METALLURGY

The aim of the course is to provide the knowledge on the basic phenomena of metallurgy, to understand the properties and the behavior in operation of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, also in relation to different types of use conditions, and the effects of the main technological treatments. This knowledge will be completed by introducing the problems related to the environmental impact of production, use, and disposal of metallic materials. Lastly, the course aims to put the student in the conditions to select the most appropriate metal alloy for the specific application, define the most suitable treatment to improve its properties according to the conditions of use, and make assessments in terms of environmental sustainability of the chosen solutions.

Theoretical lessons, supplemented by exercises and application examples

Process Metallurgy

Raw materials and preliminary treatments - Extractive metallurgy

Physical Metallurgy

Metallic structure, crystalline imperfections, plastic deformation - Solid solutions - Phase transformations, nucleation, grain growth - Diffusion mechanisms - Phase diagrams - Solid-state phase transformations, recrystallization, precipitation

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Alloys

Iron-carbon system and heat treatments of steel - Alloying elements and effects - Types and properties of steels and cast iron - Non-ferrous metals and alloys: Aluminum, Copper, Magnesium, Nickel, Titanium, Zinc, Superalloys

Applied Metallurgy

Characterization and analysis of metallic materials: Mechanical tests, Metallographic investigations - Fracture - Fatigue - Creep - Corrosion and degradation phenomena - Plastic forming of metals

Materials Selection

Approaches to choice of materials - Ashby Method - Multi-objective selection

Materials and Environmental Sustainability

Material life cycle - Life Cycle Assessment - Environmental impact of extractive metallurgy - Environmental characterization of materials and processes - Recycling of metallic materials

1 - F.C. Campbell, Elements of Metallurgy and Engineering Alloys, ASM International, 2007

2 - G.E. Dieter, Mechanical Metallurgy, McGraw-Hill, 1988

3 - M.F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2015

4 - M.F. Ashby, Materials and the Environment, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013

5 - G.F. Patanè, G.P. Vazzano, Course of Metallurgy, Aracne, 2015