Course detail

Structure and Properties of Materials

FSI-3SVAcad. year: 2025/2026

Phase transformations during the heat treatment of metals and alloys. Fundamental knowledge of structural materials (ferrous alloys and non-ferrous metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites) - their chemical composition and technological treatment in relation to their crystallographic, sub-structural, structural, and mechanical properties; degradation processes resulting from the application of these materials. Principles of selecting materials for engineering constructions.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Vít Jan, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Materials Science and Engineering (ÚMVI)

Entry knowledge

1. Structure of atom, fundamentals of crystallography
2. Basic concepts in physical chemistry (entropy, free energy, free enthalpy, phases, phase equilibria, chemical equilibria)
3. Structure of real crystals (crystal lattice defects and their properties)
4. Thermodynamics of solids
5. Diffusion, diffusion processes
6. Phases in metallic and ceramic systems. Equilibrium diagrams
7. Phase transformations
8. Deformation and fracture properties, testing of mechanical properties of structural materials

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Examination. The examination consists of written and oral part. In the written part, students answer four questions related to topics dealt with in the course of the semester. In the oral part, students answer questions resulting from the written part as well as examiner's additional questions.
Awarding the course. Participation in practices is mandatory, must be properly excused absence. Unit credit is conditional on having participated in all exercises and worked out the reports from exercises in keeping with the teacher's instructions. Absence from exercises must be accounted for. Students who have missed an exercise will be given an extra assignment. They will prove in the form of a written report that they have mastered the given topic.

Aims

The objective is to provide knowledge on the composition, structure, and treatment of materials in relation to their properties that are relevant for treatment technologies and design applications. It enables understanding the essence of the above processes and their mutual causal relations.
Technologists will be provided with the knowledge of the relations between the structure, sub-structure, and treatment properties of structural materials. Designers will learn about how to make full use of structural materials. For all materials (of both current and enhanced properties) the principles are defined for their technically and economically suitable application.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Ashby, F.M., Jones, D.R.H. Engineering Materials I, II, Pergamon Press, Ltd., England 1989
Callister, W.D., Jr. Materials Science and Engineering, John Willey & Sons, Inc; New York, 1994
Ohring M.: Engineering Materials Science, Academie Press, New York, 1995

Recommended reading

Callister, W.D., Jr. Materials Science and Engineering, John Wil... 2004 -
Pluhař, J. et al. Material science (in Czech), SNTL, Praha, 1989
Ptáček L. et al. Materials science II (in Czech), CERM, Brno 2002

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ENE-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-MET-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme B-PDS-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-STR-P Bachelor's

    specialization KSB , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization SSZ , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-VTE-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization STI , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    specialization MTI , 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Vít Jan, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Fundamentals of the metallurgy of iron and steel
2. Accompanying and additive elements in alloys of iron and carbon
3. Phase transformation in the heat treatment of ferrous alloys
4. Heat treatment procedures
5. Low-carbon structural steels for welded structures, case-hardening steel, deep drawing steel, structural steels for heat treatment,
6. Steels resistant to corrosion, heat, creep,
7. Tool steels and alloys
8. Cast irons
9. Non-ferrous metals and alloys I - Al, Mg, Ti
10. Structural metals and alloys II - Cu, Ni, Co
11. Structural ceramic materials
12. Structural polymers
13. Composite materials
14. Principles of selecting structural materials

Laboratory exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Vít Jan, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1.Introductory exercises. Organizational matters, training, work safety
2. Standard marking the steels and cast irons,
3. Structure and properties of iron alloys.
4. Austenitizace, diagrams. of the IRA, ARA
5. Basic types of thermal processing
6. Chemical-thermal treatment.
7. Low-carbon steel.
8. Stainless steel and heat-resistant.
9. Tool steel.
10. Graphitic cast iron.
11. Non-ferrous metals I-solders and Al alloys
12. Non-ferrous metals II-Cu alloys
13. Polymers.