Semester 5 & 6

Material Field

MT 3.5 Microscopic approach

Module total : 92 hours (36 hrs Course/TD (*) + 24 hrs Practical work + 4 hrs Written assessments + 28 hrs Individual work) - 3 credits

Objectives

Introduction to the Science of Materials : the goal is to provide the tools necessary for understanding the properties of the different materials and to predict their behaviour.

• Acquire knowledge of the major families of materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites) in their structures and properties.
• Make the link between microscopic structures and macroscopic properties.

Pre-requisites and links to other modules
- Classification of different atoms, energy states of atoms, the material's architecture (crystallography, link types).
- Macroscopic thermodynamics.
- Concepts of probability.

Chapter 1 : Atomic and molecular architecture

- Electronic structure of the atom.

- Links.

- Organisation of a solid state (amorphous, crystal).

- Crystallography.

Chapter 2 : Elasticity and elastic limit

- Empirical approach (highlighting the concepts of constraint and deformation).

- Modelling of the elastic response of a system of two atoms.
- Generalisation of the model into the crystalline solid.
- Highlighting of the inadequacy of the model to predict the elasticity limits.

Chapter 3 : Crystalline defects. Diffusion

- Specific defects (gaps, impurities, solid solutions).
- Linear defects (dislocations) and the role of dislocations in the plastic deformation.

- Defects with two dimensions (external surfaces, surface energy, grain boundaries, twin crystals).
- Diffusion mechanisms (lacunar and interstitial) Fick's laws.

Chapter 4 : Plasticity and crystalline defect

Hardening : Effect of the microstructure. Effect of solid solution. Structural hardening.

Chapter 5 : Balance diagrams

- Definitions (phases, solvent, solute, solid solution, defined compound, etc.).

- Variance (Gibbs' phase rule).
- Rules for establishing and reading binary diagrams.

- Using diagrams (law of mass action...).
- Application to the iron-carbon diagram; micro-structure of steels and irons.

MT 3.6 Macroscopic approach

Module total : 92 hours (36 hrs Course/TD (*) + 24 hrs Practical work + 4 hrs Written assessments + 28 hrs Individual work) - 3 credits

Objectives

Implementation, sustainability, and new approaches. The goal is to take over the functions of materials from the tools acquired in the previous module. The different classes of materials are studied in order to be able to choose the appropriate materials for a given application and to know the constraints of the associated implementation.

• Make the link with the fields of application of the families of materials (metals, polymers, composites, ceramics) in the industrial field.
• Identify the strengths and limitations of the transformation and implementation processes as well as their impact on the finished products.

Pre-requisites and links to other modules : Module MT3.5

Chapter 1 : Heat treatment of metals

- Fields of transformation of austenitic.

- Diffusive transformations.
- Displacive transformations.
- Soaked isotherms (principle).

- Constitution and use of TTT abacus.

- Soaked with continuous cooling (principle).

- Constitution and use of TRC abacus.

- Yields.

- Re-heated.

- Hardenability (Test Jominy curve, depth of hardening).

Chapter 2 : Polymers

- Observation and characterisation of materials techniques.

- Polymer properties (physical, optical, thermal).

- Thermo-mechanical properties.
- Specific characterisation methods (DSC, DMA).

- Mechanisms of deformation (Lille site : to be verified).

- Rheology.

- Implementation techniques.

Chapter 3 : Composite materials

- Definition.
- The different types of reinforcements.

- The fibre interface matrix.

- Stratification.
- Implementation techniques.

Chapter 4 : Ceramics and glass

- Processing of ceramics (forming).

- Influence of sintering parameters.

- Sintering techniques.
- Comparison of crystallised and amorphous ceramics.

- Modes of rupture (fragile, deferred).
- Strengthening.

Chapter 6 : Preparation of ferrous alloys (overview)

- Obtaining cast iron from the ore (operating principle for the blast furnace).
- Converting  the iron.   
- Solidification of the steel (ingot and continuous casting, effervescence).  
- Morphologies of the products obtained.

Chapter 7: Corrosion

- General principles (reminders of oxidation-reduction). 
- Measurement techniques.
- The various forms of corrosion.
- Modes of prevention.

Chapter 8: Processing of polymers

- Structure (pellet statistics, tacticity, crystallisation by refolding of chains, spherules). 
- The big families of polymers (widespread dissemination, technical, speciality).
- Polymerisation reactions.
- Typology of products obtained according to the synthesis method (ThD, ThP).

Chapter 9 : Ceramics

- Definition / Properties / Fields of use. 
- Structural approach (including different forms of carbon).  
- Balance diagrams (ceramics).

Practical Work (6 sessions per site L/N/T

- TP1 : Construction of diagram of Bi-Sn phases  (L/N/T)        
- TP2 : Metallography (main structures of steels and irons) (L 8 hrs / N / T)        
- TP3 : Diffusion on Cu/Zn (N/T)        
- TP4 : Chemical analysis of an aluminium alloy (AU4G) (L)        
- TP5 : Measures by IRFT on polymers (with measures of thicknesses of thin films) (L)        
- TP6 : Synthesis of polyamide and characterisation (N/T)        
- TP7 : Hardening of aluminium alloys and evolution of the sizes of grain during traction (L/N)       
- TP8 : Ceramics (study of a thermistor) (T)          
- TP9 : Corrosion (T)        
- TP10 : Colorimetry (N)