MATS 581 Thermodynamics Of Solids (4 credits)

This graduate course covers principles of thermodynamics, including thermodynamics of solutions, phase equilibria, phase diagrams and invariant reactions, and ordering in solutions. Emphasis will be placed on concepts useful for the analysis of systems of importance to materials scientist and engineers.

By the completion of this course, students are expected to:

1. Apply concepts of configurational and thermal entropy to calculate the entropy of real systems.

2. Apply thermodynamics of single component solutions to problems of defect concentrations.

3. Apply thermodynamics to understand phase changes such as solidification and allotropies in one-component systems.

4. Readily describe the concepts of ideal, regular, and non-regular solutions.

5. Apply solution models to qualitatively predict binary phase diagrams and distinguish between different types of phase diagrams.

 

MATS 582 Rate Processes in Materials (3 credits)

This course covers diffusion in solids, including vacancy, interstitial, and short- circuit diffusion paths. Phase transformations including classic nucleation and growth theory. By the completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

1. Describe the principles of diffusion in crystalline solids and apply them to determine rates of mass transport in materials systems

2. Use the principles of nucleation theory to determine nucleation barriers and nucleation rates in materials systems

3. Apply principles of growth kinetics to determine rates of phase transformation in a variety of materials systems.

 

ME 659 Principles of Transmission Electron Microscopy (4 credits)

This course will covers basic principles of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including instrument components, electron optics, electron diffraction, and the origins and interpretation of image contrast. Spectroscopic techniques are covered, but diffraction and imaging techniques will be emphasized. Coverage of experimental techniques will focus on those useful for addressing problems in materials science. Familiarity with the basic concepts of diffraction, crystallography, and electron wave functions will be assumed.

Prerequisites: MATS 570 and either CH 616 or MATS 555, or equivalent. Interested students are encouraged to talk to the instructor about course equivalents or other experience (e.g. self study) that could provide the necessary prerequisite knowledge.

By the completion of this course, it is expected students will be able to:

1.  Describe the role of the major components in a TEM column

2. Analyze electron diffraction patterns and relate the features of the pattern to a material’s crystal structure

3. Classify and illustrate the physical origins of contrast in TEM images

4. Evaluate strengths and limitations of TEM techniques when applied to materials characterization problems.

 

MATS 322 Mechanical Properties of Materials (3 credits)

A junior level course that covers mechanical behavior of materials, relating laboratory test results to material structure and elements of mechanical analysis.

By the completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

1. Predict changes in the mechanical behavior of materials due to thermo-mechanical processing based on physical models.

2. Predict the effect of defects on the mechanical properties of crystalline materials.

3. Quantitatively determine standard mechanical properties from plots of stress versus strain.

4. Assess and describe the mechanisms leading to failure when provided with an example of a material failure with an unknown cause.

5. Conduct a meaningful hardness, tensile, and impact tests, and report the results in a clear and useful manner.