CHEMMAT 204 : Materials

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Solid state transformation – diffusion, vacancies, solidification, nucleation and growth. Dislocations and plastic deformation, strengthening mechanisms. Mechanical performance of materials. Iron-carbon alloy systems and transformations (including pearlitic, austenitic, bainitic and martensitic), effects of alloying elements. Analytical methods: X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.

Course Overview

Built on CHEMMAT 121, this is a core materials engineering course for the Chemical and Materials Engineering degree. The course will expand upon the critical understanding of Steel, looking at the Iron-carbon phase diagram in more detail to understand the phase transformations that occur. The effect of alloying elements and heat treatment on these phase transformations will be explored in detail. The fundamental roles of crystal defects in metallic structures will be revised and used to develop an understanding of phase transformation and strengthening mechanisms. Characterisation methods relevant to determining the features discussed in these sections will be introduced. These will include the use of X-ray diffraction (XRD), to characterise a material crystal structure, composition and preferred orientation, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), to image samples at magnifications beyond what is possible with optical microscopy, and Thermal Analysis, to analyse energy changes associated with phase transitions as a function of temperature. The key mechanical properties of metals for mechanical design will be reviewed from the Engineering Stress-Strain curve. This will be expanded upon to include the use of true stress-true strain, which is critical for understanding the plastic deformation of materials in manufacturing operations. The critical role of fracture of metals will be described from a mechanistic perspective. Quantification of this mechanistic approach leads into the field of fracture mechanics, which is used to determine the effect of defects on the load-bearing capability of metallic components. Failure by fatigue and creep will be reviewed, highlighting the methods by which the failure mechanisms have been modelled and how this is used in design for failure prevention. The methods by which the defects accounted for in these models are detected in real-world materials are introduced through the field of Non-Destructive Testing. The lecture material is supported by three laboratories, covering metallography and steel structures, heat treatment of Al alloys and XRD.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: CHEMMAT 121 Restriction: CHEMMAT 221

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and explain the principles of XRD, in particular, the Bragg Law (Capability 3.1)
  2. Apply the XRD principles to identify the unknown materials (Capability 3.2)
  3. Understand and use the basics of diffusion in solids (Capability 3.1)
  4. Apply the basics of diffusion to explain phase transformations in solids (Capability 3.2)
  5. Understand and explain the basics of dislocations and the significance of dislocations in metals (Capability 3.1 and 4.1)
  6. Apply dislocation theory to explain how materials are strengthened (Capability 3.2 and 4.1)
  7. Understand and describe common phase transformations in steel (Capability 3.1)
  8. Analyse and select appropriate heat treatment methods to obtain desired properties by using TTT diagrams (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  9. Understand and explain mechanical testing and important mechanical property concepts (Capability 3.1)
  10. Evaluate whether a material fails by using fracture mechanics (Capability 3.2 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tests 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Laboratories/reports 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tests
Final Exam
Laboratories/reports
Assignments

Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.

Late submissions are not allowed for the Quizzes, Tests, and the Final Exam. Late submission penalties will be applied for Lab Reports. The penalties will be listed on Canvas.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect an average weekly workload comprising 4 hours of lectures, and 6 hours for labs participation, lab reports and test/exam preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.

Attendance to lab sessions and submission of lab report are compulsory
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy. In addition, students must be inducted for Health & Safety before conducting the lab sessions. The labs will be run in the MDLS.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The 2024 course rating was 75% GA and 25% Neutral on overall satisfaction.

Most complaints were on lab administration and lack of practice questions. 

In 2025, the information about the course and assessments will be put more clearly and reminded promptly. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.