MSE330

Thermodynamics of Materials

The laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Mass and energy balances. Gas reactions. Equilibrium. Phase diagrams. Ellingham, Pourbaix and stability diagrams.

Level Undergraduate
Terms Offered Fall
Prerequisites (CHEM 130 or 210) and (PHYSICS 140 and 141) and MATH 215 and (MSE 220 or 250)
Instructor(s)
Emmanuelle Marquis

Course Objectives


  1. To teach students the nature and basis of the laws of thermodynamics.

  2. To teach students when and how to apply the laws of thermodynamics to materials, how to calculate the changes in the thermodynamic variables when a material changes state (from gas to liquid to solid) or when the temperature of a material and/or the pressure acting on the material is changed without a change in state.

  3. To teach students the thermodynamics of mixtures and phases, the coexistence criteria for distinct phases, and how to use phase diagrams to succinctly summarize mixing behavior.

  4. To teach students the thermodynamics of the reactions of solids with gases and the reactions of several materials all in condensed phases.

Course Outcomes


  1. To teach students the nature and basis of the laws of thermodynamics.

  2. To teach students when and how to apply the laws of thermodynamics to materials, how to calculate the changes in the thermodynamic variables when a material changes state (from gas to liquid to solid) or when the temperature of a material and/or the pressure acting on the material is changed without a change in state.

  3. To teach students the thermodynamics of mixtures and phases, the coexistence criteria for distinct phases, and how to use phase diagrams to succinctly summarize mixing behavior.

  4. To teach students the thermodynamics of the reactions of solids with gases and the reactions of several materials all in condensed phases.

Assessment Tools


  1. In-class reflections and closed-book quizzes and exams to test objectives for individual students.

  2. Weekly problem sets to test objectives with less time pressure and with the possibility of student collaboration for conceptualization of solution.

Course Topics


  1. The First Law of Thermodynamics

  2. The Second Law of Thermodynamics

  3. Statistical interpretation of entropy

  4. Enthalpy and the Helmholtz and Gibbs energies

  5. Heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy, and the Third Law of Thermodynamics

  6. Phase equilibrium in a one-component system

  7. The behavior of gases

  8. The behavior of solutions

  9. Gibbs energy vs. composition and phase diagrams of binary systems

  10. Reactions involving gases

  11. Reactions involving pure condensed phases and a gaseous phase

  12. Reaction equilibria in systems containing components in condensed solution

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