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. Will be deepened the relationship between microstructure and properties of steels and metallic alloys, ceramic materials, concrete and binders, plastics, adhesives, glass and composite materials.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The discipline is aimed at obtaining the basic knowledge necessary for the understanding of the relationship between the mechanical and functional properties of materials and their structure and microstructure and applying the criteria for the materials selection in particular to Chemical Engineering applications.

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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Introduction to Materials Science.
• Stress-strain and links with the microstructure.
• Traction, compression, indentation, hardness, bending and torsion
• Rheology and rheometry.
• Viscoelasticity - DMA
• Fracture and fatigue
• Crystallography
• Ceramic materials. The crystalline structure, preparation methods, sintering
• Metals and alloys. Classification and mechanical properties. Fe-C phase diagram. Line defects and their influence on mechanical properties.
• Polymers. Structure, production processes, thermal characterization, microstructure and mechanical and functional properties. Composite materials.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Materials provided in class and available on AulaWeb

The following book is suggested as supporting and in-depth texts.

• W.D. Callister Jr., D.G. Rethwisch, Scienza e ingegneria dei materiali, EdiSES
• W.F. Smith, J. Hashemi, Scienza e tecnologia dei materiali, McGraw-Hill

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Based on academic calendar 2025-26

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes a written test on topics related to the entire program and an oral test in which the presentation of a topic of the course, chosen by the candidate, and the answer to some specific questions on another topic of the program are required.

Students with SLD, disability or other special educational needs certification are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and exam methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account the modalities learning opportunities and provide suitable compensatory tools.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam aims to assess the knowledge of the main characteristics of materials, with particular attention to those used in chemical engineering, and the understanding of the relationships between chemical nature, structure and microstructure and the resistance and functional properties of materials. The ability to make a choice between different materials in relation to the creation of a simple device will also be assessed. The synthesis, clarity of the presentation and the correct use of technical terminology will be assessed. The correctness of the concepts presented, the clarity of the presentation and the ability to solve simple problems of the type presented during the course will be assessed.