, non equilibrium cooling, eutectic systems, eutectics with partial solubility in the solid state, equilibrium diagrams with intermediate compounds, layer-type equilibrium diagrams, lever rule.
     
  • Plain Carbon Steels

    • Iron-carbon equilibrium diagram, time-temperature transformations, continuous cooling transformations. Heat treatment of steels.
     

Laboratory

1. Tensile Test
2. Hardness Test