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MAT_SCI 341: Introduction to Modern Ceramics

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Prerequisites

MAT SCI 316-1,2 or consent of instructor

Description

Applications of ceramic materials, with emphasis on structure (bond, crystal, glass, defect, micro-); properties (thermal, electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical); and processing (powders, forming, densification).

Course Outcomes

1. Students will be able to discriminate between traditional and advanced ceramics.
2. Students will be able to recognize and describe common ceramic crystal structures.
3. Students will be able to use defect notation/thermodynamics to explain the point defect chemistry of ceramics, including the use of Brouwer (Kröger-Vink) diagrams.
4. Students will be able to solve numerical problems concerning the transport properties (diffusion, conductivity), both ionic and electronic, of ceramic materials.
5. Students will understand the basics of ceramic processing, including sintering theory and grain growth.
6. Students will be able to solve numerical problems associated with mechanical properties (strength, toughness), including Weibull analysis.
7. Students will be able to describe key electrical, magnetic and optical applications of ceramic materials.

Relationship to Department Objectives http://www.matsci.northwestern.edu/mission.html

Supports 1, 3, 6, 14

Three-student teams research and make in-class computer-based presentations about a specific category of ceramics, roughly divided into: structure-property relationships, processing, and applications/market.

Textbook: "Fundamentals of Ceramics," M. W. Barsoum, ISBN: 978-0750309028 "Industrial Ceramics," T. O. Mason (electronic version)