Introduction to Physical Metallurgy

The course aims to provide a general introduction to the field of Physical Metallurgy. It covers phase diagrams, transformation diagrams and the associated thermodynamics, diffusion, liquid-solid transformations, ferrous and non-ferrous materials and cold work, recovery and recrystallisation. At the end of the course students should be able to use phase diagrams and transformation diagrams, having acquired an understanding of the underlying thermodynamics. They should be able to describe and explain diffusion, solid state and liquid-solid transformations in metals and alloys, and relate these processes to microstructures.