Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MME2205

 
TITLE Fundamentals of Material Science 2

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Metallurgy and Materials Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit describes the structures and properties of polymers, ceramics and composites and presents some applications and methods of processing. The taxonomy of composite materials and their design are introduced, and the properties of composites described. The structure of ceramics and their mechanical properties are introduced, together with the concept of ceramic fracture. Similarly, polymer properties and their dependence on polymer structure are introduced, and some applications and polymer processes, including step and chain reaction polymerization, presented.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to describe the properties of ceramics, polymers and composites in terms of their structures, and to introduce application, design and fabrication concepts for these groups of materials.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- describe the basic structures of simple ceramics, polymers and composites;
- explain the effect of bonding on the properties of ceramics, polymers and composites;
- describe different types of polymers, ceramics and composites;
- describe the basic mechanisms of mechanical failure in ceramics;
- explain the mechanical properties and behaviour under loading of polymers;
- describe the different types of composite materials in common use and identify applications for each.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- explain the predicted behaviour under simple loading of ceramics, polymers and composite materials;
- analyse simple mechanical failure of ceramics, polymers and composites;
- design a simple composite material for structural applications;
- calculate the upper bound and lower bound properties of simple composite materials.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Textbook:

Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction - W. D. Callister (Wiley, 2006).

Supplementary Readings:

- Materials and Design, M.F. Ashby, K. Johnson (Elsevier, 2002).
- Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers - J. F. Shackelford (Prentice Hall, 2008).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit: MME1201

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Project SEM2 No 25%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 75%

 
LECTURER/S Bertram Mallia

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit