PhD Materials Engineering

1. Aim and Objectives:

The aim of the programme is to provide training and experiential opportunities that facilitate the learning and mastery of domain-specific knowledge in materials engineering by applying the principles of basic sciences and engineering in understanding the behaviour of materials, their development and applications.

 

The objectives of the programme are to train people with:

1. Broad-based knowledge in materials engineering and specific knowledge relevant to their own research interests, including theories and methods of intervention.
2. Ability to make original and significant contributions to the scientific knowledge base in their area of research.
3. Ability to engage in a productive research career, including publications, grant writing and conference presentations.
4. Ability to provide engineering leadership in industrial, governmental, and academic settings, while serving both their profession and the public

 

2. Entry Requirements for Admission of Students:

The following shall be the admission requirements for prospective students:

1. An MSc./MPhil degree or its equivalent in any engineering background or any field of specialization relevant to the programme from a recognized University.
2. For non-English speaking applicants, arrangements are in place with the Department of Languages for the acquisition of the necessary English language skills prior to embarking on the programme.

 

3. Requirements for Graduation:

A candidate shall be deemed to have qualified for the award of the PhD Materials Engineering degree when he/she has:

1. Passed all required courses and obtained a minimum of 40 credit hours,
2. Achieved a minimum cumulative weighted average of 55.00,
3. Completed a research work leading to an examinable dissertation,
4. Published (or accepted) TWO (2) journal articles from his/her research work in an acceptable journal, and
5. Satisfied all other requirements of the School of Graduate Studies, KNUST.

 

 

4. Components of the Programme:

Provide details of the curriculum and mode of delivery to include the following:

 

The doctoral degree requires students to take a minimum of 40 hours of graduate level courses. Any student who has earned a recognisable MSc degree with at least 28 hours of graduate level courses applicable to the proposed doctoral program, may be allowed to transfer these hours of credit on approval by the student’s Advisory Committee, and the Graduate Program Coordinator. A minimum core requirement of the remaining 12 credit hours must be Special Electives (related to the student’s research area and approved by the Advisory Committee) chosen from the PhD Materials Engineering programme, special designed independent studies with contents designed by the Advisory Committee, or other graduate courses available in the University which are relevant to the student’s research. These courses must be taken during the first year of study.

 

The focus of the programme is on research. Students will be required to present a synopsis for their project work during the first semester of their study. A comprehensive examination will be conducted at the end of the first year of study. Students will be examined on all types of materials including the process-structure-property-performance of different engineering materials. Students are required to obtain a minimum mark of 50 % in each of the areas. Any student who fails any of the areas has another chance to re-sit the examinations and pass. The remaining years will be devoted to their research work that will lead to the compilation of a dissertation. The research work will be supervised by an advisory committee and examined by a panel from within and outside KNUST. Students will also be required to attend seminars given by professionals from industry and take part in field trips organized as part of the programme.

 

1. 1. Required (core) course(s)

SN	Course Code	Title
1.	MSE 551	Thermodynamics of Materials
2.	MSE 552	Interfacial Thermodynamics and Kinetics
3.	MSE 553	Defects, Diffusion and Transformation of Materials
4.	MSE 554	Advanced Materials Characterization
5.	MSE 555	Solid State Theories of Materials
6.	MSE 556	Materials in Sustainable Development
7.	MSE 557	Research Methods
8.	MSE 558	Mathematical, Statistical, and Computational Techniques in Materials Science
9.	MSE 559	Engineering Materials
10.	MSE 560	Phase Equilibria and Kinetics

 

1. 2. Special Elective course(s)

SN	Course Code	Title
11	MSE 751	Nanomaterials in Pavement Construction
12	MSE 752	Nanoscale Optoelectronics
13	MSE 753	Supercapacitors
14	MSE 754	Design Against Failure
15	MSE 755	Cyclic Voltammetry at Solid/Liquid Interface
16	XXX XXX	Open Graduate Level Electives

 

1. 3. Research component

SN	Course Code	Title
17	MSE 851	Seminar I
18	MSE 852	Seminar II
19	MSE 853	Thesis I
20	MSE 854	Thesis II

 

 

1. 4. Semester-by-semester structure/schedule of course, showing the credit value of each course

 

YEAR ONE – SEMESTER ONE

Core Courses

Table 1: Core Courses to be taken by students in the First Semester

Course Code	Title	T	P	C
MSE 551	Thermodynamics of Materials	3	0	3
MSE 553	Defects, Diffusion and Transformation of Materials	3	0	3
MSE 555	Solid State Theories of Materials	3	0	3
MSE 557	Research Methods	3	1	3
MSE 559	Engineering Materials	3	1	3
Sub-Total		15	2	15

 

Elective Courses

Table 2: Elective Courses to be taken by students (Select at least one)

Course Code	Title	T	P	C
MSE 751	Nanomaterials in Pavement Construction	1	4	3
MSE 753	Supercapacitors	1	4	3
MSE 755	Cyclic Voltammetry at Solid/Liquid Interface	1	4	3
XXX XXX	Open Electives	x	x	x
Sub-Total		2	y	6
Total		16	z	20

 

 

