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. Numerical application exercises will follow the presentation of theoretical contents. 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 phase diagrams. Detailed examination of the Iron-Carbon phase diagram.
3. Short recalls to metallurgy. Effect of the cooling speed 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, properties and characteristics of Portland cement. Concrete.
7. Polymeric materials: Structure, production processes, microstructure and mechanical and functional properties. Composite materials.
8. Target functions: select 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 book is suggested as supporting and in-depth texts.

W.D. Callister e D. G. Rethwish, Scienza ed Ingegneria dei materiali, EdiSES

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DAVIDE CLEMATIS (President)

ELISABETTA FINOCCHIO (President)

ALBERTO LAGAZZO (President)

MASSIMO VIVIANI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10375/p/studenti-orario

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 selection between different materials in relation to the realization of a simple device.

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

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

FURTHER INFORMATION

Prof. Massimo Viviani, will cover  processing, microstructure and properties of ceramic materials.