Module manager: TBC
Email: TBC
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The success or failure of a product or design is usually critically linked with the materials selected for the components and the choices which are made over the processing routes employed for their production. These affect not only the performance of the design but the cost, lifetime, reliability and environmental impact as well. This module explores the basic principles of materials science and technology and how they influence design decisions.
To introduce students to the basics of materials science and materials and process selection and their relevance to product design.
Subject specific learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Explain the basic principles of materials science and technology and discuss how these principles influence design decisions.
2. Categorise major classes of engineering materials and apply a basic knowledge of materials science and processing to explain variations in material properties and performance.
3. Select and evaluate materials for a range of applications and environments and justify their decisions, balancing trade-offs between performance, manufacturability, cost, and social and environmental impact.
4. Recognise the importance of the global sourcing of raw materials and discuss the environmental and social impacts associated with product life cycle including extraction, processing, use and recovery.
5. Carry out a diagnostic of a common artefact and produce a justified explanation of the materials, processes, and assembly methods used.
• These module learning outcomes contribute to the following AHEP4 learning outcomes:
• Select and evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to address broadly-defined problems. [B4]
• Design solutions for broadly-defined problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards. [B5]
• Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to broadly-defined problems. [B7]
• Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes [B13]
Skills learning outcomes:
a. Information technology
b. Teamwork/collaboration
c. Critical thinking
d. Active learning
e. Systems thinking
f. Strategic practice
g. Integrated problem solving
- Overview of materials science and technology.
- What are materials?
- How have engineering materials evolved and where will they go?
- Sources of materials.
- Structures of materials.
- Bulk properties of materials and their relationship to structure: mechanical, physical and chemical.
- Surface properties and surface engineering.
- Selection of materials.
- Production, characterisation and specification of raw materials.
- Secondary processing of metallic, ceramic, polymeric and composite materials.
- Process selection: comparative properties and economics, process selection charts.
- Case studies in design: materials and process selection.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 44 | 1 | 44 |
| Private study hours | 156 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 44 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
156
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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