OVERVIEW

After acquiring the basics to understand the nature and properties of metals and alloys, with particular attention to iron-based alloys, it is possible to deepen the knowledge of alloys of industrial interest, maintaining a focus on those based on iron which, in the global landscape, represent the largest and most diverse family of materials for applications ranging from general to specialised. The course is enriched with case studies and external interventions aimed at stimulating students' attention and curiosity. This course is intended for those who have completed Metallurgy 1 in the three-year programme or an equivalent course at another university. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to consolidate the knowledge of basis on steels, provide elements on non-ferrous metals copper-based and aluminum-based. They will be introduced notions relating to the evaluation of the castability of copper alloys, welding techniques and the use of steels as interconnectors of high temperature fuel cells. A part of the course will be devoted to the application of the science of metallic materials in the field of cultural heritage

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide the class with an in-depth understanding of various aspects of industrially applied metallurgy, starting from a consolidation of basic knowledge, followed by the systematic study of alloy elements (always for steels), up to the regulations (national and international) related to the definition of the different steel classes. A targeted selection of special steels with their respective applications concludes the theoretical part of the course. The class will therefore have the tools to read and correctly interpret a technical data sheet describing the nature and properties of a steel. Considerable emphasis is placed on developing an approach that utilises critical thinking and logical interpretation of data, so that logical connections can be made between chemical-physical information and the properties that qualify the material (mechanical properties, weldability, workability, corrosion resistance, castability). In this way, each member of the class, by the end of the course, will be able to plan an application activity by choosing the most appropriate material.

PREREQUISITES

The teaching is open to all those who have taken and passed the Metallurgy course (72563 - L27) or equivalent courses that provide the basic knowledge of metallurgy: metallic bonding, crystal lattice, alloy formation, alloy solidification, the correlation between production parameters (thermomechanical history), microstructural aspects, and mechanical properties, as well as the difference between equilibrium and non-equilibrium states, with particular attention to the dependence of properties and microstructures on the cooling rate during heat treatment (non-equilibrium state). Knowledge of the characterisation of metallic materials, both mechanically and metallographically, is also considered preparatory.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching is conducted entirely (for a total of 32 hours or 4 ECTS) in a classroom setting with frontal lectures supported by slides that are made available to the class. Each lesson is enriched with practical application examples derived from field experience and research activities. Following the principles of innovative teaching, the class is involved in creating an interactive dialogue on research topics to promote the development of critical and constructive understanding, where each individual participates actively, going beyond mere information learning.

Compensatory and dispensatory measures Disability/Invalidity/Specific Learning Disorder

Dispensatory measures and compensatory tools are intended to enable students to achieve the same learning objectives as their fellow students, not to facilitate the examination.

The use of compensatory tools and the application of dispensatory measures must be authorized in advance by the teacher in agreement with the Referee.

To take advantage of the adaptations during the examination, fill in the Adaptation request form; the request will be automatically sent by the system to the teacher in charge of the teaching, to the Contact Person of your School/Area/Department, and in copy to the Sector; you will also receive a copy of the request sent by e-mail.

The adjustments available to students are as follows:

• Additional time (+30% DSA)
• Additional time (+50% disability/invalidity)
• Additional time during oral exams to organize the answer
• Calculator (programmable and graphing calculators are not allowed)
• Conceptual Maps
• Tables and/or Forms
• Take the exam in written form
• Take the exam in oral form
• Tutor reader (for written tests only)
• Tutor-writer (for written tests only)

Please submit your request for adaptations at least 7 working days before the scheduled exam date.

All information for students with disabilities and DSA is available on the webpage: Services for students with disabilities or DSA | UniGe | University of Genoa

Reference for inclusion: Sergio Di Domizio - sergio.didomizio@unige.it

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The programme is organised into several chapters described below.

Consolidation of metallurgical knowledge (0.5 ECTS).

In this part of the course, the fundamental notions related to Metallurgy 1 are revisited and discussed in a detailed and cohesive manner to create a common and solid foundation on which to build the rest of the course. Particular focus is given to the correlation between microstructure, thermomechanical history, and mechanical properties of metallic materials. In this part of the course, the close relationship between these properties and the non-equilibrium state is revisited and discussed, in order to highlight the wide range of properties (with related applications) typical of a single alloy and directly linked to how the material is processed.

Systematics of alloying elements (1 ECTS).

Each alloying element commonly used in the steel industry is individually described in terms of its characteristics and specific function. During the lessons, the relationships between various alloying elements are emphasised, along with the coexistence of advantages and disadvantages.

Steel nomenclature regulations (0.5 ECTS).

The UNI, EN, ISO, ASTM, AISI, DIN, AFNOR standards are introduced and illustrated with practical examples to aid understanding of the process of naming a ferrous alloy. The different standards are also compared, and sectors where one or the other predominates are indicated.

Special steels (1 ECTS).

The main industrial formulations related to special and high-quality steels are introduced and explained with practical and comparative examples. The selection of steels is refined based on technological developments, but can be summarised as follows:

• Construction steels

• Steels for surface heat and thermochemical treatments

• Rapid and super rapid steels

• HSLA steels

• QUIPP and TRIPP steels

• HSLA steels (listed twice, possibly an error in the original text)

• Steels for additive manufacturing (powder metallurgy and 3D printing).

Advanced manufacturing methods (0.5 ECTS).

Detailed description of the two additive manufacturing techniques examined: sintering (powder metallurgy) and 3D printing on a powder bed with a focused energy source.

Critical reading of technical datasheets (0.5 ECTS).

At least one datasheet for each type of steel is examined and discussed in class with active student participation.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All slides used for the lectures and other material will be available on Aulaweb. For more information, on preparing for the exam, the following texts are suggested:

•            I. Polmear,‎ D. StJohn,‎ J.-F. Nie,‎ M. Qian, Light Alloys: Metallurgy of the Light Metals, Butterworth-Heinemann; 5 edition

•            Bhaskar Dutta, Sudarsanam Babu, Bradley H. Jared, Science, Technology and Applications of Metals in Additive Manufacturing, 1st Edition - August 15, 2019, Elsevier

•            R. E. Smallman, A.H.W. Ngan, Modern Physical Metallurgy, 8th Edition - September 4, 2013, Butterworth-Heinemann

•            J. C. Warner, R. Dean Odell, and Daniel A. Brandt, Metallurgy Fundamentals, 7th Edition, 2025

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the timetable reported here 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral and aims to assess, together with the student, their ability to reason about real problems and materials. For this reason, work is always based on a technical sheet of a commercial steel that allows for case-by-case discussion of the topics covered during the course. Personal learning efforts are valued and appropriately assessed.

The student presents the sheet after having had sufficient time (generally 10-20 minutes) to read and review the technical data sheet of the steel. During this independent reading, the student prepares a presentation strategy and the topics to focus on. 

For students with disabilities or with DSA, please refer to the Other Information section.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is oral and takes the form of a reasoned presentation of a card chosen at random from a series of cards made available to the student. During the presentation, the teacher proposes topics for further exploration to stimulate reasoning. 

The ability to create links between alloy elements, metallurgical properties, and applications is positively evaluated.

The final assessment, expressed in thirties, corresponds to the evaluation of critical reasoning and the understanding of the set of information that constitute the description of a law and its applicability in certain sectors. The ability to delve deeper during study is also assessed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The exam can only be taken by those who have passed Metallurgy 1.