Structural Materials 2: Ceramics, Glasses and Polymers

Course aim

To provide the student with:

• An appreciation of the technological context of materials engineering (making) and materials application (use)
• An appreciation of the principles of materials selection (i.e. intelligent use) 
• An appreciation of the link between product design, the manufacturing processing and materials properties

Course content

Ceramics and Glasses

• What are ceramics and glasses?
• Ceramics – covalent and ionic bonding
• Traditional ceramics – manufacture and uses
• Advanced ceramics – modern methods of manufacture/processing (including sol gel) and new applications
• Hip implants 
• Ceramics as superconductors; devices based upon superconductivity 
• Ceramics as piezeoelectrics – muscles in robotic limbs 
• Glasses
• The glass-ceramic cooking hob 
• Doped glasses for optical applications.

Polymers

• The “repeat unit” and microstructure 
• Microstructure and mechanical properties 
• Failure modes (crazing, environmental stress cracking and creep rupture) 
• Processing (uniaxial and biaxial orientation of polymer chains) 
• Ophthalmic Lenses 
• Rubber tyres 
• Kevlar bullet-proof vests 
• Thermosets 
• Fibre reinforcement and Formula 1

Textbook(s)

William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch 2010, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, Wiley

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Essay, Examination

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.