OVERVIEW

The aim of the course is to provide the essential chemical-physical bases for understanding the structure-property correlations in metallic, polymeric, ceramic and composite materials for their technological applications. The fundamentals of electrochemistry, corrosion and phase equilibria will also be covered.

Course held in Italian.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the essential physico-chemical basis for the understanding of structure-property correlations in polymeric and metallic materials for their technological applications .

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (frontal lessons) and individual study will allow the student to:

• Know the main classes of materials such as polymers, ceramics, metals, composites and their characteristics, correlating structure and microstructure to mechanical and functional properties.
• Understand two- and multicomponent phase equilibria.
• Know the main electrochemical phenomena (galvanic and electrolysis cells).
• Understand the fundamentals of corrosion and know the protection techniques against corrosive phenomena.

PREREQUISITES

Basic chemistry, mathematical analysis, physics.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes lectures and exercises in the classroom.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it  ), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to materials science and technology: from linear to circular economy; design and selection of materials.

Reference to atomic bonds. Crystalline and amorphous structure of materials; crystalline imperfections: defects and techniques for their identification; solid state diffusion.

State diagrams: phase rule; eutectic and peritectic binary alloys; monotectic binary systems; invariant transformations; ternary state diagrams.

Metals and metallic alloys: Fe-C state diagram; heat treatments of steels; C steels, low-alloy and stainless steels; cast irons: properties and classification. Aluminum alloys, copper alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium and nickel.

Polymeric materials: processing, degradation and recycling.

Ceramic materials and glasses: crystalline structure and examples of simple crystalline structures; synthesis and processing; traditional (introduction) and advanced ceramics: electrical conductivity and ceramics for energy; mechanical and thermal properties; glasses and glass-ceramics; oxides and carbides.

Composite materials: dispersion-reinforced composites; particulate composites; fiber-reinforced composites, characteristics and applications; fiber and composite production; laminar composite materials: examples and applications; sandwich structure.

Introduction to nanostructured materials: mechanical and electronic properties.

Introduction to electrical and optical properties of materials.

Corrosion and protection of materials: electrochemical corrosion and galvanic cells; corrosion rate; forms of corrosion; corrosion protection.

Fundamentals of electrochemistry: galvanic cells (batteries and fuel cells) and electrolytic cells; Faraday's laws, power-to-gas energy storage.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The teaching material used during the lessons will be available on the Aulaweb website of the course. The notes taken during the lessons and the material uploaded by the teacher to Aulaweb are sufficient for preparing for the exam. The following book is suggested as a support and in-depth text:

W.F. Smith Science and Technology of Materials, Ed. Mc Graw –Hill, fifth edition, 2021.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIANGUIDO RAMIS (President)

ANTONIO BARBUCCI

DAVIDE CADEMARTORI

MARIA PAOLA CARPANESE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/8721/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test with an optional oral exam (the student who has passed the written test with a grade greater than or equal to 18 thirtieths can decide whether to also take an oral exam on the established days or accept the grade of the written test).

The written test consists of 2 exercises and 3 open-ended questions that will be evaluated based on the correctness and completeness of the answer and the correct use of technical terminology.

The written test can be repeated, but in this case the grade of the last written test submitted will be valid.

To access the oral exam, students must have passed the written test with a minimum grade of 16/30 and the grade obtained will be the average of the written and oral tests.

There will be 3 exam sessions available for the 'winter' session (January, February and during the teaching break scheduled by the Polytechnic School at Easter) and 3 sessions for the 'summer' session (June, July, September and during the autumn break scheduled by the Polytechnic School). No extraordinary exam sessions will be granted outside the periods indicated by the Polytechnic School, with the exception of students who have not included training activities in the current academic year in their study plan.

It is not allowed to use notes, texts and PDAs and/or cell phones are not allowed. The results of the written test will be published on Aulaweb.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam aims to verify the student's knowledge of the main characteristics and properties of the different classes of materials. The ability to solve numerical problems and interpret phase diagrams will be assessed, as well as the student's ability to make a choice between different materials. The ability to apply the theoretical bases to general or specific cases of technological interest and to critically analyze the problems related to the corrosion of materials will also be appraised. The quality of the presentation, the correct use of technical terminology and the ability to reason critically will also be evaluated.

Exam schedule