Course content

The course is offered every alternate year, next time autumn 2025. The course is intended to give a phemenological and theoretical description of the evolution in microstructure and properties during thermomechanical processing of metals and alloys. The course contains two modules, namely Advanced Solidification metallurgy and Advanced Mechanical Metallurgy, free for students to select.

The emphasis for Advanced Solidification metallurgy is on the microstructure structure and microchemistry evolutions during solidification of metallic alloys. Fundamental theories include phase transformation thermodynamics, heat and solute diffusion, nucleation and growth of grains, eutectic solidification, solid/liquid interface structures, and micro segregation of solutes.

Emphasis of Advanced Thermomechanical Processing is on sub-structure evolution during plastic deformation, dynamic and static recovery reactions and recrystallisation during annealing, and the associated evolution in mechanical properties (work hardening and softening, respectively). Some fundamental theories for deformation hardening, including different stages of hardening and the relevance of dynamic recovery will be presented, followed by models for static recovery and classical models for nucleation and growth of recrystallization.

If five or less students join the course, it may be cancelled.

Learning outcome

For the advanced solidification module, the students should be able to describe how heat flow in simple geometries influences the solidification process. The students will have a good understanding for nucleation and growth of crystals rom the melt, both for planar, cellular and dendrittic growth front. They should also have a good understanding of polyphase reactions during solidification - eutectic and peritectic solidification. The students should be able to describe how flow of heat and mass influence the microstructure and casting defects. Furthermore, the students should be able to carry out simple solidification modeling tasks.

For the advanced thermomechanical prosessing module, after completion of the course the students shall have in-depth knowledge about phenomena and reactions during plastic deformation (hot and cold) and annealing of deformed metals, including relevant theories and mathematical models (dislocation based), with emphasis on the evolution in microstructure in metals and alloys, and how this is related to their mechanical response. After completion of the course the students should be able to: Account for some fundamentals theories and relevant mathematical models which describe the evolution in microstructure and associated properties during plastic deformation, recovery and recrystallization, herein, single- and multi-parameter dislocation based models for work hardening, models for static recovery (dislocation pattering and annihilation) and classical models for nucleation and growth of recrystallization. Account for how different microchemistries, in terms of alloying elements in solid solution, primary and secondary phase particles of different shape, size, density and spatial distribution influence the deformation, recovery and recrystallization behavior and the related mechanical properties. Discuss, analyse and perform relevant quantitative calculations with respect to microstructure and mechanical properties during plastic deformation and subsequent annealing.

Learning methods and activities

The course will be a combination of lectures, colloquia, and self studies. Expected time spent: 200 hours

Further on evaluation

The evaluation will be based on oral exam in combination with course deliverables.

Recommended previous knowledge

The course requires an adequate background in physical metallurgy, and it is preferential, although not absolutely necessary with a background corresponding to the courses TMT4240 Micro-structure and Properties of Metals and TMT4222 Mechanical Properties of Materials, or a similar background.

Course materials

Textbook: Kurz and Fisher, Fundamentals of Solidification

Literature: Selections from: F.J. Humphreys and M. Hatherly: Recrystallization and Relating Annealing Phenomena. Selected relevant scientific papers and lecture notes.