MSE440

To teach students the:

1. fundamental principles of crystal chemistry and how atomic arrangements in materials affect macroscopic materials properties.


2. general sources of raw materials used to produce the feedstock materials used in the ceramics industry and how to correlate cost and purity with the economics that drive the choice of selected starting materials for processing specific ceramics with specific target properties.


3. general methods of using/processing feedstock materials to produce ceramic powders, thin films or fibers.


4. general methods of processing ceramic powders and polymer precursors to produce green shapes.


5. types of additives used and the scientific basis for their use in optimizing the processing of green shapes.


6. principle methods of transforming green shapes into controlled density, controlled porosity ceramic shapes.


7. general techniques used to optimize properties (mechanical, optical, electronic) in the final ceramic shapes.


8. potential alternatives to traditional ceramic processing for producing advanced technology shapes (e.g. fibers)

To teach students the:

1. fundamental principles of crystal chemistry and how atomic arrangements in materials affect macroscopic materials properties.


2. general sources of raw materials used to produce the feedstock materials used in the ceramics industry and how to correlate cost and purity with the economics that drive the choice of selected starting materials for processing specific ceramics with specific target properties.


3. general methods of using/processing feedstock materials to produce ceramic powders, thin films or fibers.


4. general methods of processing ceramic powders and polymer precursors to produce green shapes.


5. types of additives used and the scientific basis for their use in optimizing the processing of green shapes.


6. principle methods of transforming green shapes into controlled density, controlled porosity ceramic shapes.


7. general techniques used to optimize properties (mechanical, optical, electronic) in the final ceramic shapes.


8. potential alternatives to traditional ceramic processing for producing advanced technology shapes (e.g. fibers)

1. Six or seven homework assignments (5 % of grade)


2. Two in-class tests including final (50 % of grade)


3. One design proposal on a selected topic (45% of grade)

1. Crystal chemistry--structure and bonding in materials.


2. Origins of feedstock materials--recovery and processing of materials from mineral sources, used in processing ceramics.


3. Production of powders by chemical and physical means.


4. Forming shapes by powder processing.


5. The effects of additives on forming processes.


6. Transforming powder shapes into monolithic ceramic shapes.


7. Property optimization in finished ceramic shapes.


8. Non-traditional ways of forming ceramic shapes including thin films, fibers, nanosized powders, etc.


9. Basic methods of processing composite materials.


10. Basic methods of producing electronic and optic