11.6.9 DEPARTMENT OF METALLURGICAL AND
MATERIALS ENGINEERING (MTE)
Head: Professor Ramana G. Reddy, Office:
A-129 Bevill Building
The department offers programs leading to the master of science in metallurgical
engineering degree and to the doctor of philosophy degree in the area of
materials/metallurgical engineering.
An interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in materials science is also offered (see the
section "Interdisciplinary Programs" in this catalog).
The graduate program in metallurgical and materials engineering allows for close
association between graduate students and the faculty.
Research. Research interests of the department include thermodynamics and
kinetics of molten metal processes, chemical metallurgy, metal-casting,
corrosion phenomena, computer modeling of solidification and other metallurgical
processes, electrodynamics of molten metals, metal matrix composites, thin-film
technology, tribology, magnetic materials, microgravity effects in
solidification, modeling microstructural evolution, and micromechanical behavior
in cast materials, fracture mechanics, refractories, molten salts, electronic
materials, thin films, and fuel cells, and phase equilibria. Facilities are
available for directional and high-speed solidification, levitation melting,
sputtering and chemical vapor-deposition, optical and electron microscopy, X-ray
diffraction, corrosion, nanoindentation, and electrochemistry, materials
characterization facilities, MEMS and thermal properties, and thermodynamic
properties. A metal-casting facility is equipped with up-to-date metal melting
and casting equipment and is one of the finest facilities in the United States
for teaching, research, and service to the metal-casting and processing
industry. Well-qualified machinists are available for construction of highly
specialized research equipment.
Computational facilities are comprehensive, ranging from workstations,
minicomputers, and PC units with associated data-acquisition peripherals to
access the campus mainframe equipment.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements are outlined in the "Academic
Policies" section of this catalog.
Degree Requirements
Master of Science. Plan I is the
standard M.S. degree plan. However, in exceptional cases, a student who has the
approval of his or her supervisory committee may follow Plan II. A student who
believes there are valid reasons for using Plan II must submit a written request
detailing these reasons to the department head no later than midterm of the
first semester in residence.
All graduate students, during the first part and the last part of their
programs, will be required to satisfactorily complete MTE 595 Seminar (first
part) and MTE 596 Seminar (last part). This hour of required credit is in
addition to the other degree requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy. The program for the degree of doctor of philosophy
in the area of materials/metallurgical engineering is conducted jointly with The
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This arrangement permits sharing of
facilities, exchange of faculty, joint seminars, and a wide choice of
dissertation advisors. The Ph.D. degree in the area of materials science is also
offered, in collaboration with UAB and The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Full details of this program may be found in this catalog in the section
"Interdisciplinary Programs."
Course Descriptions
MTE 412 Polymer Materials Engineering. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: CH 102.
Introduction to the manufacture, processing, and applications of organic
polymeric materials. The chemistry of polymer manufacture, the molecular
structure of polymers, and the structure-propery relationships for thermoplastic
and thermosetting polymers are covered.
MTE 416 Fundamentals of Foundry Processing. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 380 and MTE 362.
Metal-casting principles, including pattern design, molding materials, molding
methods, sand testing, solidification, risering and gating of castings, casting
design, and casting defects.
MTE 417 Simulation of Casting Processes. (2-3) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 416.
Corequisite: MTE 362 and MTE 373.
Advanced study of application of fundamental sciences to processing,
microstructure evolution, and properties of iron-base alloys; physico-chemistry
of liquid metal as applied to melting and refining; solidification science and
thermodynamics of iron-carbon alloys; processing microstructure-properties
correlation in steel and cast iron.
MTE 418 Special Casting Procedures. (2-3) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 380.
Corequisite: MTE 362 and MTE 373.
Advanced study of application of fundamental sciences to processing,
microstructure formation, and properties of advanced nonferrous alloys;
thermodynamics of melting and refining; solidification processing of nonferrous
alloys including aluminum, aluminum-lithium, titanium, superalloys, and
magnesium; processing-microstructure-properties correlation in nonferrous
alloys.
MTE 439 Metallurgy of Welding. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 380 or permission of instructor.
Corequisite: MTE 373.
Thermal, chemical, and mechanical aspects of welding using fusion welding
process. The metallurgical aspects of welding including microstructure and
properties of the weld are also covered.
MTE 441 Chemical Metallurgy. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 353 and MTE 362.
Application of thermodynamics, fluid flow, and heat and mass transfer to the
design and operation of chemical metallurgical processes; roasting,
agglomerating, oxidation and reduction reactions, smelting, converting, and
refining.
MTE 442 Magnetic Recording Media. (3-0) Three hours. Same as ECE 442.
Prerequisite: ECE 341 or MTE 271.
Basic ferromagnetism, preparation and properties of magnetic recording
materials, magnetic particles, thin magnetic films, soft and hard film media,
multilayered magnetoresistive media, and magneto-optical disk media.
MTE 443 Materials Engineering Design I. (2-0) Two hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 455 or permission of the instructor.
Corequisites: MTE 441 and MTE 481.
