Fundamentals of Materials Science

An introduction to the fundamental concepts of bonding, crystalline structure, crystal defects and short range order as they relate to polymers, metals and ceramics. Nucleation and growth, equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase transformations and solidification on non- crystalline systems will be discussed. This will be followed by discussion of the mechanical properties of materials (fatigue, creep, elastic and plastic behavior, stress relaxation, etc.) and their relationship to structure. Alloy theory and other strengthening mechanisms, including composite theory, will be dealt with at an introductory level. The thermodynamics and kinetics of surfaces undergoing oxidation and aqueous corrosion will be discussed.