MTE4102 · Advanced materials processing and manufacturing

Overview

This unit covers advanced processing and manufacturing technologies of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. The first part of this unit introduces the processing of cast and wrought metals, including casting, thermomechanical processing, welding and additive manufacturing of metallic materials. It also includes processing-microstructure-property relationships in the products produced by each of these processing technologies. The second part of the unit introduces ceramic processing technologies including green body shaping, solid-state sintering, liquid phase sintering and hot-pressing. It also examines additive manufacturing, sol-gel processing and thin-film growth for ceramic materials and the processing-microstructure property relationships for each of the technologies included. The third part deals with the processing and properties of polymers and shows how these aspects determine their use in particular applications. The rheology of polymers is discussed and the factors controlling viscosity are described and related to polymer processing. Designing with polymers for specific properties, processes and applications is included. For composites, the types of matrices and fibres/fillers are described as well as composite fabrication and the effect of reinforcement on properties.

Areas of study: E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Materials engineering E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - Specialisation: Materials engineering

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Continuous assessment: 70% Final assessment: 30% This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Appraise a range of materials processing and manufacturing technologies across the major material classes (including metals, polymers, ceramics and composites).
2. Justify the selection of appropriate processing and/or manufacturing technologies for complex applications.
3. Assess the results of processing and/or manufacturing processes via analysis of appropriate characterisation methods, and justify that assessment.
4. Draw on the relationships between processing/manufacturing, material structure and properties, as well as characterisation data and contextual factors, to suggest appropriate improvements for flawed processes.
5. Demonstrate advanced laboratory skills in the domain of materials processing, including the ability to plan experiments and justify methods.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-4 hours of scheduled learning activities and 8-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.