Course detail

Structure and Properties of Materials

FSI-3SVAcad. year: 2026/2027

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 a written and an oral part. In the written part, the student answers questions covering topics presented during the semester. During the oral examination, the student discusses the written part and responds to additional questions posed by the examiner.

Credit requirements:
Attendance at all laboratory classes is mandatory; any absence must be properly justified. The basic requirement for obtaining credit is the completion of all laboratory sessions and submission of laboratory reports in accordance with the instructor’s guidelines. Mastery of the subject matter is assessed through two credit tests. The student must successfully pass both tests. Only one of these tests may be retaken during an alternative (make-up) session.

In the case of an excused absence, the student must arrange with the instructor to make up the missed class and submit the corresponding work.

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

Lecture presentations, exercise assignments, and other supporting materials are available on the course e-learning platform.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Ohring M.: Engineering Materials Science, Academie Press, New York, 1995
CALLISTER, William D.; RETHWISCH, David G. Fundamentals of materials science and engineering. London: Wiley, 2000. (EN)
PTÁČEK, Luděk, a kol. Nauka o materiálu I. 2., rozš. vyd. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2003. ISBN 80-7204-283-1. (CS)
PTÁČEK, Luděk, a kol. Nauka o materiálu II. 2., opr. a rozš. vyd. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2002. ISBN 80-7204-248-3. (CS)

Recommended reading

BHADESHIA, Harshad Kumar Dharamshi Hansraj; HONEYCOMBE, Robert William Kerr. Steels: microstructure and properties. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2017. (EN)
JONES, David RH; ASHBY, Michael F. Engineering materials 2: an introduction to microstructures and processing. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2012. (EN)

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. Steel Production and Chemical Composition of Steel
  2. Phase Reactions during Austenitization 
  3. TTT Diagrams and Types and Methods of Heat Treatment
  4. Structural Steels
  5. Stainless Steels
  6. Tool Steels
  7. Types of Cast Irons
  8. Non-ferrous Metals A
  9. Non-ferrous Metals B
  10. Structural Polymeric Materials
  11. Ceramics
  12. Composite and Advanced Materials
  13. Material Selection

Laboratory exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Vít Jan, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Standards for Material Designation
  2. Fe–Fe₃C
  3. Austenitization
  4. Heat Treatment
  5. Low-carbon, Deep-drawing and Weldable Steels
  6. Thermochemical Treatment – Carburizing and Nitriding Steels
  7. Stainless Steels
  8. Tool Steels
  9. Graphitic Cast Irons
  10. Non-ferrous Metals A
  11. Non-ferrous Metals B
  12. Polymeric Materials
  13. Practical Applications