03727 - Metallurgy

Learning outcomes

Lo Studente acquisisce le conoscenze di base sui materiali metallici per impieghi strutturali. Attraverso lo studio delle correlazioni tra processo di fabbricazione, struttura e proprietà dei materiali metallici, lo Studente consegue le competenze per la scelta del materiale più idoneo ad una specifica condizione di esercizio. Lo Studente svolge attività di laboratorio riguardanti la caratterizzazione metallografica e frattografica dei materiali metallici, ivi comprese le metodologie per l’analisi dei danni (failure analysis).

Course contents

Crystal structure and imperfections in the atomic arrangement: main crystal structures of metals and their effect on mechanical properties. Point defects and atom movements in materials (diffusion).

Alloys and phase diagrams. Phases and structural constituents. Cooling curves, phase and lever rules. Solidification and cooling of binary metal alloys.

Solidification microstructures and defects: nucleation and growth of pure metals and alloys. Influence of solidification microstructure and defects on mechanical properties

Mechanical testing and properties: tensile, hardness, fatigue, impact, creep

Dislocations and theory of plastic deformation.

Strengthening mechanisms of metals: solid solution, strain hardening, grain refinement, precipitation and dispersion.

The Fe-C phase diagram: Phases and micro-constituents. Cooling and solidification of steels and cast irons in equilibrium conditions. Equilibrium microstructures of carbon steels.

Designation and classification of steels.

Phase transformation in steels: Ferritic, pearlitic, bainitic and martensitic phase transformations. Bain curves (TTT and CCT curves).

Heat treatments of steels: annealing, normalizing, quenching, tempering.

Surface heat treatment and thermochemical diffusion treatments: Surface hardening, carburizing, nitriding.

Cast Irons: (white, grey and ductile). Designations, macro and microstructures, properties and applications.

Aluminum alloys: main alloying elements, designation, microstructures, thermal treatments and mechanical properties.

Readings/Bibliography

To prepare for the examination, students are expected to have access to the lecture slides provided during the classroom sessions.

For further study and a deeper understanding of the course topics, the following textbooks are recommended:

• S. Barella, A. Gruttadauria, Metallurgia e Materiali non metallici, Esculapio.
• A. Cigada, T. Pastore, Struttura e proprietà dei materiali metallici, McGraw-Hill.
• W. Nicodemi, Metallurgia – Principi generali, Zanichelli.
• G. M. Paolucci, Appunti dalle lezioni di Metallurgia per la laurea in Ingegneria Meccanica, Vols. 1–2, Edizioni Libreria Progetto, Padova.
• D. R. Askeland, P. Webster, The Science and Engineering of Materials, Chapman & Hall.
• W. D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (Italian edition published by Edises).
• W. F. Smith, J. Hashemi, Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering (Italian edition published by McGraw-Hill).

All of these references are available through the University's libraries or as e-books accessible via the University's online library services.

Teaching methods

Class lectures will be given according to the timetable, interactive learning tests, and audiovisuals on the main concepts.

Assessment methods

The assessment is designed to evaluate students' understanding of the fundamental concepts of metallurgy. In particular, it aims to assess their ability to apply the criteria for selecting the most appropriate metallic materials and heat treatments for the manufacture of mechanical components operating under specific service conditions, as well as their ability to identify the causes of failures and malfunctions related to material properties.

The examination consists of a written and an oral component. The written component is a structured multiple-choice test (45 minutes) administered through the University's EOL online platform. Students must achieve the minimum required score in the written test to be admitted to the oral examination. The final grade is determined by combining the results of both components, with the written test accounting for one-third of the final grade and the oral examination for two-thirds.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI), textbooks, lecture notes, and other course materials is not permitted during either part of the examination.

Examples of multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions are presented by the course tutor and are available in the lecture slides uploaded to the VIRTUALE learning platform for this course.

Students wishing to take the examination must register in advance for the selected examination session and present a valid form of identification on the day of the exam. Students who register but subsequently decide not to attend are kindly requested to cancel their registration in advance. Failure to do so will result in the examination record being marked as "Withdrawn."

Teaching tools

PC and projector, blackboard.

The teaching material will be available on the website VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Morri