YEAR ONE – SEMESTER TWO

Core Courses

Table 3: Core Courses to be taken by students in the Second Semester

Course Code	Title	T	P	C
MSE 552	Interfacial Thermodynamics and Kinetics	3	0	3
MSE 554	Advanced Materials Characterization	3	1	3
MSE 556	Materials in Sustainable Development	3	0	3
MSE 558	Mathematical, Statistical, and Computational Techniques in Materials Science	3	0	3
MSE 560	Phase Equilibria and Kinetics	2	0	2
Sub-Total		14	1	14

 

 

 

 

Elective Courses

Table 4: Elective Courses to be taken by students (Select at least one)

Course Code	Title	T	P	C
MSE 752	Nanoscale Optoelectronics	1	4	3
MSE 754	Design Against Failure	1	4	3
XXX XXX	Open Electives	x	x	x
Sub-Total		2	y	6
Total		16	z	20

 

 

YEAR TWO – SEMESTER ONE

Table 1: Courses to be taken by students in the second year

SN	Course Code	Title	T	P	C
1	MSE 851	Seminar III	0	4	2
2	MSE 853	Thesis III	0	12	6
		Sub-Total	0	16	8

 

YEAR TWO – SEMESTER TWO

Table 2: Courses to be taken by students in the Second Semester

SN	Course Code	Title	T	P	C
1	MSE 852	Seminar IV	0	4	2
2	MSE 854	Thesis IV	0	12	6
		Sub-Total	0	16	8
	Total		0	32	16

 

 

YEAR THREE – SEMESTER ONE

Table 3: Courses to be taken by students in the second year

SN	Course Code	Title	T	P	C
1	MSE 855	Seminar III	0	4	2
2	MSE 857	Thesis III	0	12	6
		Sub-Total	0	16	8

 

 

YEAR THREE – SEMESTER TWO

Table 4: Courses to be taken by students in the Second Semester

SN	Course Code	Title	T	P	C
1	MSE 856	Seminar IV	0	4	2
2	MSE 858	Thesis IV	0	12	6
		Sub-Total	0	16	8
	Total		0	32	16

 

 

5. Course Description:

 

MSE 551 THERMODYNAMICS OF MATERIALS (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• use the Laws of Thermodynamics to predict material property relationship
• understand, model and appreciate concept of dynamics involved in thermal energy transformation
• understand the theory underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Build an appreciation for the fundamentals and practical applications of classical thermodynamics.
• Significantly enhance the understanding of thermodynamic principles and their relevance to the problems of humankind.
• Provide the student with experience in applying thermodynamic principles to predict physical phenomena and to solve engineering problems.

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Structure of thermodynamics, Reviews of the laws of thermodynamics, Material property relationships, Chemical equilibrium in reactions, Solid solutions and phase diagram enunciations, Reaction kinetics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, Statistical thermodynamics, Introduction to computational thermodynamics, ionic liquids.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture based course. Courses will be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List

• Y. A. Cengel, M. A. Boles; Thermodynamics – An Engineering Approach, 4th Ed., Tata McGraw Hill Education Pvt. Ltd., 2012.
• P. K Nag, Engineering Thermodynamics, 4th Ed., Tata McGraw Hill Education Pvt. Ltd.,.; 2008.
• E. Radhakrishna; Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics; Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2nd Ed.; 2011.
• D. R. Gaskell, D. E. Laughlin; Introduction to the Thermodynamics of Materials; CRC press, 6th Ed.; 2017.
• T. Matsushita, K. Mukai; Chemical Thermodynamics in Materials Science; Springer Singapore, 2018.
• R. Dehoff; Thermodynamics in Materials Science; CRC Press, 2^nd Ed., 2006.
• R. Swendsen, An Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Oxford University Press, 2020 (9780198853237).

 

 

MSE 552 INTERFACIAL THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• understand the science and technology of interfacial phenomena and processes often appeared in high value added products and modern technologies.
• identify the hierarchy of the instabilities on surfaces and examine their roles in driving microstructural transformations both from the point of view of creating a desired microstructure through processing
• identify specific microstructure features that limit the microstructure during service.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• understand interfacial phenomena and their origin from molecular details
• solve problems in interfacial science and technology by applying knowledge of general chemistry, thermodynamics, and kinetics
• be familiarized with technologies that require application of interfacial science, including nanomaterials, nanotechnology, detergency, composite polymers, and porosimetry

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Surface Gibbs free energy and surface tension: surface and interface, nature of interface, specific surface area, dispersion and specific surface area, surface work, surface free energy, surface tension, factors of surface tension; Additional pressure and vapor pressure at curved surfaces: additional pressure, Young-Laplace equation, Kelvin equation; Liquid surface: spreading, surfactant, non-surface active material, Gibbs adsorption equation, positive and negative adsorption; Insoluble surface film; Solid-liquid interface: work of adhesion, work of immersion, work of cohesion, spreading coefficient, contact angle; Surfactant and its function; Adsorption on soild surface: adsorbent, adsorbate, adsorption quantity, Langmuir Equation, Freundlich Equation and BET Equation; Adsorption heat; Corrosion thermodynamics and kinetics.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture based course. Courses would be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List

