| CODE | MME3201 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Engineering Materials 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Metallurgy and Materials Engineering | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit builds on an earlier study-unit, MME2205, and provides a deeper understanding of the following material classes - polymers, ceramics and polymer matrix composites. In this study-unit, the mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical properties of ceramics will be presented and discussed. The structure-property relationship of a number of important polymer classes will be elucidated. The difference between addition and step-type polymerization will be discussed. The role of polymeric resins in polymer matrix composites will be reviewed. Polymer matrix composites are becoming important materials industrially. Degradation, non-destructive testing, repair and joining of polymer composite materials will be presented in this course. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to provide a comprehensive and sound understanding of ceramics, polymers and polymer matrix composite materials, an add-on to more fundamental topics covered in MME2205. This study-unit also gives a deeper understanding on the degradation polymer-matrix composites. The study-unit explores the possibilities and limitations of ceramic, polymer and polymer matrix composite materials in industry. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Show how ceramic materials can express a wide range of electrical conductivities, from conductors to super-conductors, insulators and semi-conductors. - Detail processes for fabricating low-defect ceramic single crystals for optical and electronic applications. - Distinguish between electronic and ionic ceramic conductors with particular emphasis on fast ion conductors. - Write ceramic defect equations based on the Kroger-Vink notation. - Explain how ferrimagnetism and anti-ferromagnetism is brought about in a select number of ceramic materials. - Explain how colour is brought about in a select number of ceramic materials and glass. - Understand how surface flaws dictate the mechanical properties of ceramics and methods to improve fracture toughness of ceramics. - Understand the basis of thermal expansion and thermal conductivity in ceramic materials. Show how glass ceramics with low thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity and good strength can be employed in manufacturing kitchen hobs. - Distinguish between addition-type and step-type polymers giving examples of each. Appreciated the role of catalysts in directing the polymerization process towards specific targeted forms of polymers, eg. isotactic PP. - Distinguish between synthetic, semi-synthetic and natural polymers with particular emphasis on cellulose-based polymers. - Identify the role of polyester and epoxy- resins as precursors to polymer matrix composite materials. - Distinguish between different fiber forming processes with specific reference to the manufacture of UHMWPE and Aramid specialty fibers. - Detail the step-wise processing of carbon fibers starting off with the organic precursor fibers. - Explain the different degradation mechanisms affecting polymer matrix composites. - Describe the most common non-destructive tests and repair procedures for polymer matrix composites. - Describe the differences between mechanically fastened and bonded joints in polymer-matrix composites. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Use Kroger-Vink defect equations to predict how doping can lead to fast ion conduction in a ceramic such as zirconia. - Predict the solubility of a polymer in a specified solvent, given the solvent and polymer molecular structure. - Identify the type of degradation occurring in polymer-matrix composites. - Select a non-destructive test in order to identify defects in polymer-matrix composites. - Prepare a repair scheme for the repair of damaged polymer-matrix composites. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Ceramics C. B. Carter, M. G. Norton, Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering, NY, USA, Springer, 2007. D. W. Richardson, Modern Ceramic Engineering, Properties, Processing, and use in design, 3rd Edition, Boca Raton, FL, USA: Taylor and Francis, 2006. M. W. Barsoum, Fundamentals of Ceramics, Taylor and Francis, 2003. Polymers J. W. Nicholson, The Chemistry of Polymers 4th Edition, RCS publishing, UK, 2012. M. P. Stevens, Polymer Chemistry, An Introduction, 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press, NY, USA: 1999. Composites F. C. Campbell, Structural Composite Materials. Ohio, USA: ASM International, 2010. F. L. Matthews, R. D. Rawlings, Composite Materials: Engineering and Science. Cambridge, UK: Woodhead Publishing Limited, 1999. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Study-unit: MME2205 | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Practicum & Tutorial | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Sophie Briffa Daniel Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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