Course detail

Chapters of Materials Engineering

FSI-0ME Acad. year: 2025/2026 Winter semester

The subject of Chapters in Materials Engineering is intended to provide students with the necessary additional knowledge for the master's degree in materials engineering and orientation in the laboratory techniques required to prepare the seminar work, especially final theses. It is intended especially for graduates of general bachelor's degrees outside materials engineering (however, the course is open for all the students of the Program). As part of the subject, students are introduced to laboratory techniques not only in general but the main focus is given to practical mastery of individual techniques so that students can work on the given devices independently during their studies.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Entry knowledge

The course future extends the knowledge gained in the bachelor’s courses: Introduction to Material Science and Engineering, Structure and Properties of Materials, Physics of Materials, and Strength of Materials.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Lectures are facultative, exercises are obligatory. At the end of the semester, the students will demonstrate their acquired knowledge and experience in a colloquium with a demonstration of their practical skills. Based on the level of demonstrated skills, students will be evaluated according to the ECTS standard.

Aims

The course should overcome the differences ina knowledgeof materials engineering between graduatesof general bachelor’sstudy and study focused on materials engineering. It should also create conditions tosuccessful finishthe master’s studyfor these students.
Another output is a knowledge of the experimental techniques for observation and evaluation of the structures and the lochal mechanical properties of materials.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme N-MTI-P: Materials Engineering, Master's, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Syllabus

Thematic areas of the lectures:


1) Introduction to laboratory techniques, basics of laboratory work, system, documentation, evaluation
2) Metallography, light microscopy
3) Electron Microscopy (SEM)
4) Hardness measurement (according to Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers)
5) Local mechanical characteristics (microhardness, scratch test, nanoindentation)
6) Thermal Analysis (DSC)

Laboratory exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Syllabus

Laboratory exercises (topics):


1) Introduction to IMSE laboratories – lab tour
2) Metallographic laboratory – preparation of samples, division on metallographic cut-off machines, cold and hot sample mounting, grinding, polishing, etching
3) Light microscopy – setting up the microscope, and working with software for microstructure documentation and measurement options.
4) Hardness measurement (Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers methods), sample preparation, setting, selection of load, evaluation
5) Local mechanical characteristics
-hardness using low load and microhardness – Vickers indenter,
-scratch test and instrumented hardness tests (nanoindentation)
basic equipment operation, basic and advanced measurements, analysis of obtained results
6) Thermal analysis (DSC) – basic identification with the device, preparation of miniature samples, measurement settings, and evaluation of analytical results.


As part of the subject, at the end of the semester, the students themselves demonstrate the acquired skills, especially concerning the courses (3 to 5).