• B. S. Bokstein, M. I. Mendelev, D. J. Srolovitz, Thermodynamics and Kinetics in Materials Science – A Short Course, Oxford University Press, 2005 (9780198528043)
• G. Barnes and I. Gentle, Interfacial Science: An Introduction, 2^nd Edition, Oxford University Press, 2011 (9780199571185).
• V. I. Dybkov, An introduction to interfacial science and kinetics, PMS Publications, 2016.
• J. M. Howe, Interfaces in Materials: Atomic Structure, Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Solid-Vapor, Solid-Liquid and Solid-Solid Interfaces, Wiley & Sons, 1^st Ed., 1997 (978-0471138303).
• E. S. Machlin, An Introduction to Aspects of Thermodynamics and Kinetics Relevant to Materials Science. Elsevier, 3^rd Ed., 2007 (9780080466156)
• J. T. Davies, Interfacial Phenomena, Elsevier, 1963 (9780323161664)
• D. E. J. Talbot and J. D. R. Talbot, Corrosion Science and Technology, Taylor & Francis Group, 3^rd Ed., 2018 (9781351259910).

 

 

MSE 553 DEFECTS, DIFFUSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF MATERIALS (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• understand phase transformations in materials to tailor the microstructure and properties of materials with emphasis and examples on polymeric, metallic, and ceramic materials.
• present much needed underlying principles governing materials developments.
• understand basic theory of the interaction of defects, general laws of phase transformation and mutual effects between composition, microstructure and macroproperties of engineering materials such as metallic alloys and ceramics.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• discuss the relationship between atomic structure of materials and microstructure evolution on the basis of transport processes.
• apply the principles of phase transformation for microstructure design and property improvements.
• apply the principles of phase transformation for selection of materials and processes.

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Basic crystallography and thermodynamics, defect classification in different crystals, defects in non-crystalline materials, packing of macromolecules in polymer crystals, defects and disorder in polymer crystals, mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties of defects, defect characterization techniques, Fick’s first and second laws, Intrinsic and integrated diffusion coefficient, Tracer and growth kinetics, Matano-Boltz analysis, Kirkendall effect, Darken analysis, Physico-chemical approach of diffusion, Introduction to basic kinetics of transformation, interfacial and homogeneous nucleation, nucleation and growth, coarsening and the Gibbs-Thompson equation, Diffusion and diffusionless transformations.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture based course. Courses would be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

 

Reading List:

• D. A. Porter, K. E. Easterling, M. Sherif, Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys, 3^rd Edition, Chapman & Hall, 2009; (ISBN: 9781420062106).
• P. Haasen, Physical Metallurgy, 3^rd Edition, Cambridge University Press, 1996 (ISBN: 978-0521559256).
• H. Mehrer, Diffusion in Solids: Fundamentals, Methods, Materials, Diffusion-Controlled Processes. Vol. 155. Springer Science & Business Media, 2007.
• J. W. Christian, The Theory of Transformation in Metals and Alloys, Pergamon, 2002 (ISBN: 978-0-08-044019-4).
• D. Hull, D. J. Bacon, Introduction to Dislocations. Elsevier, 5^th Ed., 2011 (ISBN:978-0080966724)
• H.I. Aaronson, M. Enomoto, and J.K. Lee, Mechanisms of diffusional phase transformations in metals and alloys. CRC Press, 1^st Ed., 2016.
• C. De Rosa and F. Auriemma, Crystals and crystallinity in polymers: diffraction analysis of ordered and disordered crystals, John Wiley & Sons; 2013 (9780470175767).

 

MSE 554 ADVANCED MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION (3, 1, 3)

Course Objective

The objectives of the course are to:

• Understand the characterization methods used for state-of-the-art materials
• understand the principles of optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and various spectroscopic techniques
• appreciate the results from characterization methods and their reliability
• appreciate the multiscale and multidisciplinary nature of materials

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• apply appropriate characterization techniques for microstructure examination at different magnification level and use them to understand the microstructure of various materials
• choose and appropriate electron microscopy techniques to investigate microstructure of materials at high resolution
• determine crystal structure of specimen and estimate its crystallite size and stress 4. use appropriate spectroscopic technique to measure vibrational / electronic transitions to estimate parameters like energy band gap, elemental concentration, etc.
• apply thermal analysis techniques to determine thermal stability of and thermodynamic transitions of the specimen

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Materials characterization methods based on microscopy, chemical, physical and structural analyses and thermal techniques. X-ray Diffraction, Infra-Red Spectroscopy, Light Microscopy, Image Acquisition Analysis and Processing, Electron Interactions, Scanning Electron Microscopy – The Use of Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Chemical Analysis in Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Probe Microscopies, Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Microscopy, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Ion Beam Analysis, Differential Thermal Analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lectures would be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering. Laboratory work will be organized to allow students to develop skills in experimentation and data handling.

 

Reading List:

• L. Lin, A. Kumar, S. Zhang, Materials Characterization Techniques; CRC Press, (2008).
• B. D. Cullity, R. S. Stock, Elements of X-Ray Diffraction, Prentice-Hall, (2001)
• M. B. Douglas, Fundamentals of Light Microscopy and Electronic Imaging, Wiley-Liss, Inc. USA, (2001).
• A. K. Tyagi, M. Roy, S. K. Kulshreshtha, S. Banerjee, Advanced Techniques for Materials Characterization, Materials Science Foundations (monograph series), Volumes 49 – 51, (2009).
• S. K. Sharma, D. S. Verma, L. U. Khan, S. Kumar, S. B. Khan, Editors, Handbook of Materials Characterization, Springer International Publishing, 2018 (ISBN: 9783319929545).
• Y. Leng, Materials Characterization: Introduction to Microscopic and Spectroscopic Methods, John Wiley & Sons, 2^nd Ed., 2013 (ISBN: 9783527334636).
• M. Sardela, Practical Materials Characterization, Springer, 2014 (ISBN: 978-1-4614-9281-8).

