Undergraduate Courses

Materials Science & Engg

Review of atomic bonding in solids. Crystal structures (crystallographic points/directions, planes and density computation). Imperfections in solids. Mechanisms of diffusion (steady and non-steady state diffusion). Elastic and plastic deformation of metals. Design problems based on mechanical properties. Strengthening mechanism in metals. Design based on cold and hot working of metals. Binary phase diagrams and the Fe-C system. Basics of phase transformations with emphasis on phase transformations in Fe-C system. Applications of materials. Note: Not to be taken for credits with ME 216

Pre-Requisites: CHEM101 And MATH102 And (MSE202* Or ME217*)

Co-Requisites: ME 217 , MSE 202

Materials characterization: metallography, microstructure ‎analysis using optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction. ‎Mechanical testing to measure materials properties: hardness, ‎tensile, flexural, impact, torsion, fatigue, and creep. ‎Phase ‎diagrams, cold working, heat treatment of carbon steels. Note: Not to be taken for credits with ME 217

Pre-Requisites: MSE201* Or ME216*

Co-Requisites: ME 216 , MSE 201

Classical and irreversible thermodynamics, phase equilibria, ‎theory of solutions, surface phenomena, thermodynamics and ‎kinetics of chemical reactions, electrochemistry, gas-solid ‎reactions. Calculation of Phase Diagrams using CALPHAD ‎software.

Pre-Requisites: CHEM101 And PHYS102

The fundamentals of crystalline and non-‎crystalline states. The periodide trends, primary ‎and secondary bonding types. The principles of structure common to all ‎materials. Symmetry theory, structures of ceramic, metallic, and polymeric ‎materials. Different types of ‎defects. Modeling and ‎visualization of three-dimensional structures using Crystal ‎Maker software.

Pre-Requisites: MSE201 Or ME216

The kinetics aspect in materials science. ‎Phenomenological and atomistic theories of diffusion in metals, ‎alloys, ionic compounds, semiconductors and polymers. ‎Introduction to the general theory of transport and non-‎equilibrium thermodynamics. Kinetic effects in solidifications ‎and solid-state transformations that determine the structure and ‎properties of materials including: interfaces and microstructure; ‎nucleation, growth, and coarsening; alloy solidification; and ‎diffusional and diffusionless transformations in solids.

Pre-Requisites: (MSE201 Or ME216) And MSE203

Fundamentals, instrumentation and applications of ‎characterization ‎techniques ‎commonly used to investigate ‎material structure, surface ‎topography, chemistry, ‎and phase ‎constitution: light microscopy, scanning electron ‎microscopy, ‎energy and wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, ‎x-ray ‎‎fluorescence, and x-ray diffraction. Lab experiments on ‎materials structure and composition analysis ‎using light ‎microscopy, SEM, XRD, EDS, WDS and XRF.‎

Pre-Requisites: MSE201 Or ME216

Review of metallic bonding and crystal structures, ‎dislocations and plastic deformation, strengthening ‎mechanisms. Solidification of metals. Heat treatment, ‎properties and applications of ferrous alloys: steels, cast ‎irons, stainless steels, and non-ferrous alloys: Cu, Al, Ti, and ‎Ni.‎

Pre-Requisites: MSE204

Basic concepts of polymer chemistry, types of polymerization ‎processes (condensation, addition, anionic, cationic, radical, ‎etc.,), copolymerization, thermoplastics, and thermosets. ‎Chemical, mechanical, thermal, and engineering properties of ‎Polymers. Polymer processing and basic concepts of polymer ‎technology. ‎ Note: Not to be taken for credits with ME 480 or CHE 463

Pre-Requisites: MSE204

This laboratory is intended as an intensive experience in ‎synthetic approach to materials used for polymers, glasses, ‎ceramics, metals, composite. Topic includes: polymerization, ‎self-assembly, sol-gel reactions, synthesis of nanomaterials, ‎vapor phase synthesis, porous materials synthesis.

Pre-Requisites: MSE206 And (MSE202* Or ME217*)

Co-Requisites: ME 217 , MSE 202

Fundamentals, structure, processing, and properties of ‎ceramics and glasses; Structure-property ‎‎relations in ceramic ‎and glassy materials; Application of ceramics and glasses‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE204

Key aspects of composite materials: matrix materials, ‎reinforcement materials, and interfacial properties. ‎Micro/Macromechanics, strength, fracture, fatigue and creep. ‎Advanced composite topics: nanocomposites, carbon fiber / ‎carbon matrix, laminates, and sandiwiches. Design, processing, ‎and manufacturing techniques. Durability, repair, and recycling.

