OVERVIEW

The course deals with the general aspects of the production process, the mechanical and functional properties and the selection criteria  of materials, particularly for applications in chemical plants and in construction. They are deepened the relationship between microstructure and properties of steels and metallic alloys, ceramic materials, binders, plastics, adhesives, glass and composite materials.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of the materials properties, how production processes and post- treatment affect  material properties and how to optimize the performance of materials. Formulate the general criteria for the material selection depending on the design characteristics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (lectures, exercises and numerical exercises) and individual study will allow the student to:
have a basic understanding of the structure of the various classes of materials;
understand the correlation between structure, microstructure, properties and possible applications;
know the different types of industrially used materials, with particular attention to the materials used in chemical engineering processes and plants;
provide basic knowledge on the production processes and on the post-production treatments of the materials, highlighting the relationships between the production process and the mechanical or functional properties of the materials obtained;
be able to pre-select the most suitable material for a specific application.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and physics is required

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching includes lectures in the classroom and classroom exercises. The presentation of theoretical contents follows numerical application exercises. There are 5 hours of individual numerical exercises aimed at consolidating learning. Frontal lessons .

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:
1. Definitions and general aspects of Materials Science and Technology. Recalls on chemical bonds and crystalline structures. Defects in crystalline structures. Relations with the mechanical and functional properties of materials. Solid-state diffusion: solutions of Fick's equations, examples of application for cementation and nitriding of steels.
2. Formation of the microstructure in the solidification and cooling processes. Nucleation and growth Binary and ternary phase diagrams. Detailed examination of the Iron-Carbon phase diagram.
3. Recalls to chemical reactions in the blast furnace, conversion of cast iron. Points A1, A3, A4 in the carbon-iron diagram. Effect of the cooling speed at points A1, and A3 and on the microstructure of the steels. Composition of cast iron and steel: effects on properties.
4. Mechanical properties of metallic materials. Plasticity, dislocations. Fragile fracture. Resistance to fatigue and "creep". Thermal and thermomechanical treatments. Designation. Stainless steel alloys.
6. Ceramic materials and glass: general description of the ceramic process; mechanical properties; reliability. Binder materials, notes on the clinker production process, properties and characteristics of Portland cement. Concrete.
7. Polymeric materials: Structure, production processes, microstructure and mechanical and functional properties. Composite materials.
8. Target functions: choice of the optimal material for some application examples.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The didactic material used during the lessons is available in aulaweb, as well as the numerical exercises proposed in previous years with the relative solutions. The notes taken during the lessons and the material in Aulaweb are sufficient for the preparation of the exam. The following books are suggested as supporting and in-depth texts.

W.F. Smith e J. Hashemi, Scienza e Tecnologia dei materiali, Mc Graw-hill

Materiali. Dalla scienza alla progettazione (David Cebon, Micheal F. Ashby, Hugh Shercliff)

A.Cigada, T.Pastore “Struttura e proprietà dei materiali metallici” Mc-Graw-Hill

Vito Alunno Rossetti, Calcestruzzo. Materiali e Tecnologie, Mc-Graw-Hill.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

RODOLFO BOTTER (President)

ALBERTO LAGAZZO (President)

MASSIMO VIVIANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

As established in the program and in the timetable of the polytechnic school.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The oral exam is designed to assess the knowledge of the main characteristics of the materials used in the context of chemical engineering and an understanding of the relationship between chemical structure, microstructure and materials properties (mechanical and functional). It will also be evaluated the student’s ability to make a choice between different materials in relation to the realization of a simple device.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

During the oral examination an initial question will focus on one of the topics of the course chosen by the student and after a discussion and possible request for clarification, a second questionwill be made  on a topic chosen by the teacher.

Exam schedule