Design of devices, components, processes or systems using physical, chemical,
mechanical, economic, and ethical principles; project planning and cost
analysis; application of computer-based design tools; analysis of problems,
design and development of solutions; concepts of shared responsibility,
teamwork, and communication; oral and written presentation.
MTE 444 Hydrometallurgy and Chemical Processing. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 353 and MTE 362.
Current hydrometallurgical practice as applied to mineral processing, metal
extraction, and recovery; recent developments in technology; thermodynamics and
kinetics of hydrometallurgical processes; leaching and solvent extraction.
MTE 445 Materials Engineering Design II. (0-3) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 443.
Implementation of the research plan developed in MTE 443; interim and final
design reviews with oral and written reports.
MTE 449 Powder Metallurgy. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 373 and MTE 380.
The course will cover the topic of powder metallurgy, describing the various
types of powder processing and how these affect properties of the components
made. Current issues in the subject area, from high production to nanomaterials,
will be discussed.
MTE 450 Plasma Processing of Thin Films: Basics and Applications. (3-0) Three
hours.
Prerequisite: By permission of instructor.
Fundamental physics and materials science of plasma processes for thin film
deposition and etch are covered. Topics include evaporation, sputtering (special
emphasis), ion beam deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and reactive ion
etching. Applications to semiconductor devices, displays and data storage are
discussed.
MTE 455 Mechanical Behavior of Materials. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: AEM 201
Flow and fracture of solids; uniaxial stress-strain as a reference behavior;
theories of terminal instability under impact; monotonic, sustained (creep) and
repeated (fatigue) loadings of solids under various states of stress.
MTE 476 Physical Ceramics. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 271 and MTE 362.
Topics include ceramic raw materials, refractories, thermal properties,
mechanical properties, processing, and advanced ceramics.
MTE 481 Materials Characterization. (2-3) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 271 or permission of the instructor.
Crystallography, physics of X-rays, diffraction by crystalline materials,
application of X-ray, electron and neutron diffraction, and spectrometric
analysis of materials.
MTE 487 Corrosion Science and Engineering. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 271 and CH 102 or permission of the instructor.
Fundamental causes of corrosion problems and failures. Emphasis is placed on
tools and knowledge necessary for predicting corrosion, measuring corrosion
rates, and combining this with prevention and materials selection.
MTE 491:492 Special Problems (Area). One to three hours.
Assigned individual problem. Credit awarded is based on the amount of work
undertaken.
MTE 495 and MTE 496 Seminar/Senior Thesis. (1-0) One hour each semester.
Prerequisite: Senior standing in the College of Engineering.
Phases of metallurgical engineering not included in other courses are reviewed.
Specialized topics are presented by visiting lecturers. Abstracts and projects
are prepared and presented by students.
MTE 519 Principles of Casting and Solidification Processing. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 362 and MTE 373, MTE 353, or permission of the instructor.
Thermodynamics of solidification, atomic scale phenomena (nucleation and
growth), microscale phenomena (interface dynamics and formation of
microstructure), and macroscale phenomena (macro-mass, heat transfer, and
formation of macrostructure).
MTE 520 Metallurgy of Cast Alloys. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 417.
Thermodynamics of the liquid-solid transformation in alloys; growth of normal
and anomalous eutectics; thermodynamics of iron-carbon and related phase
diagrams; solidification and properties of cast iron; preconditioning and liquid
treatment of cast-iron melts; solidification and properties of aluminum-silicon
alloys; and solidification and properties of in-situ composites.
MTE 539 Metallurgy of Welding. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 380 or permission of the instructor.
Thermal, chemical, and mechanical aspects of welding using the fusion welding
process. The metallurgical aspects of welding, including microstructure and
properties of the weld, are also covered. Various topics on recent trends in
welding research.
MTE 542 Magnetic Recording Media. (3-0) Three hours. Same as ECE 542.
Prerequisite: MTE 271.
Basic ferromagnetism, preparation and properties of magnetic recording
materials, magnetic particles, thin magnetic films, soft and hard film media,
multilayered magnetoresistive media, and magneto-optical disk media.
MTE 546 Macroscopic Transport in Materials Processing. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 353 or permission of the instructor.
Elements of laminar and turbulent flow; heat transfer by conduction, convection,
and radiation; and mass transfer in laminar and in turbulent flow; mathematical
modeling of transport phenomena in metallurgical systems including melting and
refining processes, solidification processes, packed bed systems, and fluidized
bed systems.
MTE 549 Powder Metallurgy. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 380 or permission of the instructor.
Describing the various types of powder processing and how these affect
properties of the components made. Current issues in the subject area from
high-production to nanomaterials will be discussed.
MTE 550 Plasma Processing of Thin Films: Basics and Applications. (3-0) Three
hours.
Prerequisite: By permission of instructor.
Fundamental physics and materials science of plasma processes for thin film
deposition and etch are covered. Topics include evaporation, sputtering (special
emphasis), ion beam deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and reactive ion
etching. Applications to semiconductor devices, displays, and data storage are
discussed.
