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Advanced Materials Science Laboratory

Semester 1

This course focuses on materials synthesis and characterization. Students will synthesize and characterize two samples, each from different families of materials (ceramics, metals, polymers and composites) and submit their findings via written reports and oral presentations. Field trips to industries are also included in this course.

Syllabus: 
  • Synthesizing and characterizing materials
  • Synthesis techniques:
    • solid state powder/fibre processing for metal, ceramic and composite samples
    • calcination, green body formation and sintering
    • wet chemical processing
    • simple polymerization
  • Characterization techniques:
    • Test for porosity/density, electrical conductivity, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, flexural strength, and compressive strength,
    • Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR),
    • X-ray diffraction (XRD),
    • X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
Evaluation: 

The course assessment will be as follows:

  • Two written reports (20% per sample)                     40%
  • Five laboratory reports (equal weighting)                20%
  • Two oral presentations samples (20% per sample)  40%
Learning Objectives: 

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  • use survey methods to investigate the techniques of material syntheses and characterizations
  • synthesize two types of materials (ceramics, metals, polymers and composites) by applying appropriate techniques
  • apply techniques such as structure (XRD), elastic modulus, fracture toughness, electrical conductivity, and chemical constitution (XRF), to characterize the properties of materials
  • perform appropriate statistical analysis on experimental data
  • make effective oral presentations
PHYS2500

Required Textbook:

  • PHYS3500 Laboratory Manual (available in-house)

Highly Recommended:

  • Callister, W. D., and Rethwisch D. G. (2009), Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction; Wiley, 8th Edition. ISBN-10: 0470419970; ISBN-13: 978-0470419977

Online Resources:

Course Code: 
PHYS3500
Credits: 
3 Credits
Level: 
Level 3
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