ENMA 461: Thermodynamics of Materials

A basic theoretical materials science and engineering course devoted to the analysis of fundamental material properties and processes under near-equilibrium conditions. Principal concepts and applications of thermodynamics are used to understand material properties, with a statistical-mechanical approach introducing entropy and temperature. The course covers phase equilibrium and phase transformations in single- and multi-component systems, the construction and application of phase diagrams, and thermodynamic analysis of materials processing, synthesis, and engineering examples.

Topics covered

• What is thermodynamics, and what is it for?
• The laws of thermodynamics
• Thermodynamic variables and relations
• Equilibrium
• Statistical mechanics
• Phase diagrams: unary and heterogeneous systems
• Phase diagrams: multicomponent homogeneous and heterogeneous systems
• Phase diagram thermodynamics and reacting systems
• Interfacial energy
• Defects in crystals
• Electrochemistry (extra topic)

Format: Two lectures per week, with homework (paper and computational), two midterm exams, and a comprehensive final exam.

Textbook: Thermodynamics in Materials Science, 2nd edition, Robert DeHoff (Taylor & Francis, 2006).