Course syllabus for Physics of materials

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMaterialfysik
  • CodeTIF326
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPPHS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyEngineering Physics
  • DepartmentPHYSICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 85133
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0119 Oral examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c7.5 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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) and segregation - Explain mechanical properties of hard and soft materials and interpret results from mechanical tests and rheology experiments - Understand scattering techniques and their applicability - Identify the relevant time-, length- and energy-scales in different material systems - Apply the fundamental concepts to real materials - Read and understand advanced literature, e.g. review articles

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 will be a lab-exercises covering experimental tools and a project work (a case study) applying fundamental concepts to a specific material system.

Literature

Material in the form of selected book chapters, 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 finel grade (20%).

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.