Title: NANOSCALE STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND KINETICS
Teacher(s): Prof. Roberto Montanari
Credits: 2
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to provide the basic knowledge about the diffusion based phase transformation occurring in the solid state with particular attention to thermodynamics and kinetics. The chemical distribution on nano- and micro-scale and the microstructure of materials will be presented.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The students should understand how the microstructure of metallic materials can be modified through heat treatments which induce the formation of different phases.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The content of the course is useful for determining the fundamental process parameters (temperature, time, atmosphere) of heat treatments to induce the suitable microstructural transformations in metal alloys and achieve the desired mechanical properties for a given engineering application.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS
The students will be able to understand how to perform the right heat treatments on metal alloys to get the desired mechanical properties.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Description of the microstructure of metallic materials in terms of type and fraction of different phases, and their effect on the mechanical properties.
LEARNING SKILLS
Understanding the relations between microstructural features and mechanical properties of the main families of metal alloys for engineering applications.
PREREQUISITES
There are no formal prerequisites, however it is appropriate that students have good knowledge of Chemistry.
TOPICS
1. Binary and ternary phase diagrams
2. Classification of diffusion based solid state phase transformations.
3. Transformations occurring through nucleation and growth mechanisms.
4. Transformations occurring through spinodal reaction.
5. Identification of unknown compounds by means of X-ray diffraction. The use of the X-ray database. Lab exercices.
EVALUATION
- Type: oral examination.
- Description: The exam of Nanoscale Structural transformations and Kinetics consists of an oral examination.
The oral exam consists in three theoretical questions (each contributes with 10/30 to the final vote). The exam evaluates the overall preparation of the student, the ability to integrate the knowledge of the different parts of the program, the consequentiality of the reasoning, the analytical ability and the autonomy of judgment. Furthermore, language properties and clarity of presentation are assessed, in compliance with the Dublin descriptors (1. Knowledge and understanding; 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding; 3 . Making judgments; 4. Learning skills; 5: Communication skills).
The final vote of the exam is expressed out of thirty and will be obtained through the following graduation system:
Not pass: important deficiencies and / or inaccuracies in the knowledge and understanding of the topics; limited capacity for analysis and synthesis, frequent generalizations and limited critical and judgment skills, the arguments are presented in an inconsistent way and with inappropriate language,
18-20: just sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible generalizations and imperfections; sufficient capacity for analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment, the topics are frequently exposed in an inconsistent way and with inappropriate / technical language,
21-23: Routine knowledge and understanding of topics; ability to analyze and synthesize with sufficiently coherent logical argument and appropriate / technical language
24-26: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics; good analysis and synthesis skills with rigorously expressed arguments but with a language that is not always appropriate / technical.
27-29: Complete knowledge and understanding of the topics; remarkable abilities of analysis and synthesis. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics exposed rigorously and with appropriate / technical language
30-30L: Excellent level of knowledge and in-depth understanding of the topics. Excellent skills of analysis, synthesis and autonomy of judgment. Arguments expressed in an original way and with appropriate technical language.
ADOPTED TEXTS
D.R. Askeland, The Science and Engineering of Materials, Stanley Thornes Publishers Ltd.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Porter & Easterling, Phase Transformations.
DELIVERY MODE (Presence/e-learning)
Precence.
TEACHING METHODS
The course is held by lectures including theory and exercises.