An introduction to the structure of both crystalline and amorphous solids; the physical and chemical basis for properties exhibited by materials; an overview of material properties including mechanical, electrical, magnetic and thermal behaviour.

Thermodynamics of gases and critical phenomena. The three laws of thermodynamics applied to materials processing. An introduction to statistical thermodynamics.

Thermodynamic activity in solid and liquid systems: Gibbs energy of solutions; binary phase diagrams; equilibrium constant; reaction equilibria in gases; Ellingham diagrams.

Basic experimental, simulation and data collection skills relating to materials structure and properties. Written and presentation skills development through lab report writing, assignments and plant visits.

Crystal geometry, point groups, space groups, x-ray diffraction methods for the determination of crystalline structures and chemical compositions, electron and neutron diffraction methods, microanalysis, crystalline defects, physical properties of crystals, crystal growth, phase analysis, phase diagrams, phase transitions, protein crystallography.

Surface science and technology related to the preparation of fine particles of minerals, metals and ceramics for industrial production. Application of electrochemistry for diverse materials processing, such as electrometallurgy, thin film production and anodizing.

Reaction equilibria in solution; stability diagrams; ternary phase diagrams; aqueous and high temperature electrochemistry; use of computerized thermodynamic databases.

Phenomenological and mechanistic approaches to diffusion; boundary conditions; diffusion in fluids and solids; point defects in solids.

Fundamentals of processing, building on a knowledge of heat and mass transfer. High temperature processing of materials, focusing on heat sources, solid state processing of powders and liquid state processing, high temperature production routes for most important metals.

How materials are made strong, tough, ductile, formable. How to prevent failures. Materials selection using computer databases.

Fundamental properties of materials used in electronic applications, operation of devices and fabrication methods of electronic circuits and packaging. Includes description of dielectric, magnetic and optoelectronic properties.

Review of thermodynamics, binary phase diagrams and solid state diffusion. Role of interfaces; solidification, diffusional and martensitic transformations; welding; oxidation. Materiallographic examination will be featured in laboratory work.

Thermodynamic modelling. Principles of computational thermodynamics and its applications. Thermo-Calc. Fortran programming. TQ interface and its incorporation into problem-oriented programs.

Theory and practice of iron making. New processes for reduced energy consumption and pollution. Thermodynamics and kinetics of steelmaking. Steel refining. Casting, including new near net shape technologies. Specialty steelmaking.

The environments experienced by engineering materials in service, and economic methods for ensuring theor survival. The basic science of high temperature oxidation and aqueous corrosion leads to an appreciation of methods for corrosion control.

Introduction to synthesis routes for nanomaterials, bottom-up and top-down approaches, specific properties of materials at the nanoscale including carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles and quantum dots.

Interaction of electrons and photons with matter. Imaging methods with electron microscopy, scanning probe techniques, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption analysis with high spatial resolution.

Deposition and fabrication techniques, surfaces, growth mechanisms, epitaxy, kinetic effects in thin films, defects and properties of thin films. Materials for packaging.

Sustainable development, materials cycles, methods for measuring environmental impact, life cycle analysis, waste treatment and recycling technologies.

Individual experimental research problem with a selected supervisor. A preliminary written and oral report is required at the end of the first term. The thesis is defended orally. A minimum of nine unscheduled hours each week, both terms.

A sequence of experiments based on processing methods used in industry. Plant visits with oral and written reports. Seminars and discussions by personnel from industry on manufacturing.

Introduction to numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer processes, microstructure development in alloys, interface properties and simple atomic and molecular modelling.

Structure of amorphous and crystalline polymeric materials; mechanical, electrical and optical properties, and their modification through processing.

The unique properties of structural and functional ceramics are explored, including ferroelectric, piezoelectric and magnetic ceramics, clays, porcelains and refractories. The importance of processing for achieving properties is emphasized.

Intrinsic properties of matrix materials and fibres; mechanics and thermodynamics of interfaces; mechanical properties and fabrication of engineering composites.

Projects, in cooperation with industry, involving materials design in manufacturing, complemented by lectures in group problem solving and design methodology.