Pre-Requisites: MSE302

Modes of failure of engineering materials with emphasis on preventive measures during design, material selection, operation, and monitoring using non-destructive methods. Review of stiffness and strength limited designs, fracture, fracture toughness, fatigue, creep, creep rupture, oxidation of high temperature alloys, corrosion, common corrosion forms, friction and wear, lubrication. Brief introduction to major non-destructive methods: liquid penetrant, magnetic flux leakage, radiography, and ultrasonic. Note: Not to be taken for credits with ME 457

Pre-Requisites: MSE301

Processing techniques used for metals, ceramics and polymers ‎with emphasis on processing-structure-‎properties ‎relationships and microstructural design. Laboratory ‎experiments: Casting and post-processing (work hardening, ‎heat treatment) of metals and alloys. Powder processing of ‎ceramics. Extrusion‎ and injection ‎‎‎molding of polymers. ‎Microstructure characterization and measurement of mechanical and physical ‎properties‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE301 And MSE302

This course is limited to MSE program. A continuous period of 8 weeks of summer training spent in the industry working in any of the fields of materials science and engineering. The training should be carried out in an organization with an interest in one or more of these fields. On completion of the program, the student is required to submit a formal written report of his work.

Pre-Requisites: ENGL214 And MSE306

Free Electron Theory Free Electron Theory, Review of quantum ‎mechanics, Fermi-Dirac statistics, ‎Fermi energy, Fermi surface, ‎Fermi distribution, density of states, effective mass. Electrons in ‎‎periodic solids, Bloch wave functions, Electronic band structure-‎materials classification, Electrical ‎conduction in polymers, ‎ceramics, and amorphous materials, Optical properties of ‎materials, ‎Quantum mechanical treatment of the optical ‎properties, Magnetic phenomena and their classical ‎‎interpretation, Quantum mechanical considerations of the ‎properties of materials, ‎Superconductivity.

Pre-Requisites: PHYS102

Mechanical design process, materials properties and indices, product shape, multiple ‎constraints, conflicting objectives, hybrid materials, impact of materials selection on the ‎environment, extensive case studies. Note: Not to be taken for credits with ME 420

This is the first of two courses for the multidisciplinary, capstone project. Multidisciplinary teams will be formed, projects will be defined, and project management discussed.

Pre-Requisites: BUS200 And MSE307

This is the second of two courses for the multidisciplinary, capstone project. Multidisciplinary teams undertake product definition, generation of conceptual designs, product development, and presentation of final products. Students integrate knowledge acquired from prior courses into multidisciplinary projects with multiple constraints and use engineering standards while further developing their communication skills and life-long learning techniques

Pre-Requisites: MSE411

Use of tensors to describe equilibrium and transport macroscopic physical ‎‎properties; ‎connection between symmetry and properties; ferroelectrics, ‎‎ferromagnets, and multiferroics; ‎dispersion relations of phonons and electrons in ‎‎solids; and effects of defects, application of ‎quantum mechanics to determine ‎‎allowed energies in crystalline and non-crystalline materials, ‎origins of bands gaps, ‎‎effect of defects, k-space description of energy bands, applications in ‎‎‎microelectronics‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE304

Transitions in materials, including ‎intermolecular forces, self-assembly, physical organic ‎chemistry, surface chemistry and electrostatics, hierarchical ‎structure, and reactivity. The synthesis of polymer, glass, ‎ceramics, nanomaterials, composite, porous material‎‎.

Pre-Requisites: CHEM102

Techniques for model development and simplification – ‎estimation and scaling. Analytical solutions to simple ‎problems as building-blocks for more complicated ‎computational models. Physical phenomenon important to ‎materials processing: Newtonian flow, solidification, and ‎microstructure development. Examples and case studies ‎from a variety of materials processes: polymer extrusion ‎and molding; various metal casting processes; crystal growth.

