Materials Lab

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Cycles of Study/Courses

Last updated on 2024-09-16.

Fields changed: Calculation formula of final grade, Componentes de Avaliação e Ocupação, Avaliação especial

Teaching language

Objectives

Learning outcomes and competences

Explain the purpose of materialography and correlate it to mechanical properties. Use the laboratory facilities according to quality, safety and environmental rules.

Identify and describe the main preparation methods for light microscopy.

Select methods, equipment’s and consumables and apply them to evaluate the microstructure of the material.

Identify and examine microstructures by light microscopy.

Apply quantitative materialography. Use automatic image analysis systems to examine the material/c.

Recognize the different hardness tests and their standards.

Select material’s tests and conditions to do an evaluation. Apply standards and perform the test accordingly.

Correlate the microstructural characterization with hardness test results. Report results and asses the aptitude of a given material/component.

Developed team work: discuss and present the experimental data.

Working method

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Program

• Introduction: purpose of microstructural characterization combined with mechanical tests (demonstrative with hardness tests).


• Quality, safety and environment in laboratory facilities: basic rules and procedures.


• Introduction to materialography. Sampling. Methods, equipment, tools, consumables for specimen’s preparation: sectioning, mounting, grinding and polishing. Etching practice. Optical microscopy. Constitution of the optical microscope. Microscope options. Quantitative materialography. Automatic image analysis systems.


• Examine microstructures: qualitatively and quantitatively.


• Mechanical hardness tests. Methods, equipment and standards procedures to perform evaluation

Mandatory literature

Complementary Bibliography

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical and practical lectures: presentation of  course topics and discussion of practical cases.

Laboratory classes: experimental work consisting in materials microstructural characterization (sample preparation, optical microscopy analysis and image processing), hardness tests, written report/poster and oral presentation. 

keywords

Evaluation Type

Assessment Components

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Eligibility for exams

To be admitted to exams, students:

• Have to complete all the practical assignments including the corresponding reports/poster and oral presentation;
• Cannot miss more than 25% of appointed practical classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = 70% of practical grade + 30% of theoretical grade (final exam and challenges given during TP classes)
To complete this course, students have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out of 20 in theoretical component.

Practical grade component is composed by two mini practical assignments (TP0-A an TP0-B) and three experimental assignments (TPI, TPII and TPIII).

The TP0 (A and B) will be evaluated by preparing a mini report to be delivered at the end of the class, counting each one 5% of the final pratical grade. TPI and TPII will be evaluated by preparing a report (30% of pratical grade). TP3 will be evaluated by preparing a poster (20% of the pratical grade) and by making a presentation (10% of the pratical grade).

Examinations or Special Assignments

See special assessment.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

A written exam plus a practical exam.

Final grade = 70% of practical grade + 30% of theoretical grade (exam and challenges given during TP classes). To complete this course, students have to reach a minimum grade of 8 out of 20 in theoretical component.

Classification improvement

Students can improve the theoretical component by attending an extra exam.