Structure of Materials

General description:

The properties of materials depend on their macro- and microstructure, making this a fundamental subject of study.

Objectives and competences:

Objectives: To acquire basic knowledge about the structure or building materials. Recognize crystal, quasicrystalline and amorphous material defects in the structure and basic characteristics of typical representatives of metal, quasicrystalline, ceramic and polymeric materials.

Competencies: the student is able on the basis of their knowledge and expertise to independently engage in independent research and development work in the wider field of materials. They learn to understand and distinguish the characteristics of individual states of matter, and is trained to interpret the properties of materials depending on the specificity of their buildings. We also understand the impact of the individual errors buildings on the properties of materials and how they affect their concentration, organization and distribution.

Knowledge and understanding:

Declarative knowledge: Basics of building materials. The ability to distinguish and understand crystalline, amorphous and quasicrystalline and a polymer state of matter. Understanding the characteristics of errors or defects in the structure of materials and the impact thereof on the properties. In studying the characteristics of building materials, which form the basis for the improvement of existing and designed new special properties of materials. Transferability of acquired knowledge in virtually all types of materials. Getting to know the foreign literature and ways to find it. Production of written reports and public presentations. Synthesis of the acquired knowledge in practical applications of materials and their manufacture.

Content (Syllabus outline):

Physical fundamentals of materials and basics of crystallography. The basic structural types of metals. Crystal structure of metallic materials. Crystal structure. Occupancy and interstitials. The geometry of the unit cell. Allotropy and polymorphism. Real structure of metallic materials and the concept of microstructure, structure of quasicrystalline materials, amorphous materials and polymers. Defects in the crystal lattice: point, line and two dimensional. Defects in quasicrystalline, amorphous and polymeric materials. Hihg- and low-angle boundaries, coherency of boundaries, twin boundaries, antiphase boundaries of the domain. The size, shape and orientation of the crystal grains and regulation of constituents in quasicrystals, amorphous materials and polymers. Isomorphic and eutectic system and characteristics of equilibrium and nonequilibrium solidification by application of the lever rule. Basic characteristics of microstructures and microscopy.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, seminars, research seminars, laboratory exercises, simulations, presentations.

Grading system:

Written  exam – 60 %.

Oral exam – 40 %.