MTE 556 Advanced Mechanical Behavior of Materials I: Strengthening Methods in
Solids. (3-0) Three hours. Same as AEM 556.
Prerequisite: MTE 455 or permission of the instructor.
Topics include elementary elasticity, plasticity, and dislocation theory;
strengthening by dislocation substructure, and solid solution strengthening;
precipitation and dispersion strengthening; fiber reinforcement; martensitic
strengthening; grain-size strengthening; order hardening; dual phase
microstructures, etc.
MTE 562 Metallurgical Thermodynamics. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 362 or permission of instructor.
Laws of thermodynamics, equilibria, chemical potentials and equilibria in
heterogeneous systems, activity functions, chemical reactions, phase diagrams,
and electrochemical equilibria; thermodynamic models and computations; and
application to metallurgical processes.
MTE 574 Phase Transformation in Solids. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisites: MTE 373 and or permission of the instructor.
Topics include applied thermodynamics, nucleation theory, diffusional growth,
and precipitation.
MTE 579 Foundations of Materials Science. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Graduate-level treatments of the fundamentals of symmetry, crystallography,
crystal structures, defects in crystals (including dislocation theory), and
atomic diffusion.
MTE 583 Advanced Structure of Metals. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
The use of X-ray analysis for the study of single crystals and deformation
texture of polycrystalline materials.
MTE 585 Materials at Elevated Temperatures. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Influence of temperatures on behavior and properties of materials.
MTE 587 Corrosion Science and Engineering. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 271 and either CH 102 or permission of the instructor.
Fundamental causes of corrosion problems and failures. Emphasis is placed on
tools and knowledge necessary for predicting corrosion, measuring corrosion
rates, and combining this with prevention and materials selection.
MTE 591:592 Special Problems (Area). One to three hours.
Advanced work of an investigative nature. Credit awarded is based on the work
accomplished.
MTE 595:596 Seminar. (1-0) One hour.
Discussion of current advances and research in metallurgical engineering;
presented by graduate students and the staff.
MTE 598 Research Not Related to Thesis. One to six hours.
MTE 599 Master's Thesis Research. One to twelve hours. Pass/fail.
MTE 622 Advanced Solidification Science and Processing. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 519.
Advances in solidification processing (skull melting, continuous casting,
pressure-assisted casting, semisolid casting, spray casting), advanced casting
materials (superalloys; aluminum-lithium, magnesium, and titanium alloys;
intermetallics; metal matrix composites), issues in solidification science, and
modeling of solidification.
MTE 643 Magnetic Recording. (3-0) Three hours. Same as ECE 643.
Prerequisite: ECE 341 or MTE 271.
Static magnetic fields; inductive head fields; playback process in recording;
recording process; recording noise; and MR heads.
MTE 644 Optical Data Storage. (3-0) Three hours. Same as ECE 644.
Prerequisite: ECE 341 or MTE 271.
Characteristics of optical disk systems; read-only (CD-ROM) systems; write-once
(WORM) disks; erasable disks; M-O recording materials; optical heads; laser
diodes; focus and tracking servos; and signal channels.
MTE 655 Electron Microscopy of Materials. (3-3) Four hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 481 or permission of the instructor.
Topics include basic principles of operation of the transmission electron
microscope, principles of electron diffraction, image interpretation, and
various analytical electron-microscopy techniques as they apply to crystalline
materials.
MTE 670 Scanning Electron Microscopy. (2-3) Three hours
Theory, construction, and operation of the scanning electron microscope. Both
imaging and x-ray spectroscopy are covered. Emphasis is placed on application
and uses in metallurgical engineering and materials-related fields.
MTE 680 Advanced Phase Diagrams. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: MTE 362 or permission of the instructor.
Advanced phase studies of binary, ternary, and more complex systems;
experimental methods of construction and interpretation.
MTE 684 Fundamentals of Solid State Engineering. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: Modern physics, physics with calculus, or by permission of the
instructor.
Fundamentals of solid state physics and quantum mechanics are covered to explain
the physical principles underlying the design and operation of semiconductor
devices. The second part covers applications to semiconductor microdevices and
nanodevices such as diodes, transistors, lasers, and photodetectors
incorporating quantum structures.
MTE 685 Materials at Elevated Temperatures. (3-0) Three hours.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Influence of temperature on behavior and properties of materials.
MTE 691:692 Special Problems (Area). One to six hours.
Credit awarded is based on the amount of work undertaken.
MTE 693 Selected Topics (Area). One to six hours.
Topics of current research in thermodynamics of melts, phase equilibra, computer
modeling of solidification, electrodynamics of molten metals, corrosion
phenomena, microstructural evolution, and specialized alloy systems,
nanomaterials, fuel cells, and composite materials.
MTE 694 Special Project. One to six hours.
Proposing, planning, executing, and presenting the results of an individual
project.
MTE 695:696 Seminar. (1-0) One hour.
Presentations on dissertation-related research or on items of current interest
in materials and metallurgical engineering.
MTE 698 Research Not Related to Dissertation. One to six hours.
MTE 699 Doctoral Dissertation Research. Three to twelve hours. Pass/Fail.
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