Characterization of Materials

Catalog description

This course introduces commonly used approaches to study the microstructure, composition, and properties of materials. Both the physical principles and practical applications of these techniques are taught. Students will become familiar with property-driven and application-specific materials (for example, Silicon and Germanium, Graphene, metal alloys, glasses, and Alumina). Techniques cover the following areas: advanced testing of mechanical properties, composition and microstructure (XRD, grain size), spectroscopy (UV-VIS-IR), and microscopy (SEM-EDS, TEM). Labs, demonstrations, and video demonstrations of techniques will promote students familiarity beyond the theories. Relevant sample preparation techniques will also be covered and practiced. Modification and engineering of properties via mechanical processes, thermal processes, chemical processes, and additive manufacturing will be explored through a student-designed project.