Engineering Sciences

NOTE: This course is incompatible with PHYS1013. Do not enrol in this course if you are enrolling in PHYS1013. Introduction to materials science for structural, electrical, magnetic, and optical engineering applications. Atomic bonding, atomic basis of physical and chemical properties. The crystalline state; crystal structures and imperfections. The amorphous state; structure of metallic, inorganic and organic glasses. Multiphase materials, phase rule, binary phase diagrams of iron-carbon, aluminium-copper and ceramic examples. Kinetics of nucleation and crystal growth, atomic diffusion. Microstructures, TTT diagrams, heat treatment, hardening. Magnetism, hard and soft magnets, ceramic magnets. Electronic structure of solids; electronic conductivity, piezo- and pyro-electricity, solar cells. Materials in optical fibres, transparency, dispersion and IR absorption. Environmental degradation and corrosion of materials.