Course syllabus

Materials Science and Engineering

MTT011 Materialteknik, SP4, 2025/2026, 7.5 HEC

 

Aims

The aim of the course is for students to attain a basic understanding of materials science and engineering, in particular the relations between the structure, properties and processing of materials. The level of understanding should be such that the students in their profession as engineers should be able to participate in discussions regarding materials selection and choices of processing methods for materials. Materials encountered in the course are polymeric materials, metals and ceramics, primarily for engineering purposes.

 

Learning outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe how different kinds of materials (polymers, ceramics and metallic materials) are structured in terms of atomic bonding and crystal structure and also describe how the structure will affect some of their properties.
2. Describe how the mechanical properties of the materials above can be influenced via a change of the (micro)structure and be able to relate that change to the specific strengthening mechanism.
3. Apply phase diagrams and TTT/CCT diagrams; to read them and from the diagram predict the microstructure after different heat treatments.

4. Choose suitable manufacturing or heat treatment methods aiming for specific material properties and microstructure and discuss the choices of criteria to reach a good result.
5. Understand the mechanical properties of the material and their relation to product functions.

1. Obtain preliminary knowledge of other materials; Be able to execute an elementary materials selection.
2. Introduce the analyses and evaluate the role of geometrical (product design) aspects in materials selection.
3. Make a reflection regarding materials selection for an industrial product with the perspective of environmental sustainability.

 

Contents

The course starts with basic materials science, aiming to understand the correlation of the structure, the properties and the choice of manufacturing and heat treatment technology. The different material groups are polymers, metals and ceramics. The course in manufacturing technology is built on this course but is linked closer to the manufacturing of products.

The course contains the following parts:

- Basic materials science:
      Atomic bonding

      Crystal structures

      Defects and diffusion

      Mechanical properties, fracture and failure

      Phase diagrams

-  Metallic Materials

      Phases and microstructures

      Strengthening

      Classification

      Heat treatment

      Properties

      Applications

 

-  Ceramics, glass and carbon materials:

      Structures

      Properties

      Applications

 

-  Polymers and composite materials:

Structure and Thermal properties

Thermal and chemical properties

Mechanical, electrical and surface properties

      Applications

 

- Other topics:

      Introduction to other materials

      Materials selection in product development

      Sustainability

 

 

Literature

The main literature source is the book:

Donald Askeland, Essentials of Materials Science and Engineering, 4^th edition, SI, Cengage, ISBN 978-1-337-62915-7

Osswald, Tim A. Menges, Georg. (2012). Material Science of Polymers for Engineers (3rd Edition). Hanser Publishers (free access on Chalmers Campus or via VPN)

The course includes about 25 regular lectures, 9 tutorials including group discussions, three experimental classes (Computer-based lab Matter, Optical microscopy and Structure and properties of polymeric materials), one guest lecture and one project. Labs, group discussions,

guest lecture and projects are compulsory.

Examination

Passing the course requires passing the final written exam and some other activities.

The written exam is based on materials from both teachings as well as the book on 3^th June 2026. Make sure to register for the exam in due time according to what is written in the Study Portal. The exam is formulated in English. Permitted aids are a dictionary and a Chalmers approved calculator. The grading will be as follows: 3 > 40% (20 out of 50), 4 > 60% (30 out of 50), 5 > 80% (37.5 out of 50). Passing the written exam qualifies for 6 credit units.

Getting all laboratory sessions and projects approved, participating in group discussions and guest lecture qualifies for 1.5 credit units.

 Course home page

Handouts from lectures, the latest version of the document, news about lectures etc can be found on the course home page at:

https://chalmers.instructure.com/courses/38968

 Basic info on the course is available on:

https://www.student.chalmers.se/sp/course?course_id=40845

 Laboratory sessions

Booking of labs can be done on the course homepage from the second week the course starts. It is important to show up at booked times! Note that you must prepare in advance in order to clarify the lab within the lab time and get approved. Please be there on time!

 Lab1 (2h): Optical microstructure of steels;

Lab2 (2h): Structure and properties of polymeric materials;

Lab3 (2h): Introduction of computer-based CES EduPack - a set of texts and software tools for materials and manufacturing processes.

 Group assignment

Participating in a group assignment is compulsory. You will form a group of a maximum of 5 participants. Each group will have its own scientific/technical topic related to the contents of the course. The topic will be among some pre-defined topics of industrial/technical relevance (informed later in the course). The result of the group assignment should be communicated in a final seminar presentation. No written report is required.

 Quizzes

You will find quiz questions in the form of multiple choices from the course webpage.