Pre-Requisites: MATH201 And MSE301 And MSE302

Introduction to atomistic simulations covers both classical ‎and quantum mechanics techniques. The course is primarily ‎hand-on with a very brief introduction to essential statistical ‎thermodynamics and quantum mechanics concepts. The main ‎focus of the class is on classical molecular dynamics and ‎density functional theory. Basic shell scripting will be ‎introduced as efficient computer simulations relays on some ‎scripting abilities‎‎.

Introduction about nanomaterials. Classification of nanomaterials. Size effects. Bottom-up and ‎top-down approaches for synthesis and ‎processing of nanomaterials. ‎Mechanical and physical properties of ‎nanomaterials. Methods for ‎characterizing the structure and ‎properties of nanomaterials. Emerging ‎applications for nanomaterials. Impact of ‎nanomaterials on the environment ‎and human health.

Pre-Requisites: MSE304

Technical and economic aspects of corrosion problems. Types ‎of corrosion; pitting, crevice, intergranular, galvanic and ‎stress corrosion cracking. Mechanisms and prevention of ‎corrosion failures. Cathodic protection of pipelines and ‎submerged structures. Principles of inhibition of corrosion in ‎process industries. Behavior of iron, copper, aluminum and ‎their alloys in corrosive environments. Metallurgical aspects ‎of corrosion. Design considerations in prevention of corrosion ‎failures.

Pre-Requisites: MSE201 Or MSE207 Or CHEM311 Or ME216

Principles of corrosion; forms of corrosion in oil and gas industries; corrosion in ‎petroleum production and operations; corrosion in petrochemical industry. ‎Corrosion detection and monitoring techniques. Corrosion inhibition ‎fundamentals, quality control, selection and application of oil field water ‎chemistry. Emulsion theory and selection. Control by coating offshore and ‎onshore installations. Economics of corrosion control in oil and gas industry‎.

Concepts of polymer sustainability. Biodegradation of polymers and approaches ‎toward synthesizing biodegradable polymers. Health impact of polymers and ‎various additives used in plastics industry. Managing plastic waste, recycling of ‎polymers and circular economy of polymers.

Pre-Requisites: MSE302

Basic concepts and laws in electrochemistry, electrolytes, electrodes, and ‎development of the potential differences in combining electrolytes with ‎electrodes. Applications of electrochemistry in materials science and technology: ‎electrodeposition of metals and alloys, electrochemistry of oxides and ‎semiconductors, corrosion and corrosion protection, intrinsically conducting ‎polymers, electrodialysis and salt splitting, and nanoelectrochemistry. ‎Electrochemistry for energy storage (materials for batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen ‎generation)‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE203 Or CHEM102

Principles of ultrasonic and elastic wave propagation; Ultrasonic transducers, and instrumentation; ‎Ultrasonic inspection techniques; Defects and material ultrasonic characterization; Introduction to ‎acoustic emission AE techniques; AE data collection and analysis; Industrial applications of AE; ‎Basic principles of magnetic particle inspection MPI; MPI techniques and equipment; Application ‎of MPI; Fundamental Eddy current concepts; Eddy current instrumentation, and inspection ‎principles; Techniques for liquid penetrant inspection, and applications; Fundamental theory of ‎radiation; Equipment, and inspection techniques for radiation testing; Selected radiographic ‎application; Radiation safety‎.

Materials science of semiconductors, micro/nanoelectronics technologies, device/circuit fabrication, parasitics and packaging. Unit processes will be the main focus of this course. Examples of these processes are: photo-lithography, deposition/growth of thin films, dry and wet chemical etching, ion implantation, and packaging techniques. Using these unit processes we will discuss their integration and examine existing process flows‎‏. ‏

Pre-Requisites: MSE304

Materials design, random-walk model, DFT, MD, interatomic ‎potentials, MC, KMC, mesoscopic methods, integrated ‎computational materials engineering.

Polymer characterization and analysis using various qualitative and quantitative ‎analytical instruments. Principles, applications, and limitations of the classical ‎analytical techniques required for analysis and characterizing of different kinds of ‎polymers. Analysis of molecular weight, mechanical properties, thermal ‎properties, in addition to spectral analysis. Interpretation of data collected using ‎different techniques of polymer analysis

Pre-Requisites: MSE302

Principles of phase transformations, heat treatment, and ‎mechanical properties as applied to ferrous and non-ferrous ‎metals and alloys. Heat treatment processes including: ‎normalizing, hardening, tempering, annealing, surface hardening. ‎Applications of heat treatment and surface hardening techniques‎.

