MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy

This unit introduces the fundamental concepts required to understand materials synthesis and the issue of sustainability in processing and recycling.

The unit aims to: 

• Introduce thermodynamic concepts related to materials recycling, metal-ore reduction/oxidation/extraction, and ceramic materials production, with a focus on the energy cycle, sustainability and emissions footprint. 
• Introduce fundamental concepts in polymer science and a selection of commercially-important polymerisation methods.   
• Introduce the concept of redox reactions, the electro-chemical series, half cells, in relationship to metal extraction, batteries and fuel cells.

A greater depth of the learning outcomes are covered in the following sections:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Intellectual skills
• Practical skills
• Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Compare and contrast metal extraction methods from ores and oxides, with metal recycling and re-use.
• Explain the theory of redox reactions, electro-chemical half-cells, and demonstrate their application in electro-metallurgy, batteries and fuel cells.
• Describe and discuss fundamental concepts in polymer science and important uses, sources and recycling of polymers.
• Discuss and explain the principles and theory underlying important polymerisation methods.
• Possess the knowledge structure of ceramic materials properties and production processes.

• Draw the structures of common monomers, polymers and chemical reaction schemes for the preparation of polymers and perform calculations realting to the polymer synthesis reactions. 
• Differentiate the concepts related to recycling, extraction and energy balance.
• Discuss the issues related to energy production and storage by fuel cells and batteries.
• Evaluate the environmental impact of recycling. 
• Develop an awareness of the sustainability of resources.

• Develop an awareness of the practical aspects related to perforimng polymerisations and techniques to monitor and analyse the extent of reaction.
• Develop an awareness of the practical aspects related to perforimng simple electrochemical experiments such as: measuring cell potential, measure the current generated by a battery, prepare a simple reference electrode.

• Convert word problems into equations and numerical answers.
• Illustrate complex scientific phenomena graphically.
• Compose simple technical reports on laboratory tests. 

Summative Assessment

Exam: Marks available on student portal.

Coursework: Marked work returned to students within 15 working days of latest due date.

• “Engineering Materials 1: an introduction to properties, applications and design” M.F. Ashby and D.R.H. Jones, 2005 
• “Materials Science and Engineering” W.D. Callister, 2011 
• Electrochemistry for Materials Science, W.Plieth, Elsevier Science, 2007 
• Understanding Batteries, R.M. Dell, A.J.Rand, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001
• Fundamental of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, D.S.Ginley, D.Cahen, Cambridge Univeristy Press, 2011 
• Fuel cells systems explained. Second Edition, Laminie, Dicks,  2013
• Introduction to Polymers, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell,3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2011