Newcastle University > Undergraduate > Find a Degree > Module

• Offered for Year: 2020/21

• Module Leader(s): Dr Adrian Oila
• Lecturer: Dr Serkan Turkmen, Dr Alasdair Charles

• Owning School: Engineering
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

1. To give students from varied backgrounds an introduction to materials science, showing how cost, fabrication route and final properties all combine together to determine why a particular material is selected for an application.
2. To give students a basic understanding of the behaviour of metals, ceramics and polymers, and why these constitute the useful range of engineering materials
3. To show how an understanding of materials on the atomic scale can be used to predict properties, and how observation of microstructure is essential for an understanding of actual properties and behaviour.

Outline Of Syllabus

States of matter; solids, liquids, gases; phase diagrams; entropy and free energy.
Chemical bonding: ionic, covalent, metallic and van der Waals; mixed bonding.
Atomic arrangements – in metals and MX solids; packing principles, waste space.
Polymers: structure, formation, behaviour and properties.
Elastic moduli: stiffness; strength of perfect crystals; hardness.
Strength of real solids; stress-strain curves; dislocations; strengthening mechanisms.
Strength of brittle materials; fracture toughness; effect of cracks.
Glass: structure, production, properties and uses.
Electrical properties of materials: conductors, semi-conductors, superconductors and insulators.

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are the essential vehicle for communicating knowledge of the basic concepts of materials science. Calculation sheets (three in total) are handed out at regular intervals to reinforce the lectures and give students practice in carrying out typical materials science calculations. These also improve and develop students’ numeracy and mathematical skills, and give experience in problem solving.
Tutorials are used to go over the work covered in calculation sheets or to focus on specific mathematical or other calculation-oriented aspects of the course. This allows students to identify and overcome difficulties experienced whilst doing the calculation sheets.
Laboratory classes (Microscopy and Tensile Testing as PiP, EduPack online) are held in the three topics of material selection, microstructure and mechanical properties. These provide the opportunity for hands-on activity in these three fundamental areas of the subject, and also provide training and skills development in data collection and processing, report writing and also help to reinforce the lecture materials given on these subjects.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Knowledge and understanding are tested by the unseen examination.
Ability to carry out simple calculations in materials science are tested by the calculation sheets.
Practical ability and report writing skills are tested in the laboratory reports.

Reading Lists

• SFY0013's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• SFY0013's Timetable