Pre-Requisites: (MSE201 Or ME216) And MSE203 And MSE205

Metallurgical and engineering principles applied to melting, casting and solidification. Testing and ‎evaluation of castings; Foundry processes; Introduction to the metallurgy of welding; Material and ‎process selection, codes and specifications, weldment design and testing; Welding defects; Analysis ‎of industrial welding processes; Laboratory experience in foundry, production and evaluation of ‎weldments; Casting and welding demonstrations, experimentation and project(s) work will be ‎conducted in Casting and Welding areas of ME Workshop. Two industrial visits will be made‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE301

Review of crystal structures, dislocation and slip phenomena, ‎plastic deformation. Metals and alloy systems. Diffusion in solids ‎Strengthening mechanisms. Heat treatment of metals, phase ‎transformations. Metallurgical aspects of failure‎.

Pre-Requisites: MSE201 Or ME216

Thermodynamic, kinetics and chemical principles ‎involved in the extraction of non-ferrous metals. ‎Principles of pyro-metallurgical, hydrometallurgical and ‎electrometallurgical processes. Extraction of non-ferrous ‎elements from oxide, halide and sulphide ores. Refining ‎processes for non-ferrous metals‎.

Pre-Requisites: (MSE201 Or ME216) And MSE203 And MSE205

Introduction to extractive metallurgy of iron ore, Production of ‎pig iron. Modern trends in blast furnace practice. Alternative ‎routes of iron production. Kinetics of iron oxide reduction. ‎Production of plain carbon and alloy steels by various steel ‎making processes. Physical chemistry of steel making. Degassing ‎and secondary steel making. Solidification of steel ingots and ‎continuous casting of steel products. Production of ferroalloys‎‎.

Pre-Requisites: (MSE201 Or ME216) And MSE203 And MSE205

Water quality and standards. Physical and chemical processes for water ‎treatment. Natural and synthetic materials for water cleaning technologies: ‎desalination and treatment. Advanced ‎adsorbent materials and membranes.

Pre-Requisites: MSE205

A structure and framework for analyzing sustainable development and the role of materials in it. The links between materials, energy, and sustainability, approach to assessing a proposed articulation of sustainable technological development, The role of critical materials in important technological applications (electric cars as the future of clean personal transport, solar PV for low-carbon power..etc) Supply chain security of materials and the risk of disruption of material markets. A circular materials economy. Sustainability database‎.

Introduction about energy ‎storage (i.e., batteries), energy conversion (i.e., fuel cells) and ‎protection from corrosion (i.e., electrodeposition). Basics of electrochemical cells, ‎fundamentals of electrochemical thermodynamics, kinetics ‎and species, mass and heat transport. Examples of ‎electroanalytical techniques and electrochemical ‎technologies. ‎Electrochemical systems.

Pre-Requisites: MSE201 Or ME216

Stress/Strain relationships, yielding and fracture under combined stresses, linear elastic fracture mechanics, fatigue and time-dependant failure.

Methods of corrosion testing, prevention and control. Major factors that contribute to corrosion such as are metallurgical, environmental and mechanical factors.

The course introduces comminution, crushing, milling, classification, gravity concentration, separation methods (dense medium, magnetic and electrical), froth flotation, and dewatering. Topics are discussed presenting their typical implementation in mine sites. Flowsheets developed for different ore types. The course also provides an overview of extractive metallurgy (hydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy.

State-of-art topics in materials science and engineering. Prerequisite: To be set by the MSE Department

State-of-art topics in materials synthesis. Prerequisite: To be set by the MSE Department

Advanced topics in Materials Processing. Prerequisite: To be set by the MSE Department

State-of-art topics in advanced materials. Prerequisite: To be set by the MSE Department

A course for MSE senior students to be involved in one of the ongoing research projects under the supervision of MSE faculty. The course is intended to expose the student to the process of scientific research. The student is expected to acquire research skills and methodologies including formulation of a research plan, design and execution, laboratory techniques, data collection, assessment, analysis, and presentation. Work may be of experimental, theoretical, or design nature related to Materials Science and Engineering. Prerequisite: Senior Standing or Consent of the Instructor