Materials

There is no recommended basic knowledge.

The course unit is organised in lectures, theoretical-practical lessons and laboratory practices. The lecturing sessions are primarily dedicated to presenting contents, using the board and the projection of slides with auxiliary pictures, diagrams, schemes or tables. In conducting these classes, student participation is often raised by formulating questions that lead them to reflect on the subject matter and create opportunities for clarifying concepts. It is reserved for the theoretical-practical lessons the presentation and exploitation of specific parts of the unit syllabus whose nature provides a more applied and interactive approach. In practical classes, students take contact with components of different materials and get acquainted with equipments and experimental methods used in the evaluation of mechanical properties.
Tensile tests are carried out on metallic and polymeric materials and the main mechanical properties are calculated based on the force/elongation curve.
Brinell, Rocckwell and Vickers hardness tests are carried out on different metallic materials.
Charpy impact tests are carried out on different metallic materials.

The main objectives of this course unit are:

The main objectives of the course unit (CU) are to: familiarise students with different types of engineering materials, their properties, and typical applications; provide fundamental training in materials science, necessary for understanding the relationships between the composition, structure, and properties of materials; introduce students to the experimental methods most commonly used to evaluate the mechanical properties of materials; and provide an understanding of the forming principles most widely used for the different classes of materials.The course unit also aims to develop a more in-depth knowledge of steels, relating the knowledge acquired to the industrial applications of these materials.

Upon completion of this unit, the students should be able to: Know a wide range of engineering materials and their classification; Describe the structure and general properties of the main classes of materials; Understand fundamental aspects of the relationships between composition, structure and properties of materials; Know and understand specific properties and potential applications of the most common engineering materials; Perform tests to evaluate mechanical properties of materials and interpret their results.

1. Introduction to Materials
The importance of materials in Engineering. Materials Science and Engineering.
Relationship between the chemical composition, structure, properties and processing of materials.
The role of materials in the circular economy.

2. Mechanical Properties of Materials
Elastic and plastic stress and strain; Tensile test and determination of mechanical properties from the force-elongation curve. Understanding the concepts of modulus of elasticity, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, work hardening, ductility and toughness.
Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers hardness test.
Fracture of materials – impact tests.
Practical demonstration of tensile, hardness, and impact testing on materials from different classes.

3. Classification of Materials and Main Characteristics
Characterization of classes and subclasses of materials and the main properties that characterize them:
Metallic materials;
Ceramic materials;
Polymeric materials;
Composite materials;
Properties and industrial application of the most representative materials of each class.

4. Materials Processing
Relationship between the mechanical properties of materials and the manufacturing processes most suitable for their forming.
Forming principles of the main processing techniques for metallic, polymeric, ceramic, and composite materials.

5. Iron-Carbon Alloy equilibrium diagram
Metal alloys, amorphous and crystalline structures, grain size and mono and polycrystalline structures.
Equilibrium diagrams of the Fe-C alloy system and classification of steels and cast irons.
Solubility of carbon in iron and compounds formed under equilibrium conditions.
Transformation of austenite into equilibrium microstructures.
Relationship between composition, microstructure, mechanical properties and industrial applications of steels.

6. Characterization of Steels
Classification of steels according to their chemical composition: non-alloyed and alloyed steels; other classifications.
Microstructures resulting from the transformation of austenite with and without diffusion: Perlic, Martensitic and bainitic transformation.
Alloyed steels: Distribution of alloying elements and Influence of alloying elements on steel properties.
Heat Treatment of Steels: Annealing, queching and tempering heat treatments.
Surface hardening heat treatments.

• The evaluation will be carried out through an distributed evaluation throughout the semester with 2 assessment periods. The first assessment test will be held in the middle of the semester and will cover the content taught up to that point.. The second assessment test carried out at the end of the semester, before the exam period, and will cover the content taught up to that point.

• The answer to questions presented in T/TP classes and the attendance of at least 75% of the laboratory classes, will be counted with a grade up to a maximum of 1 value, counted only in the academic year in question and in all evaluation periods carried out.

•The final grade for the distributed assessment will be the average of the grades obtained in the 1st and 2nd tests, calculated for 20 points, plus the assessment related to the questions presented in class and the frequency of practical classes (max. 1 point).

• Students who do not pass in the distributed assessment, or who do not take it, may be assessed during their respective exam periods. For students who are eligible for assessment based on the questions presented and attendance at practical classes, the final exam grade, calculated to a maximum of 20 points, will be increased by the assessment for the questions presented in class and attendance at practical classes (max. 1 point).

• Exams performed outside the assessment periods provided for in the school calendar may take the form of an oral exam.

NAO