Materials Science Fundamentals
How the structure of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites sets their properties: crystal structure, defects and diffusion, mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, failure, phase diagrams, heat treatment and materials selection.
Leads to: Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Chemist, Materials Scientist
Before you start
This course builds on Chemistry Fundamentals and Physics for Engineering & Science. Take them first if you are new to the topic.
About this course
An intermediate course for future civil, mechanical and materials engineers and chemists who have finished Chemistry Fundamentals and Physics for Engineering & Science. You will compare the main classes of materials, identify FCC, BCC and HCP crystal structures and compute a metal's density from its unit cell, explain how vacancies, dislocations and diffusion change properties, read a stress-strain curve for modulus, yield strength, tensile strength and ductility, compare thermal and electrical conductivity across materials, recognise fatigue, creep and fracture, read binary phase diagrams including the iron-carbon diagram, explain annealing, quenching and tempering, and finish by choosing a material with an Ashby-style performance index. Each lesson has a reading, free videos and a quiz; three have a short Python exercise where the code already runs and you write one key formula, and the last is a paper-based selection exercise. Property values in the lessons are typical figures for learning: real designs use certified data for the exact grade and condition and are reviewed by qualified, and where required licensed, engineers. Materials science careers usually need an accredited degree with hands-on laboratory work, which is beyond this course. Nothing here asks you to heat-treat, cut or test materials at home.
Course content
Module 1
Structure of Materials
3 lessons · 1h 30mMeet the four classes of materials and see how atoms arrange themselves in crystals, and how defects and diffusion in those crystals control properties.
- 12mClasses of materialsReading
Compare metals, ceramics, polymers and composites and link their properties to bonding.
- 36mCrystal structureReading
Identify FCC, BCC and HCP structures and compute a metal's density from its unit cell.
- 42mDefects and diffusionReading
Explain how vacancies, dislocations and grain boundaries change properties, and how atoms diffuse in solids.
Module 2
Properties
3 lessons · 1hRead a stress-strain curve, compare thermal and electrical behaviour across material classes, and recognise how materials fail by fatigue, creep and fracture.
- 26mMechanical propertiesReading
Read a stress-strain curve for modulus, yield strength, tensile strength, ductility and toughness.
- 16mThermal and electrical propertiesReading
Compare thermal conductivity, thermal expansion and electrical conductivity across the classes of materials.
- 18mFailure: fatigue, creep, fractureReading
Recognise ductile and brittle fracture, fatigue and creep from the features of a broken part.
Module 3
Processing and Selection
3 lessons · 2h 12mUse phase diagrams to predict microstructure, see how heat treatment changes steel, and choose a material for a job with performance indices and Ashby charts.
- 42mPhase diagramsReading
Read a binary phase diagram with tie lines and the lever rule, including the iron-carbon diagram.
- 47mHeat treatmentReading
Explain annealing, quenching and tempering of steel and precipitation hardening of aluminium.
- 43mMaterials selectionReading
Choose a material for a job with performance indices and an Ashby-style chart.