Materials and Processes
Overview
The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to, and develop knowledge and skills in the structure of materials at the nano, micro and macro levels, and the correlating properties of the three main classes of materials – metals, polymers and ceramics. It will introduce students to the concepts involved in designing the structure of material to achieve a predetermined set of properties. Students will demonstrate and explore, through practical laboratory experience, the structure/property relations of materials and their effect on performance, and will develop an understanding of the principles of materials selection through their appreciation of failure in materials. The unit will develop students’ awareness that many materials are derived from non-renewable sources and suffer from degradation in many forms in their application – hence bringing students to the realisation that materials and technology can effectively contribute to building an ecologically friendly and sustainable environment. The unit will also inform students of the critical roles that advances in modern materials are playing in many new technologies.
Requisites
31-January-2025
30-May-2025
26-September-2025
30-January-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Describe the difference in atomic/molecular structure between the major classes of materials that give rise to differences in material properties
- Analyse material response to mechanical and physical stimuli
- Compute mechanical properties of all major classes of materials on the basis of experiment
- Analyse failure in materials thereby demonstrating an understanding of the principles of materials selection
- Apply mathematical knowledge and skills to calculate a range of physical properties of materials
- Demonstrate understanding of the role and contribution of materials and technology in building an ecologically friendly and sustainable environment
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact Lecture |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Face to Face Contact Class |
2.00 | 6 weeks | 12 |
| Face to Face Contact Class |
2.00 | 9 weeks | 18 |
| Face to Face Contact Laboratory |
2.00 | 6 weeks | 12 |
| Face to Face Contact Practical |
2.00 | 2 weeks | 4 |
| Face to Face Contact Practical |
2.00 | 1 week | 2 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities Independent Learning |
6.50 | 12 weeks | 78 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1 | Individual/Group | 10 - 20% | 1,2,6 |
| Final-Semester Test | Individual | 30 - 40% | 2,3,4,5,6 |
| Online Assignment | Individual | 10 - 20% | 2,3,4,5,6 |
| Report | Individual/Group | 20 - 30% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Test | Individual | 20 - 30% | 4,5,6 |
Content
- Atomic structure, electron configuration, bonding
- Atomic structure of solids with a focus on metals
- Atomic structure and how it affects the density of a material
- Crystal structure, unit cells, planes and direction, x-ray diffraction, density
- Polymeric semi-crystalline and amorphous structures
- Structure and mechanical properties of materials: elastic, plastic, tensile properties.
- Defects, Dislocation theory, critical resolved shear stress
- Strengthening mechanisms
- Nucleation and growth of metals
- Recovery, recrystallization, grain growth
- Failure modes: brittle-ductile, impact, creep, fatigue.
- Corrosion: composition cell, stress cell, concentration cell, dry corrosion, corrosion protection
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.