Fundamentals of Materials Science from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1

In week 1, you will get a brief introduction to materials science, as well as part 1 of module 1 including atomic bonding in solids, crystal lattices, and crystal structures of metals.

Week 2

In week 2, we will continue with part 2 of module 1 including crystallographic points, directions & planes, the crystal structure of ceramics, polymorphism & allotropy, the structure of polymers, and round up with the characterization of crystal structures.

Week 3

In week 3, we will start with part 1 of module 2 including the equilibrium concentration of point defects, point defects in ionic solids, the concept of dislocations, and their geometry.

Week 4

In week 4, we will finish module 2 including dislocations in real crystals, their motion, elastic properties, forces, and finally surfaces & interfaces.

Week 5

In week 5, we will start with part 1 of module 3 including stress-strain curves, elastic & viscoelastic properties, slip mechanism, and twinning & kinking.

Week 6

In week 6, we will continue with part 2 of module 3 including grain refinement, solid solution strengthening, second phase & work hardening, and property evolution.

Week 7

In week 7, we will finish module 3 including all about the mechanical properties of ceramics, polymers, and composites.

Week 8

In week 8, we will introduce you in module 4 to the concepts of the kinetics of recovery and recrystallization, grain growth after recrystallization, and finally dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization.

Week 9

In week 9, we will introduce you to part 1 of module 5 including the diffusion phenomena, Fick's law, solutions to diffusion functions, and Kirkendall & Darken.

Week 10

In week 10, we will finish module 5 including the thermodynamics of diffusion, atomic mechanisms of diffusion, and factors that affect diffusion.

Week 11

In week 11, we will introduce part 1 of module 6 including the basics and thermodynamics of phase diagrams, as well as the effect of pressure on free energy, and free energy of binary systems.

Week 12

In week 12, we will continue with part 2 of module 6 including the graphic construction of phase diagrams, Gibbs phase rule. and the evolution of different phase diagrams.

Week 13

In week 13, we will continue with part 3 of module 6 including the spinodal decomposition, the lever rule, binary phase diagrams, and we will talk about the differences of steels and cast irons with the iron-carbon phase diagram.

Week 14

In week 14, we will finish module 6 including the continue of our talk about the differences of steels and cast irons with the iron-carbon phase diagram, and we will talk about ternary phase diagrams.

Week 15

In week 15, we will introduce part 1 of module 7 including the basics of phase transformations and solidification, nucleation, heterogeneous vs homogenous nucleation, and the temperature time transformation.

Week 16

In week 16, we will finish module 6 introducting phase transformations in steels and alloy steels, precipitation, and precipitation in Al alloys.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers the structure and properties of metals, ceramics, and polymers

Explores the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of materials

Examines the principles of materials processing and fabrication

Introduces the fundamentals of materials science and engineering

Provides a solid foundation for further study in materials science

Taught by experienced professors from Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Reviews summary

Well-received materials science course

Learners say that the Fundamentals of Materials Science course is well-received and offers excellent instruction by knowledgeable instructors. Many learners mention that the course covers the fundamental principles of materials science including crystal structures, defects, and mechanical properties. However, one learner notes that the course coverage on ceramics, composites, and polymers is insufficient.

Instructors are knowledgeable and experienced.

"The instructors are knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate about the subject matter, which comes through in their lectures."

"The lectures are engaging and well-organized, and they provide a clear and concise explanation of the concepts."

Covers fundamental principles of materials science.

"The course covers the fundamental principles of materials science, including crystal structure, defects, and mechanical properties."

"The course is well-structured and covers the fundamental principles of materials science, including crystal structure, defects, and mechanical properties."

Insufficient coverage of ceramics, composites, and polymers.

"In other important aspects of that Science, such as ceramics, composites, polymers, the coverage is sensibly lower, what in my view lowers also the general quality of the course"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Materials Science with these activities:

Explore materials databases

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Enhance research skills by becoming familiar with materials databases and their capabilities for materials property exploration.

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Identify and access reputable materials databases, such as the Materials Project and AFLOW.
Learn how to search and filter materials based on specific properties.
Retrieve and analyze materials data, such as crystal structures, electronic band structures, and mechanical properties.

Participate in a materials science discussion group

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Engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas, clarify concepts, and deepen understanding of materials science.

Browse courses on Materials Science

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Join a materials science discussion group or forum.
Participate in discussions by asking questions, sharing insights, and responding to others.
Collaborate on solving problems or exploring materials science topics together.

