The module aims to impart an appreciation of the central place that materials occupy in engineering; after all, engineers make things, and they make them out of materials. An engineer needs to make good choices in his/her selection of materials. To emphasise this, the module will take an application driven and design approach through the examination of a range of materials selection case studies and challenges, such as selecting materials for the hot end of a gas-turbine engine and preventing failure of aerospace structures. However, it is intended that students also gain an understanding of the complexity of materials, the origin of their properties, to know which material properties are intrinsic and which can be manipulated through manufacturing, processing and heat treatment.

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:
1. Relate experimental procedures and analysis to the wider engineering context.
2. Use information gathering, research, practical and communication skills to write a professional report.
3. Deduce from the function of the component, the required properties of a material, and the reason for selection of that material.
4. Analyse the performance of materials in various engineering contexts.

• Crystal structures, phases, introduction to phase diagrams, phase changes, solidification, glass transition, precipitation, grain growth, recrystallization.
• Recap of Ashby Materials Selection and Process Selection procedures.
• Eco- informed materials choice: resources; life cycle analysis; eco-attributes of materials; eco-informed materials selection.
• Preventing Failure and Degradation within the Gas Turbine Engine.
• High temperature oxidation, hot corrosion, creep of metals (compare with creep of polymers) thermal fatigue, erosion.

Seminar: Formal lectures with handouts and problem-solving sessions will further aid understanding of the subject studied and will also helps in developing essential practical skills. Guided tutorials examples and problems will provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their new skill and knowledge.

Lecture: Students design a unit operation, then learn how to add process control and measurement loops.

Self-directed learning: Students are expected to do both a revision of the material taught in class and some research on the relative bibliography.

Coursework: 40% weighting, 40% pass mark.
Learning Outcomes: 1 - 3.
Word Length: 1500.
Outline Details: Lab report.

Examination: 60% weighting, 40% pass mark.
Learning Outcomes: 2 - 4.
Outline Details: 2 hour closed book exam paper.

Formative assessment: Observations, Questioning, Discussion, Constructive Quizzes, Practice Lab Report, Practice Exam Papers.