 

MSE 555 SOLID STATE THEORIES OF MATERIALS (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• predict the properties and interactions of chemical substances by understanding their composition at the atomic level, making connections to structure, bonding, and thermodynamics as necessary.
• determine and apply principles of materials science (specifically microstructure design and selection) to the selection of materials for specific engineering applications.
• understand and identify the similarities and differences among important classes of materials including glasses, metals, polymers, biomaterials, and semiconductors.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• develop a clear concept of the crystal classes and symmetries and to understand the relationship between the real and reciprocal space.
• Explain the theoretical foundations of our current understanding of magnetism in condensed matter
• apply the free electron theory to solids to describe electronic behaviour

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Atomic bonding, crystal structure and defects in relation to properties and behaviour of materials (polymers, metals, and ceramics), Solids, elastic, inelastic and plastic deformation, Solid state processing, properties, and benefits, Electronic and magnetic properties of materials, Application of electrode potential, Double layer theory, Surface charge, and electrode kinetics to subjects that include corrosion and embrittlement, energy conversion, batteries, and fuel cells, electro catalysis, and water treatment; Quantum mechanics, fundamentals with emphasis on difference between classical and quantum mechanics, particles in an infinite potential, quantum mechanics tunnelling.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture-based course to be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List:

• C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, 8th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2005
• H. Ibach, H. Lüth, Solid State Physics: An Introduction to Principles of Materials Science, 4th Edition, Springer-Verlag, 2009.
• M. Cini, Elements of Classical and Quantum Physics, Springer, 2018 (978-3-319-71330-4).
• J. Singleton, Band Theory and Electronic Properties of Solids. Oxford University Press, 1^st Ed., 2001 (978-0198506447).
• R. Dronskowski, Computational Chemistry of Solid State Materials, John Wiley & Sons, 1^st Ed., 2005 (ISBN: 978-35227314102)
• U. Rössler, Solid State Theory: An Introduction. Springer Science & Business Media, 2^nd Ed., 2009 (978-3642425301).

 

MSE 556 MATERIALS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• understand concepts related to energy, energy distribution as well as definition of non-renewable and renewable energy sources
• understand the available techniques that are most effective in developing activities and methods of waste operation
• provide students with thorough knowledge and clear understanding of the sustainability concept
• provide students with state-of-the-art knowledge on sustainable technologies and sustainable engineering industry.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• have a general knowledge of sustainability
• have specialised knowledge on sustainable technology and sustainability related to material engineering.
• to handle specific problems concerning sustainability and material engineering

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Technology in recycling materials, renewable materials, material for efficiency, materials for waste treatment, materials for  reduction  of environmental load, materials for ease disposal or recycle, hazardous free materials, materials for  reducing human  health impacts, materials for energy efficiency and materials for green energy, Economic and Environmental Issues in Materials Selection, Materials Selection Concepts, Fundamental of Engineering Economics, Principles of life cycle analysis.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture-based course to be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

Reading List:

• M. Ashby, Materials and sustainable development, 1st Edition, Elsevier Ltd, 2015 (ISBN: 978-0-08-100176-9)

• S. Ahmed, A. Ikram, Green Polymeric Materials: Advances and Sustainable Development, 2017 (ISBN: 978-1-53612-252-7)
• M. F. Ashby, Materials and the Environment: Eco-informed Material Choice, Eco-informed Material Choice Series, 2^nd Edition, Elsevier (2013).
• E. K. Petrović, B. Vale, and M. P. Zari, Materials for a Healthy, Ecological and Sustainable Built Environment. Elsevier, 2017.
• M. N. V. Prasad, and K. Shih, (Eds.), Environmental Materials and Waste: Resource Recovery and Pollution Prevention, Academic Press, 2016 (978-0-12-803837-6).
• M. Calkins, Materials for Sustainable Sites: A Complete Guide to the Evaluation, Selection, and Use of Sustainable Construction Materials, John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

 

MSE 557 RESEARCH METHODS (2, 0, 2)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• Develop working knowledge of how knowledge is collected, presented and, disseminated
• Learn the ethical, political, and pragmatic issues involved in the research process
• Discover where and how to find and evaluate social science research
• Gain a practical understanding of the various methodological tools used for social scientific research
• Learn to collect, analyse and interpret research data

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Apply a range of quantitative and / or qualitative research techniques in solving engineering problems
• Understand and apply research approaches, techniques and strategies in the appropriate manner for engineering decision making
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of data analysis and interpretation in relation to the research process
• Conceptualise the research process
• Develop necessary critical thinking skills in order to evaluate different research approaches utilised in engineering industries