Read 'Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction'

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Reinforce foundational knowledge and gain a comprehensive understanding of materials science concepts.

View Materials Science and Engineering: An... on Amazon

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Read the assigned chapters and take notes on key concepts.
Summarize the main ideas and principles discussed in each chapter.
Complete the review questions and exercises at the end of each chapter.

Five other activities

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Practice lattice geometry

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Practice recognizing and understanding crystal lattice geometry and their impact on materials properties.

Browse courses on Crystal Structures

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Identify the Miller indices of various lattice planes.
Determine the symmetry operations and point groups for different crystal lattices.
Construct reciprocal lattices for simple cubic, body-centered cubic, and face-centered cubic structures.

Create a materials infographic

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Develop a creative and concise visual representation to synthesize and showcase the key concepts of materials science.

Browse courses on Materials Science

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Research and gather information on the different types of materials and their properties.
Brainstorm and select the most important concepts to include.
Design and create the infographic using appropriate visuals and text.
Present the infographic to classmates or share it online.

Attend a materials science workshop or conference

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Expand knowledge and network with experts in the field by attending materials science events.

Browse courses on Materials Science

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Identify relevant materials science workshops or conferences.
Register and attend the event.
Participate in presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities.

Solve for point defects

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Enhance understanding of point defects, their formation energies, and their effect on material properties.

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Calculate the concentration of vacancies and interstitials as a function of temperature.
Determine the formation energy of vacancies and interstitials using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Analyze the impact of point defects on material properties such as electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.

Build a simple battery

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Gain hands-on experience with materials science by constructing a functional battery and understanding its underlying principles.

Browse courses on Electrochemistry

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Research different types of batteries and select appropriate materials.
Design and assemble the battery components, including electrodes, electrolyte, and separator.
Test the battery's performance, including voltage, capacity, and charge-discharge cycles.
Analyze the results and troubleshoot any issues.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Materials Science will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Materials Scientist

A Materials Scientist is an expert on the development and application of materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and more. They use their knowledge of materials and how they behave to design and create new materials that meet specific requirements. This course is a great introduction to the field of materials science, and it will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Materials Scientist. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Ceramics Engineer

A Ceramics Engineer designs, develops, and tests ceramic materials and products. They use their knowledge of ceramics to create new materials that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Ceramics Engineer. You will learn about the different types of ceramics, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ceramics Engineer

Polymer Scientist

A Polymer Scientist designs, develops, and tests polymer materials and products. They use their knowledge of polymers to create new materials that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Polymer Scientist. You will learn about the different types of polymers, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Polymer Scientist

Metallurgical Engineer

A Metallurgical Engineer designs, develops, and tests metal materials and products. They use their knowledge of metals to create new materials that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Metallurgical Engineer. You will learn about the different types of metals, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Metallurgical Engineer

Materials Engineer

A Materials Engineer designs, develops, and tests materials for use in a variety of applications. They use their knowledge of materials science to create new materials that meet specific requirements. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Materials Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

An Aerospace Engineer designs, develops, and tests aircraft and spacecraft. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as an Aerospace Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Mechanical Engineer

A Mechanical Engineer designs, develops, and tests machines and other mechanical devices. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Mechanical Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Chemical Engineer

A Chemical Engineer designs, develops, and operates chemical plants and processes. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Chemical Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Biomedical Engineer

A Biomedical Engineer designs, develops, and tests medical devices and implants. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Biomedical Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer designs, builds, and maintains infrastructure projects, such as bridges, buildings, and roads. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Civil Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Nuclear Engineer

A Nuclear Engineer designs, develops, and operates nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities. They use their knowledge of materials science to select the right materials for their designs. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Nuclear Engineer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Research Scientist

A Research Scientist conducts research on new materials and technologies. They use their knowledge of materials science to develop new products and processes. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Research Scientist. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Materials Science Teacher

A Materials Science Teacher teaches students about the properties and applications of materials. They use their knowledge of materials science to create lesson plans and activities that help students learn about this field. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Materials Science Teacher. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates written materials, such as manuals, reports, and articles, about technical subjects. They use their knowledge of materials science to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise way. This course will give you the foundation you need to succeed as a Technical Writer. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

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Patent Attorney

A Patent Attorney helps inventors protect their intellectual property. They use their knowledge of materials science to understand the inventions and write patent applications. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in a career as a Patent Attorney. You will learn about the different types of materials, their properties, and how they can be used to create new products and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patent Attorney