Engineering Materials

Have attended the curricular unit of Chemistry and Fundamentals of Materials Science.

Teaching methodology is based 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.
In conducting these sessions, 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 carry out experimental works in small groups, comprising the use of metallography techniques, the interpretation of microstructures and the performance of thermal treatments.

The main objectives of the course unit are: To enhance knowledge about the composition, structure, properties, applications and processing of different engineering materials; To provide hands-on experience in the use of metallographic techniques and interpretation of microstructures, as well as in the conduction of common heat treatments.
The completion of this unit will enable to achieve, or contribute to achieving, the following competences: Capacity to describe and understand the structure, specific properties, potential applications and processing methods of a
wide range of engineering materials; Ability to perform different heat treatments and understand their effects;
Ability to use experimental techniques for the characterisation of materials; Capacity to report, analyse and discuss experimental results; Capacity to search, select, organise and communicate information; Ability to work in small groups.

Production of iron and steel.
Iron-carbon phase diagram; equilibrium microstructures of iron-carbon alloys.
Classification of steels.
Non-alloy steels: mechanisms of austenite transformation; mechanical properties of steel constituents; relations between steel microstructure and mechanical properties.
Alloy steels: distribution of alloying elements in steels; effects of alloying elements on the iron-carbon phase diagram; influence of alloying elements on steel microstructure.
Heat treatment of steels: austenite transformation diagrams and influence of alloying elements; annealing; normalising; quench hardening; tempering; surface hardening treatments.
Cast irons: white cast irons; grey cast irons; nodular cast irons; malleable cast irons.
Non-ferrous metals and alloys.
Introduction to metallography.
Polymeric materials: structure, properties, applications and processing.
Ceramic materials: structure, properties, applications and processing.
Composite materials.

NAO