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Introduction to Research: Research Concepts, Research Ethics and Integrity. Quantitative Research Methods: The Scientific Method, Design of Quantitative Surveys. Qualitative Research: Introduction to Qualitative Research and Research Approaches, Qualitative Research Methods, Data Analysis and Theory in Qualitative Research Articles. Mixed-Methods Design: Introduction to Mixed Methods Research, Design of Mixed Methods Research, Evaluation of Mixed Methods Research. Experimental design for various setups. Statistical Tools. Scientific Report Writing.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture-based course to be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

 

 

Reading List

• J. W. Creswell, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approach. 4th Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2014
• M. Balnaves, P. Caputi Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods: An Investigative Approach. London, SAGE Publications Ltd., 2007
• P. D. Leedy, J. E. Ormrod, Practical Research – Planning and Design, 9th edition, Pearson Education Ltd., 2009.
• M. L. Pattern, M. Newhart, Understanding Research Methods, An Overview of the Essentials. Routledge, 10^th Ed., 2018.
• K. A. Adams, E. K. Lawrence, Research Methods, Statistics, and Applications, Sage Publications, 2^nd Ed., 2019.
• B. C. Sharma, Scientific and Technical Reports: How to Write and Illustrate, Alpha Science, 2014 (978-1842658871).

 

 

MSE 558 MATHEMATICAL, STATISTICAL, AND COMPUTATIONAL TECHNIQUES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE (3, 0, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• learn the applications of mathematical, statistical, and computational techniques in Materials Science and Engineering
• effectively use statistical and computational tools for modelling materials processes, microstructures, and properties.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• apply statistical and computational methods in solving engineering problems
• model material microstructure and properties using computational methods

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Mathematical Techniques including Vectors and Tensors Applications, Optimization and Extremums and Applications, Operational Mathematics and Applications, Numerical and Computational Techniques including Numerical Methods and Applications, Computational Modelling and Applications, Finite Element Modelling and Finite Difference, Statistical Methods and Applications.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture-based course to be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List:

• L. E. Malvern, Introduction to Mechanics of a Continuous Medium, 1st Edition, Prentice Hall, 1997
• E. Kreyszig, Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 8th Edition, John Wiley, 1998.
• T. Goudon, Mathematics for Modeling and Scientific Computing. John Wiley & Sons, 2016 (978-1-119-37127-4).
• D. P. F. Moller, Mathematical and Computational Modelling and Simulation, Springer, 2004 (978-3-642-18709-4).
• M. V. Júnior, E. A. de Souza Neto, and P. A. Munoz-Rojas, Eds., Advanced Computational Materials Modeling: From Classical to Multi-Scale Techniques. John Wiley & Sons, 2011
• E. Prince, Mathematical Techniques in Crystallography and Materials Science. Springer Science & Business Media, 3^rd Ed., 2012.
• D. J. Keffer, A Practical Introduction to Applied Statistics for Materials Scientists and Engineers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 1^st Ed., 2015

 

 

MSE 559 ENGINEERING MATERIALS (3, 1, 3)

Course Objective

The objectives of the course are to:

• Familiarize the student with the properties of metal, ceramic, polymer and composite engineering materials.
• Investigate methods of materials protections and alteration of materials properties.
• Learn the fundamental differences in material behavior of polymers and ceramics compared with metal alloys, and how those differences must be factored into design considerations.
• Become familiar with testing standards and equipment for determining properties and design limits for metal alloys, as well as common polymers and ceramics.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Identify characteristic properties of engineering materials made of metals, ceramics and polymers, relate the material properties to their chemical make-up and structure and how these can be changed;
• Explain the effect of heat treatment in material property alteration.
• Explain the interrelationships between processing, structure, properties, and performance for various engineering materials such as metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and semiconductors.
• Discuss and calculate mechanical properties, chemical properties, electrical properties, thermal properties, and magnetic properties for various engineering materials.
• Propose an appropriate material for a particular application based on design and performance criteria, material properties, economics, and societal and environmental impacts.

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Chemical and physical properties of engineering materials; mechanical properties and behaviours of materials; ferrous metals and their properties; changing steel properties by heat treatment; nonferrous metals and their properties; polymers and their properties; glass and ceramic materials; relationship between stress and strains in the elastic regime of materials, theories of plasticity and failure; physics of deformation and its interaction with the microstructure; different mechanisms of strengthening of metals through grain refining, alloying with interstitial and substitutional solutes, precipitates, second-phase, etc.; temperature dependence of polymer mechanical properties, and failure mechanisms such as yielding, crazing, creep and stress rupture; material models for evaluating viscoelastic deformations; evaluation of time-dependent response from Kelvin, Maxwell, Zener, and four parameter models; curve fitting of relaxation stresses using Prony series; Boltzmann superposition principle and time-temperature superposition principle; rubbers with nonlinear elastic stress-extension characteristics.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture based course. Courses would be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List:

• W. D. Callister, Jr. and D. G. Rethwisch, Materials Science and Engineering, An Introduction, 8th Ed, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2010.
• W. Sooboyejo, Mechanical Properties of Engineered Materials, CRC Press, 2019 (9780367446932).
• W. Bolton, Engineering Materials Technology, 2^nd Ed, Elsevier, 1993.
• A. S. Wadhwa and E. H. Dhaliwal, A Textbook of Engineering Material and Metallurgy. Firewall Media; 2008.
• H. F. Brinson and L. C. Brinson, Polymer Engineering Science and Viscoelasticity: An Introduction, Springer, 2008.
• J. B. Wachtman, W. R. Cannon, M. J. Matthewson, Mechanical Properties of Ceramics. John Wiley & Sons; 2009.