Schedule

Week	Weekday	Date	Time	Type	Contents	Chapter	Room	Teacher
W13	Monday	23/3	10:00-11:45	L	Introduction & Atomic structure	1, 2	TD-Grön	EYC
W13	Tuesday	24/3	10:00-11:45	L	Atomic structure, Crystal structure	2, 3	TD-Grön	EYC
W13	Wednesday	25/3	10:00-11:45	L	Crystal structure	3	TD-Grön	EYC
W13	Thursday	26/3	10:00-11:45	L	Imperfections	4	TD-Grön	EYC
w14	Monday	30/3	10:00-11:45	L	Diffusion	5	TD-Grön	EYC
w14	Monday	30/3	13:15-15:00	L	Mechanical properties I	6	TD-Grön	EYC
w14	Tuesday	31/3	8:00-9:45	E	Atomic structure, Crystal structure	2, 3	TD-Grön	TA:s
w14	Tuesday	31/3	10:00-11:45	L	Mechanical properties II	7	TD-Grön	EYC
W16	Monday	13/4	10:00-11:45	L	Strain Hardening and Annealing	8	TD-Grön	EYC
W16	Tuesday	14/4	8:00-9:45	E	Imperfections Diffusion, Group discussion 1	4,5	TD-Grön	TA:s, EYC
W16	Tuesday	14/4	10:00-11:45	L	Principles of Solidification	9	TD-Grön	EYC
W16	Wednesday	15/4	10:00-11:45	L	Solid Solutions and Phase Equilibrium	10	TD-Grön	EYC
w16	Thursday	16/4	10:00-11:45	L	Dispersion Strengthening by Phase Transformations and Heat Treatment	11	TD-Grön	EYC
W17	Monday	20/4	10:00-11:45	L	Dispersion Strengthening by Phase Transformations and Heat Treatment	12	TD-Grön	EYC
W17	Tuesday	21/4	8:00-09:45	E	Mechanical properties Group discussion 2	6,7	TD-Grön	TA:s, EYC
W17	Tuesday	21/4	10:00-11:45	L	Heat Treatment of Steels	13	TD-Grön	EYC
W17	Wednesday	22/4	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab1 group 1		Be informed	TA:s
W17	Wednesday	22/4	10:00-11:45	L	Nonferrous Alloys	14	TD-Grön	EYC
W17	Thursday	23/4	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab1 group 2		Be informed	TA:s
W17	Thursday	23/4	10:00-11:45	E	Group discussion 3 Strain Hardening and Annealing; Solidification	8,9	Be informed	EYC TA:s
W18	Monday	27/4	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab1 group 3		Be informed	TA:s
W18	Monday	27/4	10:00-11:45	E	Group discussion 4 Solid Solutions and Phase Diagram	10, 11	TD-Grön	EYC TA:s
W18	Tuesday	28/4	8:00-9:45	E	Phase Transformations Group discussion 5	12	TD-Grön	TA:s  EYC
W18	Tuesday	28/4	10:00-11:45	L	Ceramic Materials	15	TD-Grön	EYC TA:s
W18	Wednesday	29/4	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab1 group 4		Be informed	TA:s
W18	Wednesday	29/4	10:00-11:45	E	Group discussion 6 Heat Treatment,  Nonferrous Alloys & Ceramics	13, 14, 15	TD-Grön	EYC, TA:s
W19	Monday	04/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab2 group 1		Be informed	TA:s
W19	Monday	04/5	10:00-11:45	L	Polymer materials – Introduction, Structure of polymeric materials	16	TD-Grön	RK/MB
W19	Tuesday	05/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab2 group 2		Be informed	TA:s
w19	Tuesday	05/5	10:00-11:45	L	Structure and thermal properties of polymeric materials	16	TD-Grön	RK/MB
W19	Wednesday	06/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab2 group 3		Be informed	TA:s
W19	Wednesday	06/5	10:00-11:45	L	Mechanical properties of polymeric materials	17	TD-Grön	RK/MB
W19	Thursday	07/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab2 group 4		Be informed	TA:s
W19	Thursday	07/5	10:00-11:45	L	Electrical, optical and permeability of polymeric materials	17	TD-Grön	RK/MB
W20	Monday	11/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab2 group 5		Be informed	TA:s
W20	Monday	11/5	10:00-11:45	L	Polymer composites	17	TD-Grön	RK/MB
W20	Tuesday	12/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab3 group 1		Be informed	TA:s
W20	Tuesday	12/5	10:00-11:45	E	Polymer material I Materials selection	16	TD-Grön	TA:s
W20	Wednesday	13/5	8:00-9:45	Lab	Lab3 group 2		Be informed	TA:s
W20	Wednesday	13/5	10:00-11:45	E	Polymer material II	17	TD-Grön	TA:s
W21	Monday	18/5	10:00-11:45	L	Materials selection		TD-Grön	EYC
W21	Tuesday	19/5	09:00-12:00		Presentations		TD-Grön	EYC & RK/MB
W21	Wednesday	20/5	10:00-11:45	L	Role of geometrical aspects		TD-Grön	EYC
W21	Thursday	21/5	10:00-11:45	L	Guest lecture		TD-Grön	Claes Olsson ( SKF)
W22	Monday	25/5	10:00-11:45	L	Old exams		TD-Grön	EYC
W22	Tuesday	26/5	8:00-9:45		Spare		TD-Grön	EYC
W22	Tuesday	26/5	10:00-11:45	L	Questions		TD-Grön	RK/MB