Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka
COURSE OUTLINE
MME 6702 Physical Metallurgy Principles (3.00)
October 2024 Semester
MSc in Materials Science
Departmental Core Course
1. Course Content (As approved by the Academic Council)
Introduction. Atomic bonds. Crystal structure and crystallization of metals. Crystal defects, dislocation, and deformation.
Solid solutions. Binary phase equilibrium diagrams. Iron and iron carbide thermal equilibrium diagram. Phase
transformations. Nucleation and growth theory. Heat treatment of steel and cast irons. Strengthening mechanisms in
solids. Surface hardening. Non-ferrous alloys and their heat-treatment. Structure property relationship in steels and
other alloys.
2. Course Objectives
This course is designed to provide a physical basis that links the structure of materials with their properties, focusing
primarily on metals. With this understanding in hand, the concepts of alloy design and microstructural engineering are
also discussed, linking processing and thermodynamics to the structure and properties of metals.
3. Knowledge Required
Familiarity with fundamentals of material science and physical chemistry.
4. Course Outcomes
POs and Assessment
COs CO Statement
Taxonomy Level Tools
To explain the basis of atomic bonding and crystal structures and
CO1 PO(a)(3); C3
relate them with the properties of metallic materials.
To discuss phase diagrams and examine their role in determining Continuous
CO2 microstructures, properties, and selection of metals and alloys for an PO(b)(3); C4 assessment
intended application and Term final
exam
To explain the fundamentals of phase transformations and analyze
CO3 their effects in controlling microstructure and properties of ferrous PO(b)(3); C4
and nonferrous alloys
5. Tentative Lectures
1 Introduction: [1] Scope of MSE; [2] Structure-Processing-Properties-Performance relation of
materials; [3] Introduction to the course MME6702, COs and CLOs.
2 Atomic Bonding and Materials Properties: [1] Introduction; [2] Atomic scale structure; [3] CO1
Classifications and characterizations of atomic bonding in solids; [4] Properties from bonding; [5]
Binding energy and materials properties.
3-5 Crystal Structure: [1] Basic crystallography; [2] Miller indices of points, directions and planes; [3] CO1
Atomic aggregates and structure of non-crystalline solids.
6-10 Crystal Defects: [1] Importance and classification of defects in crystals; [2] Point defects – case CO1
study: diffusion in metals; [3] Line defects – case study: yielding and strengthening mechanisms;
[4] Surface and volume defects – case study: introduction to microstructure.
BR/Department of MME, BUET/Oct 24/MME6702: Physical Metallurgy Principles/Page 1 of 2
11-16 Phase Diagrams: [1] Constitutions of alloys; [2] Introduction, classification and construction of CO2
phase diagrams; [3] Interpretation of phase diagrams and development of structures; [4]
Tutorials on phase diagram; [5] Iron – Iron carbide phase diagrams.
17-20 Structure-Property Relations: [1] Plain carbon steels – (a) Steel chemistry, (b) Designation and CO2
classification, (c) Microstructures, properties and applications: [2] Alloy steels – (a) Reasons for
alloying, (b) Effects of principal alloying elements (c) Characteristics and applications of common
alloy steels (stainless steels and tool steels); [3] Cast irons – (a) Classification, (b) Structures, (c)
Properties and applications; [4] Nonferrous Alloys – (a) Importance, (b) Aluminium and its alloys,
(c) Copper and its alloys.
21-27 Phase Transformations: [1] Importance of solid-state phase transformations, the overall CO3
transformation rate, the TTT diagrams; [2] Diffusive transformations, Case study - Nucleation
and growth theory; [3] Martensitic transformations, Case study - Hardening of steels or making
of TMT steel; [4] Heat treatment; [5] Surface hardening
28 Review Class
6. Assessment Strategy
[1] Class Tests 20%
[2] Mid-Term Examination 40%
[3] Term-Final Examination 40%
7. Textbook and Reference Books
[1] WD Callister Jr, DG Rethwisch. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, 9th Ed., Wiley.
[2] DR Askeland, PP Fulay, WJ Wright. The Science and Engineering of Materials, 6th Ed., Cengage Learning.
Prepared By
Dr. A. K. M. Bazlur Rashid
Professor, Department of MME
24 May 2025
BR/Department of MME, BUET/Oct 24/MME6702: Physical Metallurgy Principles/Page 2 of 2
