MSE360

Materials Lab I

Laboratory experiences based on principles emphasized in Fundamentals of Materials Science including processing, properties, and structure with a focus on micro structural analysis and structure-property relationships. Continued as MSE 365

Level Undergraduate
Terms Offered Fall
Instructor(s)
Tim Chambers

Course Objectives


  1. To teach students the fundamentals of safe laboratory practice

  2. To teach students methods of analyzing errors for data analysis

  3. To provide students hands-on experience in assessing microstructure and mechanical behavior of materials

  4. To teach students methods of documenting work in a laboratory notebook

  5. To teach students scientific communication through written and oral reports

Course Outcomes


  1. To teach students the fundamentals of safe laboratory practice

  2. To teach students methods of analyzing errors for data analysis

  3. To provide students hands-on experience in assessing microstructure and mechanical behavior of materials

  4. To teach students methods of documenting work in a laboratory notebook

  5. To teach students scientific communication through written and oral reports

Assessment Tools


  1. In-class quizzes (10% of grade)

  2. Laboratory Notebook (20% of grade)

  3. Laboratory Reports (50% of grade)

  4. Final Oral Report (20% of grade)

Course Topics


  1. Laboratory safety

  2. Data Acquisition & Error Analysis

  3. Materials processing, including heat treatment of metals & injection molding of polymers

  4. Mechanical behavior including tensile, hardness, & impact testing

  5. Microscopic characterization by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, & x-ray diffraction

  6. Simulations of processing and microstructure

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