MSE350

Structures of Materials

Basic principles of Materials Science & Engineering, including bonding, structure, microstructure, and how they are influenced by thermodynamics, and kinetics.

Level Undergraduate
Terms Offered Fall
Prerequisites MSE 220 or 250
Instructor(s)

Course Objectives


  1. To illustrate quantitatively and in depth fundamental concepts of bonding, structure, microstructure, which are applicable to all classes of materials.

  2. To teach students the physical and chemical origins of bonding and structure and their implications for the processing and properties of metallic, covalent, ionically bonded solids and soft materials.

  3. To provide knowledge and information in materials science and engineering which are applicable and requisite for other courses in the curriculum.

Course Outcomes


  1. To illustrate quantitatively and in depth fundamental concepts of bonding, structure, microstructure, which are applicable to all classes of materials.

  2. To teach students the physical and chemical origins of bonding and structure and their implications for the processing and properties of metallic, covalent, ionically bonded solids and soft materials.

  3. To provide knowledge and information in materials science and engineering which are applicable and requisite for other courses in the curriculum.

Assessment Tools


  1. In-class closed book quizzes and/or exams to test outcomes #1-15 for individual students.

  2. Frequent problem sets to test outcomes #1-15 in the spirit of less time pressure and with allowable student collaboration.

  3. Official end-of-term anonymous written course evaluations by students to allow subsequent-year improvements/corrections.

Course Topics


  1. Structure of crystalline and non-crystalline solids, and liquid crystals and self-organized systems. Solutions and phases.

  2. Structure determination by diffraction

  3. Imperfections in crystals

  4. Binary and ternary phase diagrams, grain growth, phase transformations

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