MSE 227: Introduction to

Materials Science & Engineering

Course Objective...
Introduce fundamental concepts in MSE

You will learn about:

• material structure
• how structure dictates properties
• how processing can change structure
This course will help you to:
• use materials properly
• realize new design opportunities
with materials
Time: T/Th: 11:00-12:15 PM
Room: JD3504

Instructor: Dr. R. D. Conner

Dept. of Manufacturing System
Engineering and Management

Office: JD3511,
(818) 677-4730

Office Hour: T, Th: 10-10:45 AM,

T, Th: 6:00 – 6:45 PM

Email: rdconner@csun.edu

Website: http://www.csun.edu/~rdconner
Prerequisites: CHEM 101, PHYS220A, PHYS220AL
Corequisites: MATH 150B.

Textbook: Fundamentals of Materials Science and

Engineering, 3nd Ed. 2008.
D. Callister, Jr. J. Wiley & Sons, NY

Course Description: An introductory course in engineering materials including

metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Study of atomic and
crystalline structures of materials. Application of basic principles to the study
of mechanical, physical, and chemical behavior of materials. Selection of
materials in engineering applications based on materials properties and
processing. Design project on materials properties, selection or application.

The learning objectives are:

To understand the principles of engineering and science in applications of
materials and design.
To learn to find information in literature and other available sources. To
learn to use information systems (computer, internet, and other available
sources) in engineering practice.
Methods of Students evaluation:
• Grading Policy
• Homework 10.0 %
• Mid-term Exams 30 %
• Term paper 15 %
• Design Project 15%
• Final Exam 30%

No Make Up Exams
• Homework: Homework problems will be
passed out in class. Each student will turn
in homework one week after it is
assigned. On the day homework is due,
students will be randomly selected to solve
selected homework problems at the board,
explaining to the class how each problem
is worked. Students are encouraged to
work together on homework. Students will
be evaluated on both the quality of their
written answers and board presentations.
• Exams: Exams will be based on homework and
information provided in lecture and assigned reading. All
exams will be closed book. The final will be cumulative.
Relevant formulas, tables, etc. will be provided.

• Term Paper: Each student will write a 4-page term paper

on a topic of interest in materials. Term papers are due
on October 26, 2010.

• Design Presentation: The class will be divided evenly

into groups for a materials selection design project.
Projects for each group will be assigned by the
instructor. Each group will write a report on their
respective project, as well as make an oral presentation
to the class.
Grades will be based on the weighted average of the total
number of points accumulated by the student during the
semester. Letter grades will be assigned as follows:

100 - 90 A
90 – 87.5 A-
87.5 – 82.5 B+
82.5 – 77.5 B
77.5 – 72.5 B-
72.5 – 67.5 C+
67.6 – 62.5 C
62.5 – 60 C-
<60 D
<50 F
Suggestions for success in this class:
• 1. Read the relevant material in the book (preferably
before the lecture topic)
• 2. Review and understand the examples given in the
book.
• 3. Do the assigned homework. If you are having
difficulty with a particular concept, work additional
problems given in the book on that topic that have
the answers given in the back of the book.
• 4. Come to office hours.
• 5. Seek help: student services, tutors, etc.

Academic success is directly proportional to

the amount of time devoted to study.
Criteria Points

Identified problem type 0 1 2

Identified relevant criteria: variables given 0 1 2

and to be solved for

Used appropriate equations/solution 0 1 2

method

Followed logical sequence to solution 0 1 2

Proper arithmetic and units 0 1 2

Total:
 The Materials Science Mantra:

The properties of a material depend upon

its composition and microstructure

The microstructure of a material depends

upon its composition and the processing
that it undergoes
 Chapter 1
Materials are...
engineered structures...not blackboxes!
Structure...has many dimensions...

Structural feature Dimension (m)

atomic bonding < 10 -10
missing/extra atoms 10-10
crystals (ordered atoms) 10 -8 -10-1
second phase particles 10 -8 -10-4
crystal texturing > 10 -6
1
Structure, Processing, & Properties
• Properties depend on structure
ex: hardness vs structure of steel

(d)
600
Hardness (BHN)

30m
500 (c)
400 (b)
(a)
4m
300
30m
200 30m

100
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Cooling Rate (C/s)
• Processing can change structure
ex: structure vs cooling rate of steel
2
The Materials Selection Process
1. Pick Application Determine required Properties
Properties: mechanical, electrical, thermal,
magnetic, optical, deteriorative.

2. Properties Identify candidate Material(s)

Material: structure, composition.

3. Material Identify required Processing

Processing: changes structure and overall shape
ex: casting, sintering, vapor deposition, doping
forming, joining, annealing.

3
 ELECTRICAL
• Electrical Resistivity of Copper:

• Adding “impurity” atoms to Cu increases resistivity.

• Deforming Cu increases resistivity.
4
 THERMAL
• Space Shuttle Tiles:
--Silica fiber insulation
offers low heat conduction.
• Thermal Conductivity
of Copper:
--It decreases when
you add zinc!

5
 MAGNETIC
• Magnetic Storage: • Magnetic Permeability
--Recording medium vs. Composition:
is magnetized by --Adding 3 atomic % Si
recording head. makes Fe a better
recording medium!

6
 OPTICAL
• Transmittance:
--Aluminum oxide may be transparent, translucent, or
opaque depending on the material structure.

polycrystal: polycrystal:
single crystal low porosity high porosity

7
 DETERIORATIVE
• Stress & Saltwater... • Heat treatment: slows
--causes cracks! crack speed in salt water!

4m
--material:
7150-T651 Al "alloy"
(Zn,Cu,Mg,Zr)