Who Should Attend?

The course is designed for scientists and engineers seeking an understanding of engineering ceramics and hard coatings. It will be suitable for graduates with no or limited ceramic experience wishing to widen the scope of their knowledge. There are no formal prerequisites but some basic knowledge of materials science will be assumed.

Module Aims

This course aims to provide students/delegates with:

• a systematic understanding of the techniques used to produce ceramics and hard coatings and the influence of these on the resulting microstructures
• a detailed knowledge of the properties of ceramics and hard coatings, with specific reference to load-bearing and/or wear applications, and an understanding of how these properties are related to the processing routes and microstructures
• an appreciation of the key application areas of the structural ceramics and hard coatings

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• describe and select appropriate processing conditions for a range of ceramic and hard coating materials
• compare and contrast the microstructural features that will result from particular processing routes
• understand the relationships between processing, microstructural development and properties in a range of ceramic materials in bulk and coating forms
• use statistical methods to predict the strength of a ceramic in a range of loading regimes and environments
• predict, qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, the fracture behaviour of a range of ceramic/hard coating microstructures subject to simple mechanical loading, indentation, wear by hard particles and thermal stresses
• select, with the supporting rationale, the most appropriate materials for existing and potential applications

Course Content

• Overview of Ceramics and Hard Coatings
• Ceramics Processing – Powders, Green Bodies, Densification
• Coating Processes - CVD and PVD
• Mechanical Properties of Ceramics: Introduction
• Mechanical Properties of Ceramics: Statistical Nature of Strength
• Thermomechanical Behaviour
• Behaviour of ceramics and hard coatings subjected to indentation and wear processes
• Wear resistant coatings
• Joining
• Designing with Ceramics
• Principal materials and their application areas

Recommended background reading

Course Directors

The Course Directors are Professor Julie Yeomans who is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and Dr Mark Baker, who is a Chartered Scientist. They will be joined by colleagues from across the University of Surrey’s materials activity, as well as external experts, Prof Roger Morrell and Dr John Fernie.