Catalog description: This course introduces a variety of techniques that are commonly used to analyze materials in terms of their microstructure, composition, surface conditions, mechanical performance.  Topics include X-ray diffraction (XRD) for microstructure analysis, optical emission spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for bulk composition analysis, secondary ion spectrometry for impurity detection at surfaces, nanoindentation for mechanical property evaluation, and additional techniques.

Lecture topics: Production of X-rays, X-ray matter introduction, XRD instrumentation, Crystal structure, Lattice planes and directions, Stereographic projection, Symmetry operators, Point group, Space group, Reciprocal lattices, Bragg's scattering, Structure factor, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Nanoindentation.


Catalog description: This graduate-level course introduces the principles of physical metallurgy, with an emphasis on microstructural evolution.  This course will address, in a quantitative manner, a primer on thermodynamics and diffusion principles related to microstructure, phase transformation theory, strengthening mechanisms in microstructure, and microstructural evolution (under aging or thermomechanical processing).

Lecture topics: Thermodynamics, Diffusion, Solidification (Nucleation, Growth, Alloy solidification), Spinodal decomposition, Ordering transformation, Massive transformation, Martensitic transformation, Slip in face-centered cubic crystals, Dislocation-dislocation interaction, Dispersion strengthening, Solid solution strengthening, Grain boundary strengthening, Recovery, Recrystallization, and Grain growth.