MSE 523 Physical Ceramics (EE 523)

Sem. 2. Class 3, cr. 3. (Offered in alternate years).  Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing in engineering or science.

MSE 523 is an elective course

Weekly Schedule:  Three 50-minute lectures.

Physical and chemical processes responsible for microstructure development in modern ceramic materials, and the relationship between microstructures and physical properties. The material covered is divided into three parts: solid state processes, including structural defects, diffusion, sintering and grain growth, reaction rates, nucleation and growth, and microstructure development; mechanical and thermal behavior, including deformation, strength, thermal properties, and thermal and compositional stresses; and electrical and magnetic behavior, including electrical conductivity, dielectric properties, and magnetic properties. Offered in alternate years.

Relation of Course to Program Outcomes
1. an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to problems in materials engineering.
5. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, particularly in the context of materials selection and design.
7. an ability to exhibit effective oral and written communication skills.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course the student is expected to:
1. To understand the factors that influence the atomic scale structure of ceramic materials. Examples:

  • determine the first ten terms of the Madelung constant for simple ionic compounds
  • apply Pauling’s rules to predict the structure of simple ionic compounds.
  • apply Zachariesen’s rules to determine if a compound will form a continuous random network oxide glass.

2. To understand the origin of point defects and their influence on electrical properties of ceramics.  Examples:• distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic point defects and calculate their respective concentrations.

  • distinguish between ionic and electronic point defects and calculate their respective concentrations.
  • use Kröger-Vink rotation to establish mass, charge, and site balance in ionic compounds.
  • predict the influence of defect concentration on electrical conductivity.
  • predict the influence of defect concentration and diffusivity on ionic conductivity.
  • determine if either intrinsic or extrinsic point defects dominate conduction behavior.
  • determine if either ionic or electronic point defects dominate conduction behavior.

3. To understand how the mechanical properties of ceramics are characterized, and the influence of microstructure on mechanical properties.

  • calculate the strength of ceramics using the Griffith formulation.
  • correlate Weibull statistics to the strength and reliability of ceramics.
  • make qualitative correlations between ceramic microstructure and expected R-curve behavior.
  • make qualitative correlations between ceramic microstructure and high temperature creep and superplastic forming behavior.

Instructor
Elliott Slamovich, Lia Stanciu and John Blendell

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component:MSE 523 is a materials-specific technical elective course.

Prepared by: Elliott Slamovich                                                            Date: April 25th, 2007