 

 

MSE 560 PHASE EQUILIBRIA AND KINETICS (2, 0, 2)

Course Objective

The objectives of the course are to:

• Understand equilibrium and gas-solid phase transitions (chemical equilibrium, first- and second-order phase transitions, fugacity and activity, gas-solid equilibria, Ellingham diagrams).
• Interpret phase diagrams (unary systems, binary systems, ternary effects on microstructures, phase calculations, drawing isothermal and vertical sections of real ternary systems).
• Understand the relationship between thermodynamics, phase equilibria and the prediction of materials microstructure.
• Evaluate and predict the microstructure in an age hardening alloy after solution annealing, age hardening (tempering) and states in-between

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Apply the thermodynamics of solutions to analyse experimental data and to be able to use models for ideal and regular solutions on solid and liquid solutions of alloys and inorganic materials.
• Perform simple calculations of binary phase diagrams by the use of ideal and regular solution models.
• Extract information about phase equilibria from phase diagrams, which is of relevance to production and application of materials with focus on metals, alloys and inorganic materials.
• describe and explain the basic of thermodynamics in phase transformations, the difference between interstitial and substitution diffusion and the difference between low and high angle boundaries
• draw and explain the difference between homogenous and heterogeneous solidification and nucleation, the nucleation growth and coarsening phenomena in alloys and the kinetics of martensitic transformations

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

Thermodynamic equilibrium in heterogeneous systems; methods of phase change detection; mono and multicomponent phase diagrams of solid-liquid systems; phase equilibria such as unary phase equilibria; solution thermodynamics, phase separation, instability and decomposition; thermodynamics of chemical reactions; thermodynamics of surfaces; chemical reactions; non-stoichiometry in compounds; interfaces and surfaces: free energy of interfaces, grain boundaries and interphase interfaces, coherent and incoherent interfaces, grain growth; Solidification: nucleation in pure metals, growth of a pure solid and alloy solidification; Diffusional transformation: general theory of nucleation and growth; important phase transformations such as precipitate, massive, spinodal, ordering transformation etc.; transformation of steels; Diffusionless transformations: the crystallography and kinetics of nucleation and growth of Martensitic transformation.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Lecture based course. Courses would be delivered in postgraduate classrooms in the College of Engineering.

 

Reading List:

• D. A. Porter, K. E. Easterling, M. Y. Sherif, Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys, 3rd Ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2009.
• S. Stølen and T. Grande, Thermodynamics of Materials, John Wiley & sons, Ltd 2004.
• A. G. Khachaturyan, Theory of Structural Transformation in Solids, Dover Publications Inc., 1983 (9780486462806).
• H. Fredriksson and U. Akerlind, Solidification and Crystallisation Processing in Metals and Alloys, John Wiley & Sons, 2012 (978-1-119-97832-9).
• H. I. Aaronson, M. Enomoto, J. K. Lee, Mechanisms of Diffusional Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys, CRC Press, 2010 (978-1420062991).
• E. Pereloma, D. V. Edmonds, Eds., Phase Transformations in Steels: Diffusionless Transformations, High Strength Steels, Modelling and Advanced Analytical Techniques, Elsevier; 2012.

 

 

MSE 751 NANOMATERIALS IN PAVEMENT CONSTRUCTION (1, 4, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course are to:

• Apply nanotechnology in pavement construction
• Modify local materials in solving pavement construction problems
• Identify eco-friendly functional materials in pavement construction

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Use nanotechnology to improve on local materials for pavement construction,
• Develop hybrid local nanomaterials for pavement construction,
• Write a full-sized review paper on pavement construction.

 

Course Content:

Pavements construction are to provide a safe and durable surface on which vehicles can travel, while protecting the underlying layers of material. The durability of such pavements is controlled by the properties of construction materials. In this course, students are to apply nanotechnology in solving local road pavement problems to improve on the life and performance of pavements. Materials to cover include improved and smart materials. Of interest is for the students to select local materials for such application.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Students will be assigned specific areas to study. They will conduct detail literature review on current practices in that area. A term paper will be presented and a seminar given to faculty for assessment.

 

Reading List

• S. Shirley, A Brief History of Road Building, (www.triplening.org/Vidya/OtherArticles/ABriefHistoryofRoadBuilding.aspx)
• Erol Iskender, Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Nano-Clay Modified Asphalt Mixtures, Measurement, 93, 2016, 359-371
• C. Fang, R. Yu, S. Liu, Y. Li, Nanomaterials Applied in Asphalt Modification: A Review, J. Mater.  Sci. Technol., 29, 2013, 589-595
• M. Heikal, H. A. Abdel-Gawwad, F. A. Ababneh, Positive Impact Performance of Hybrid Effect of Nano-Clay and Silica Nano-Particles on Composite Cements, Construction and Building Materials, 190, 2018, 508-516
• N. I. M. Yusoff, A.A.S. Breem, H.N.M. Alattug, A. Hamim, J. Ahmad, The Effects of Moisture Susceptibility and Ageing Conditions on Nano-Silica/Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixtures, Construction Building Materials, 72, 2014, 139-147.
• C. A. Harper,  Handbook of Building Materials for Fire Protection, McGraw-Hill, 2004.

