Material Behavior

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/material-behavior

Introduction

# Course Review: Material Behavior on Coursera If you have ever found yourself curious about the fundamental characteristics of various materials—why some are hard and brittle while others are ductile or how the addition of a minute amount of carbon can significantly enhance the strength of iron—then the "Material Behavior" course offered on Coursera is an excellent opportunity for you. This course is designed to delve into the intricate relationships between a material's composition, microstructure, processing, and its resulting properties. ## Overview The course seeks to make sense of the many complexities of materials science. Throughout the modules, students will receive a comprehensive education that builds from the core principles of materials science to detailed explorations of atomic structure, crystalline formation, defects within materials, and the effects of processing on material behavior. ### Who Is This Course For? Whether you're a beginner looking for a foundational understanding or someone with a background in engineering seeking to deepen your knowledge, this course caters to a wide array of learners. It is particularly beneficial for materials engineers, mechanical engineers, undergraduate students in related fields, or anyone with an interest in understanding materials on a deeper level. ## Syllabus Breakdown ### Module 1: Introduction **Difficulty: Easy | Student Effort: 1hr 30mins** This introductory module sets the stage by discussing different types of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers) and the properties associated with each. You’ll also gain insights into how materials engineers select appropriate materials for various applications. ### Module 2: Atomic Structure and Bonding **Difficulty: Easy | Student Effort: 2hrs** This module explores the atom's structure and the nature of atomic interactions, diving into the primary types of bonds—metallic, ionic, and covalent. Understanding these relationships is crucial for grasping how they affect microstructure and, consequently, material properties. ### Module 3: Crystalline Structure **Difficulty: Medium | Student Effort: 2hrs 30mins** The focus here is on the arrangement of atoms in crystalline materials. You will learn about the concepts of Bravais lattices, which serve as the 'building blocks' of crystals, and how these structures impact physical properties. ### Module 4: Point Defects and Diffusion **Difficulty: Medium | Student Effort: 2hrs 30mins** This module highlights the impact of defects—those pesky deviations from expected structures—and how they influence material properties. You will explore atom movement within the crystal structure, a crucial concept for understanding material behavior. ### Module 5: Linear, Planar, and Volumetric Defects **Difficulty: Medium | Student Effort: 2hrs 40mins** Delving deeper, this module examines more complex defects like dislocations and precipitates and how they affect deformation and strength, offering a well-rounded understanding of material integrity. ### Module 6: Noncrystalline and Semicrystalline Materials **Difficulty: Medium | Student Effort: 2hrs 30mins** The final module shifts focus to non-crystalline materials like polymers and glasses, exploring how their unique properties differ from their crystalline counterparts. ## Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, you will be equipped with a robust understanding of materials from atomic interactions to macroscopic applications. You will be able to explain the relationship between microstructure, properties, and how processing techniques can alter these characteristics. This foundational knowledge is invaluable for anyone looking to work in engineering fields, product development, or research. ## Conclusion & Recommendation "Material Behavior" is a thorough, well-structured course that hits the sweet spot for both novices and those looking for a refreshing dive back into the core tenets of materials science. The course is built upon accessible and engaging materials, clear explanations, and practical examples that bring the concepts to life. If you're ready to unlock the mysteries behind the material world, I wholeheartedly recommend you enroll in this course on Coursera. Your journey through the world of material behavior promises to be enlightening and enriching, equipping you with insights that can be applied in various scientific and engineering contexts. Happy learning!

Syllabus

Introduction [Difficulty: Easy || Student Effort: 1hr 30mins]

This module will introduce the core principles of materials science. Topics that will be covered include the different general material types (metal, ceramic, polymer, etc.) and the properties associated with each type, some methods that are used to experimentally determine and quantify a material's properties, and how a materials engineer might go about choosing a suitable material for a simple application. This module also introduces the concept of the microstructure-processing-properties relationship which is at the heart of all materials science.

In this module, we will discuss the structure of the atom, how atoms interact with each other, and how those interactions affect material properties. We will explore how the types of atoms present in a material determine what kind of bonding occurs, what differentiates the three types of primary bonds - metallic, ionic, and covalent, and the implications of the type of bonding on the material microstructure. You will learn how atoms arrange themselves as a natural result of their size and bonding. This knowledge will provide you with a foundation for understanding the relationship between a material's microstructure and its properties.

This module covers how atoms are arranged in crystalline materials. Many of the materials that we deal with on a daily basis are crystalline, meaning that they are made up of a regularly repeating array of atoms. The "building block" of a crystal, which is called the Bravais lattice, dtermines some of the physical properties of a material. An understanding of these crystallographic principles will be vital to discussions of defects and diffusion, which are covered in the next module.

In the previous module, we learned how the lattice structure of a crystalline material in part determines the properties of that material. In this module, we will begin to learn how defects - deviations from the expected microstructure - also have a large effect on properties. This module covers one-dimensional, or point, defects which can be missing atoms (vacancies) or excess atoms (interstitial solution) or the wrong type of atom at a lattice point (substitutional solution). Building on these concepts, part of this module will cover diffusion - the movement of atoms through the crystal structure.

This module covers two- and three-dimensional defects such as dislocations, grain boundaries, and precipitates. The discussion extends to explain how deformation of a material is accommodated at the microscopic level. We will finish by addressing how the presence and properties of defects can increase or decrease the strength of a material.

In this module, we discuss materials that are not fully crystalline, such as polymers, rubbers, and glasses. You will learn how the absence of crystallinity affects the behavior of these materials and what factors affect their formation and properties. Lessons include discussions of the microstructure and defects in amorphous materials, partial cystallinity in polymers, and demonstrations of materials exhibiting ductile and brittle behavior at different temperatures.