Course syllabus
Course-PM
TIF326 / FYM325 TIF326 / FYM325 Physics of materials lp3 VT26 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Physics
Contact details
Examiner
Teachers
Aleksandar Matic matic@chalmers.se
Mattias Thuvander mattias.thuvander@chalmers.se
Chiara Micheletti chiara.micheletti@chalmers.se
Lab supervisor
Marita Afiandika marita.afiandika@chalmers.se
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
The students are expected to have knowledge on the basic level of solid-state physics or solid-state chemistry and thermodynamics.
Aim
The broad field of materials science is looked at from a physics perspective. Properties of the materials are governed by atomic arrangements up to the macroscopic structures. The course is expanding from ideal crystals and simple liquids to real materials, such as metallic alloys, ceramics, polymers, colloidal systems and biological materials. The aim of this course is to provide a foundation for understanding and utilization of properties and behavior of soft and hard materials. The course provides core competence for students aiming at either a career in academia or in R&D-industry. It is also the foundation for continued studies within material physics.
Learning outcomes
After completion of the course the student should be able to
- Use thermodynamics to explain phase stability and phase diagrams- Use binary phase diagrams to determine the equilibrium phases and their compositions
- Analyze the behavior and phenomena in materials based on energy and entropy arguments
- Explain the mechanisms of diffusion and use diffusion equations for calculations
- Understand and explain crystal defects (point defects, dislocations, grain boundaries)
- Explain mechanical properties of hard and soft materials
- Understand scattering techniques and their applicability
- Identify the relevant time-, length- and energy-scales in different material systems
Content
- Concepts, classifications and applications of soft and hard materials - Thermodynamics of hard and soft materials - Multi-component and supramolecular systems: Metallic alloys, ceramics, polymers, colloidal systems, biological materials - Phase diagrams and phase transitions/transformations - Dynamics and kinetics - Defects and microstructure - Intermolecular forces and molecular order in soft matter (e.g. semi-crystallinity, liquid-crystals, self-assembly, glasses) - Mechanical properties (elastic and plastic) & rheology (viscous, viscoelastic) - Scattering and diffraction techniques (light, X-rays, neutrons)
Organisation
The course is based on a series of lectures. There is a lab-exercises covering experimental tools and a project work (a case study) applying fundamental concepts to a specific material system.
Literature
- E. Mittemeijer: Fundamentals of materials science (2nd Ed.). Available online at Chalmers Library
- Scientific articles, ppt-presentations and seminar slides will be available on the homepage in connection to each lecture.
Examination including compulsory elements
There is an oral examination at the end of the course. The course has one mandatory lab-exercise and a project work.The project work is part of the final grade (20%).Course summary:
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