MATS23201
Materials Synthesis and Sustainability
10
Semester 1
Undergraduate
Level 5
Lee Fielding
Unit coordinator
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0
<p>This unit introduces the fundamental concepts required to understand materials synthesis and the issue of sustainability in processing and recycling.</p>
<p>This unit introduces the fundamental concepts required to understand materials synthesis and the issue of sustainability in materials processing and recycling. Key topics include:</p><ul> <li>Extraction vs. recycling, energy cycle and CO2 balance, with examples from the production and recycling of aluminium, including the Bayer process, ceramics and polymer materials.</li> <li>An overview of the sustainability of resources, such as the availability of industrial feedstock materials and the scarcity of particular elements.</li> <li>Introduction to polymers; including basic definitions, nomenclature, classification, stereochemistry, molecular weight, properties and sources.</li> <li>Introduction to chain and step polymerisations; including free-radical, poly-condensation and poly-addition reactions.</li> <li>Extraction of metals from ores and oxides, with calculations illustrating how thermodynamics governs industrial extraction processes.</li> <li>Introduction to structure, properties and production of ceramic materials</li> <li>Electrochemical potential and reduction/oxidation reactions, half-cells, the electrochemical series, batteries and fuel cells. </li></ul>
<p>The unit aims to: </p><ul> <li>Introduce thermodynamic concepts related to materials recycling, metal-ore reduction/oxidation/extraction, and ceramic materials production, with a focus on the energy cycle, sustainability and emissions footprint. </li> <li>Introduce fundamental concepts in polymer science and a selection of commercially-important polymerisation methods. </li> <li>Introduce the concept of redox reactions, the electro-chemical series, half cells, in relationship to metal extraction, batteries and fuel cells.</li></ul>
<p>A greater depth of the learning outcomes are covered in the following sections:</p>
<ul>
<li>
Knowledge and understanding</li>
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Intellectual skills</li>
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Practical skills</li>
<li>
Transferable skills and personal qualities</li>
</ul>
<ul> <li>Compare and contrast metal extraction methods from ores and oxides, with metal recycling and re-use.</li> <li>Explain the theory of redox reactions, electro-chemical half-cells, and demonstrate their application in electro-metallurgy, batteries and fuel cells.</li> <li>Describe and discuss fundamental concepts in polymer science and important uses, sources and recycling of polymers.</li> <li>Discuss and explain the principles and theory underlying important polymerisation methods.</li> <li>Possess the knowledge structure of ceramic materials properties and production processes.</li></ul><p> </p>
<ul> <li>Draw the structures of common monomers, polymers and chemical reaction schemes for the preparation of polymers and perform calculations realting to the polymer synthesis reactions. </li> <li>Differentiate the concepts related to recycling, extraction and energy balance.</li> <li>Discuss the issues related to energy production and storage by fuel cells and batteries.</li> <li>Evaluate the environmental impact of recycling. </li> <li>Develop an awareness of the sustainability of resources.</li></ul><div> </div>
<ul> <li>Develop an awareness of the practical aspects related to perforimng polymerisations and techniques to monitor and analyse the extent of reaction.</li> <li>Develop an awareness of the practical aspects related to perforimng simple electrochemical experiments such as: measuring cell potential, measure the current generated by a battery, prepare a simple reference electrode.</li></ul>
<ul> <li>Convert word problems into equations and numerical answers.</li> <li>Illustrate complex scientific phenomena graphically.</li> <li>Compose simple technical reports on laboratory tests. </li></ul>
<div> <div> Lectures & online learning resources, group tutorials (problem sessions), assessed coursework, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), peer-assisted study sessions (PASS). Formative feedback will be available during synchronous sessions and model solutions to problems.</div> <div> </div> <div> Non-assessed question sheets will be set and form the basis of a group tutorials in which the answers will be discussed. Mock /past exam papers are also available.</div> <div> </div></div><p> </p>
1
Written exam
70%
2
Written assignment (inc essay)
30%
<p>Summative Assessment</p><p>Exam: Marks available on student portal.</p><p>Coursework: Marked work returned to students within 15 working days of latest due date.</p>
N
<div> <div> </div></div><ul> <li> “Engineering Materials 1: an introduction to properties, applications and design” M.F. Ashby and D.R.H. Jones, 2005 </li> <li> “Materials Science and Engineering” W.D. Callister, 2011 </li> <li> Electrochemistry for Materials Science, W.Plieth, Elsevier Science, 2007 </li> <li> Understanding Batteries, R.M. Dell, A.J.Rand, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2001</li> <li> Fundamental of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, D.S.Ginley, D.Cahen, Cambridge Univeristy Press, 2011 </li> <li> Fuel cells systems explained. Second Edition, Laminie, Dicks, 2013</li> <li> Introduction to Polymers, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell,3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2011 </li></ul><p> </p>
Lectures
22
0
78