×

Warning!

Gantry 5 Component: Cannot display content; not in Gantry 5 template!

Course catalogue

Create your own master’s programme by choosing between the different specializations of our partner universities.

string(4) "1080"

Academic Programme

Implemented from September 2025

Materials Properties and Applications (6 ECTS)

Content

PART 1 - INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS

  1. Materials Science and relationship between Material Science and Materials Engineering. Historical note on the evolution of materials and state of the art. Competition between materials. 
  2. Perspectives and challenges. Nanomaterials and nanoparticles, nano-scale.
  3. Classification of different materials. Characterization of the different materials classes.

PART 2 - STRUCTURE, PROPRETIES AND FUNCTIONALITY

  1. Structure and chemical bond. Supramolecular structure of solids, liquids, mesophases, nanomaterials.
  2. Crystalline structures and their classification.
  3. Phase diagrams. Examples of phase diagrams of applied significance.
  4. Properties of the materials. Chemical properties, physical properties.

PART 3 - CHARACTERIZATION, PROCESSING AND APPLICATIONS

  • Methods for characterization of materials. Functionality characterization of materials.
  • Processing Techniques. Processing of metals, ceramics, polymeric, composites, Soft materials and nanomaterials.
  • Advanced Applications. Discussion and presentation of practical applications. Nanoscale effect.
Aims

Materials Properties and Applications is a generalist course aiming at an understanding of the materials properties of different classes of materials (atomic-molecular; nano; micro and macro scale), from the chemical and physical and to the mechanical properties, as well as an understanding of the functionalities and applications of materials.

It is intended that at the end of the course the student is able to:

  • identify the different classes of materials;
  • describe their internal structure, properties and functionalities;
  • describe preparation techniques, processing and characterization of materials;
  • apply acquired knowledge to describe the most current materials of daily, industrial and technological use.
Recommended Books
  • Callister Jr. William D.; Materials science and engineering. ISBN: 978-0-470-50586-1
  • Ozin Geoffrey A.; Nanochemistry. ISBN: 978-1-84755-895-4
  • Bokstein Boris S.; Thermodynamics and kinetics in materials science. ISBN: 0-19-852804-3
Teaching Staff

Luis Santos (responsible)

Hours

42 h (lectures + theoretical-practical classes)

Grading System
  1. The theoretical classes have an expository and interactive character according to the above-mentioned program and include also some practical demosntrations aiming at a better consolidation of the learning objectives.
  2. The theoretical-practical classes aim at complementing the lectures, allowing the students to practise critical thinking, communication and sharing of knowledge, encompassing the following aspects:
    1. preparation and discussion of oral presentations on different materials (structure, properties, applications), with three evaluation stages: 1st presentation (generic); 2nd presentation (intermediate; 3rd presentation (final).
    2. discussion, consolidation and deepening of theoretical subjects, with quantitative problem solving (essentially for Part 2 of the program).
    3. study visits  to R & D LABs, Technological centers and materials analysis.

The evaluation is carried out based on: continuous assessment of student’s performance in tutorial classes (NTP); exam classification (NEX).

Final classification (NF): NF = 0.50 x NTP + 0.50 x NEx