Undergraduate - UnitMTE2542 - Microstructural development

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Thermal conductivity, heat transfer film coefficients. Non-steady state conduction; lumped systems. Convection and radiation. Casting, forging, hot rolling, injection moulding. Interstitial and substitutional diffusion. Carburization, homogenization. Nucleation and growth: homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, solid/liquid interface, growth of solid in liquid, growth of solid in solid. Solidification: coring; cells and dendrites; eutectics; segregation in ingots. Kinetics of phase transformations: TTT and CCT diagrams Evolution of microstructure/nanostructure: thermomechanical processing of steels and Al/Mg alloys; hardenability, quenching and tempering of steels, alloying elements.

Outcomes

1. To gain a knowledge on nucleation and growth of new phases in liquid and solid
2. A knowledge of mechanisms of diffusion and application of it in heat treatment
3. To develop an understanding of the evolution of microstructure during solidification of metals and alloys under both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions and the ability to interpret solidification microstructures in common alloy systems and relate them to the material properties
4. To acquire an elementary understanding of the basis for the design of engineering alloys and their microstructures
5. A knowledge and understanding of the thermo-mechanical treatment of engineering alloys with particular reference to steels
6. To develop an understanding of the effects of processing parameters on structure and properties of steels during their heat treatment and the ability to design simple processing schedules for common commercial steels.

Assessment

Laboratory work: 25%
Assignments: 25%
Examination (3 hours): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor George Simon

Contact hours

3 hours lecture/tutorial classes, 7.5 hours of private study per week and 18 hours laboratory classes per semester

Prerequisites

MTE2541or MSC2011

Prohibitions

MSC2122, MTE2502, MTE2503, MTE2504, MTE3502