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327-1204-00L 4 Credits BSC , MSC D-MATL , D-MAVT
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Materials at Work I

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Ralph Spolenak, Dr. Rudolf Koopmans, Prof. Dr. Eric Dufresne
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:28

Abstract

This course attempts to prepare the student for a job as a materials engineer in industry. The gap between fundamental materials science and the materials engineering of products should be bridged. The focus lies on the practical application of fundamental knowledge allowing the students to experience application related materials concepts with a strong emphasis on case-study mediated learning.

Objective

Teaching goals: to learn how materials are selected for a specific application to understand how materials around us are produced and manufactured to understand the value chain from raw material to application to be exposed to state of the art technologies for processing, joining and shaping to be exposed to industry related materials issues and the corresponding language (terminology) and skills to create an impression of how a job in industry "works", to improve the perception of the demands of a job in industry

Content

This course is designed as a two semester class and the topics reflect the contents covered in both semesters. Lectures and case studies encompass the following topics: Strategic Materials (where do raw materials come from, who owns them, who owns the IP and can they be substituted) Materials Selection (what is the optimal material (class) for a specific application) Materials systems (subdivisions include all classical materials classes) Processing Joining (assembly) Shaping Materials and process scaling (from nm to m and vice versa, from mg to tons) Sustainable materials manufacturing (cradle to cradle) Recycling (Energy recovery) After a general part of materials selection, critical materials and materials and design four parts consisting of polymers, metals, ceramics and coatings will be addressed. In the fall semester the focus is on the general part, polymers and alloy case studies in metals. The course is accompanied by hands-on analysis projects on everyday materials.

Resources

Literature

Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology Serope Kalpakjian, Steven Schmid ISBN: 978-0131489653

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC , MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
30 min oral exam.The final mark for the course is the weighted average of the marks for the end-of-semester examination (70%) and for the mandatory project work (30%).

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
seminar Materials at Work I
  • Thu 11:45-15:30 (HCI J 4)
4 h weekly

Offered In