 

 

MSE 752 NANOSCALE OPTOELECTRONICS (1, 4, 3)

Course Objective

The objectives of the course are to:

• provide students with in-depth understanding of the underlining mechanisms of organic optoelectronic nanostructures in terms of synthesis, properties and applications.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able to

• Effectively link how the nanostructures of an optoelectronic device can be manipulated (synthesized) to affect its properties,
• Develop a working principle of an optoelectronic system based on synthesis, properties and applications,
• Write a full-sized review paper on organic optoelectronic nanostructures.

 

Course content

This course will introduce students to:

• Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Organic Optoelectronic Nanostructures
• Organic and Polymeric Light-Emitting Diodes
• Photovoltaic Polymers
• Self-Assembled Organic Nonlinear Optical Materials

 

Mode of delivery

Students will be assigned specific areas to study. They will conduct detail literature review on current practices in that area. A term paper will be presented and a seminar given to faculty for assessment.

 

Reading list

• W. C. Sander, Basic Principles of Nanotechnology; CRC Press. 1^st Ed., 2018 (978-1138483613)
• D. Vollath, Nanomaterials: An Introduction to Synthesis, Properties and Applications, 2^nd Ed, John Wiley & Sons, 2008
• M. F. Ashby, P. J. Ferreira, D. L. Schodek, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology and Design: An Introduction for Engineers and Architects, Elsevier, 2009
• B. S. Murty, B. Raj, J. Murday, P. Shankar, Textbook of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Springer, 2012
• B. Zhang, Physical Fundamentals of Nanomaterials. William Andrew, 1^st Ed., 2018 (9780124104174).
• D. Natelson, Nanostructures and Nanotechnology; Cambridge University Press, 1^st Ed., 2015 (978-0521877008)

 

 

MSE 753 SUPERCAPACITORS (1, 4, 3)

Course Objective:

The objectives of the course is to:

• Provide students with in-depth understanding of the underlining mechanisms of supercapacitors in terms of synthesis, properties and applications.

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Apply the basic principles of electrochemistry in energy storage devices.
• Synthesize high-performance electrode materials for supercapacitors exploring the use of local materials as well.
• Write a full-sized review paper on supercapacitors.

 

Course Content:

This course will introduce students to:

The principles of electrochemistry, general properties of electrochemical capacitors, electrical double layer capacitors (EDLC), electrochemical capacitors based on pseudocapacitance and asymmetric supercapacitors, aqueous and organic based supercapacitors, energy and power densities of electrical energy storage devices, binder free electrodes, flexible electrode materials, and final review current literature on synthesizing and applications of supercapacitors.

 

Mode of Delivery:

Students will be assigned specific areas to study. They will conduct detail literature review on current practices in that area. A term paper will be presented and a seminar given to faculty for assessment.

 

Reading List:

• F. Beguin and E Frackowiak, Supercapacitors: Materials, Systems and Applications; Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2013.
• B. E. Conway, Electrochemical Supercapacitors Scientific Fundamentals and Technological Applications, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 1999.
• P. Yi, Y. Zhu and Y. Deng, Fabrication and Applications of Flexible Transparent Electrodes Based on Silver Nanowires, Flexible Electronics, Simas Rackauskas, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.77506. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/flexible-electronics/fabrication-and-applications-of-flexible-transparent-electrodes-based-on-silver-nanowires (2018).
• C. Zhao and W. Zheng, A review for aqueous electrochemical supercapacitors, Front. Energy Research, 3 (2015): 23.
• P. Simon, T. Brousse, F. Favier, Supercapacitors Based on Carbon or Pseudocapacitive Materials, Volume 3, Wiley, 2017 (9781848217225)
• N. Kularatna, Rechargeabe Batteries and Supercapacitors, Elsevier, 2014 (9780124081192).

 

 

MSE 754 Design Against Failure (1, 4, 3)

Course Objectives

The objectives of the course are to:

• Describe how stresses are used in combination with materials behaviour to prevent failure under both monotonic and cyclic loading.
• An in-depth analysis of the intrinsic (materials) factors and extrinsic (geometrical) factors which can affect failure criteria
• Understand the micromechanisms of failure and other influences on microstructure.

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to

• Appreciate and categorise modes of failure,
• Understand yield criteria and their application in conventional engineering design,
• Apply fracture mechanics concepts and conventional fatigue approaches to ensure fitness for purpose of engineering components,
• Understand micromechanisms of brittle and ductile failure, including the differences between microstructural features and extrinsic factors on promoting brittle behavior,
• Write a full-sized review paper on designing against failure.

 

Course Content

This course will introduce students to:

Conventional engineering design, stress systems and assessment methods, modes of failure, safety factors and strength of materials, principle of superposition, fracture mechanics, defect tolerance design, micromechanisms of brittle and ductile fracture, transgranular cleavage, accelerated mechanisms of crack growth and degradation mechanisms below the creep regime.

 

Mode of Delivery

Students will be assigned specific areas to study. They will conduct detail literature review on current practices in that area. A term paper will be presented and a seminar given to faculty for assessment.

 

Reading List

• J. A. Collins, Failure of Materials in Mechanical Design: Analysis, Prediction, Prevention, 2nd Edition, Wiley-Interscience, 1993 (978-0471558910).

• A. S. H. Makhlouf and M. Aliofkhazraeli, Eds, Handbook of Materials Failure Analysis, Elsevier, 2019 (9780128113967).
• Z. Huda, R. Bulpett, K.-Y. Lee, Design against Fracture and Failure, Trans Tech Publications Limited, 2010 (9780878491575).
• T. Boukharouba, M. Elboujdaini, G. Pluvinage, Eds, Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials and Structures, Springer, 2009.
• Z. Huda, R. Bulpett, K. Y. Lee, Design against Fracture and Failure, Scientific.Net, 2010 (978-3-03813-446-6).
• J. Pokluda, P. Sandera, Micromechanisms of Fracture and Fatigue, Springer-Verlag, 2010 (978-1-84996-266-7).

 

 

MSE 755 Cyclic Voltammetry at Solid/Liquid Interface (1, 4, 3)

Course Objectives:

The objectives of the course are to:

1. Understand the science and technology of cyclic voltammetry measurement and the processes that occur at the solid/liquid interface.
2. Identify shape of voltammograms, information from peak current and peak potential, criteria of diffusion and adsorption controls, static and the flow of electrons.
3. Know the handling of reference and counter electrodes and concepts of heterogeneous charge-transfer rate.
4.  

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able to:

• Understand the principle of cyclic voltammetry measurement and the processes associated with it,
• Be able to use cyclic voltamogramms to interpret solid/liquid interfacial processes for all situations, and
• Write a full-sized review paper on Cyclic Voltammetry at Solid/Liquid Interface

 

Course Content

This course will introduce students to:

Electrode processes at molecular level: non-faraday process and faraday process, electron transfer, electron migration; Principle of cyclic voltammetry measurements and the control; Equivalent circuit of cell; Interpretation of voltamograms; Electric double-layer current and redox current; heterogeneous current distribution.

 

Mode of delivery

Students will be assigned specific areas to study. They will conduct detail literature review on current practices in that area. A term paper will be presented and a seminar given to faculty for assessment.

 

Reading list

• A. Lasia in: R. E. White, B. E. Conway, J. M. Bockris, Eds, Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 1999.
• A. J. Bard and L. R. Faulkner, Electrochemical Methods: Fundermentals and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
• K. Aoki, Evaluation Technique of Kinetic Parameters for Irreversible Charge Transfer Reactions from Steady-State Voltammograms at Microdisk Electrodes, Electrochemistry Communications, 2005 17:523-527.
• K. J. Aoki, C. Zhang, J. Chen, T. Nishiumi, Heterogeneous Reaction Rate Constant by Steady-State Microelectrode Techniques and Fast Scan Voltammetry, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 2013 706: 40-47.
• Z. Stojek, "The Electrical Double Layer And Its Structure." In Electroanalytical Methods, pp. 3-9. Springer, 2010.
• G. L. Plett, Battery Management Systems, Volume I: Battery Modeling. Vol. 1. Artech House, 2015.

 

XXX XXX OPEN GRADUATE LEVEL ELECTIVES (X, X, X)

Technical electives (related to the student’s research area and approved by the advisory committee) can be chosen from the MPhil Materials Engineering programme or other graduate courses available in the university which are relevant to the student’s research.

 

MSE 851 SEMINAR III (0, 4, 2)

Students will be required to present seminars and attend seminars given by professionals from industry. Mandatory field trips will also be organized as part of the programme.

 

MSE 852 SEMINAR IV (0, 4, 2)

Students will be required to present seminars and attend seminars given by professionals from industry. Mandatory field trips will also be organized as part of the programme.

 

MSE 853 THESIS III (0, 12, 6)

This is where students conduct individual research work and come out with an examinable thesis. The thesis work will consist of various combinations of activities including clearly formulating, specifying, defining and justifying a materials-related research topic, carrying out a comprehensive literature review on the topic selected, applying basic scientific procedures and tools to conduct the research, and demonstrating ability for critical analyses of research outputs and writing.

 

MSE 854 THESIS IV (0, 12, 6)

This is where students conduct individual short research work and come out with an examinable thesis. The thesis work will consist of various combinations of activities including clearly formulating, specifying, defining and justifying a materials-related research topic, carrying out a comprehensive literature review on the topic selected, applying basic scientific procedures and tools to conduct the research, and demonstrating ability for critical analyses of research outputs and writing.

 

6. Assessment of Students’ Performance and Achievements:

 

Assessment Requirements

Students pursuing PhD in Materials Engineering will be assessed through:

1. Graded Examinations
2. Homework Assignments and Group Projects, and
3. Individual Research (Thesis Report and Oral Examination).

 

Group projects will be assessed through written reports and oral presentations before a panel. The PhD thesis shall be assessed by external and internal examiners. There shall also, be an oral examination. Students may not be allowed to submit their thesis until they have passed all required courses.

 

Continuous Assessment

The continuous assessment shall carry 40 % of the total marks and shall include homework, assignments, group and individual projects, quizzes and presentations.

 

 

End of Semester Assessment

A final examination shall be conducted for each taught course.  The examination shall carry 60 % of the total marks. The pass mark shall be 50 %. Any student who fails a course shall write re-sit examinations until the minimum pass mark of 50 % is attained.