The course aims at supplying the technical-scientific fundamentals necessary for the correct choice and responsible use of building materials in architecture. Buildings, and consequently their constituent materials, are continuously requested to present new and more complex functionalities: both increased structural performances and better functional properties, in terms of physical and thermal behaviour, economic and environmental sustainability, etc. The Architect, therefore, should possess the proper tools to discuss with different cultures and professional roles in the construction field, should be able to properly select materials and correctly use them both in new structures and in restoration and conservation projects.

The course aims at providing to the students the proper knowledge about the main materials used in architecture, as well as the proper tools to understand the material structure and correlate it with their main chemical, physical and mechanical properties.
The whole panorama of the mainly used materials in architecture will be given within the course, by establishing meaningful properties-applications relationships. Particular attention will be paid to materials degradation phenomena due to environment. Basic knowledge about economic and environmental impact will be supplied.

No specific requirements are necessary for a full understanding of the lessons. In any case, and particularly during the first part of the course, basic concepts from physics and chemistry will be recalled for a deeper understanding of the entire program.

The program of the course (6 CFU) is here detailed:
Part 1: Introduction to Material Science and Technology (about 2 CFU). Here, the structure, composition and classification criteria of building materials are illustrated and discussed. Then, the main materials properties will be analysed by the mechanical, functional (physical, thermal, optical and acoustic properties) and chemical (interaction with the environment and possible degradation phenomena) points of view.
Part 2: Materials for architecture (about 4 CFU). Binding materials (aerial and hydraulic binders, such as gypsum, lime, hydrated lime, Portland and blended cements) will be analysed. Particular attention will be paid to concrete. Stones, traditional ceramics, glasses, metallic materials (mainly steel, but also cast iron and the most important metal alloys – such as aluminium, copper and titanium alloys will be discussed), wood, polymeric and composite materials. For each class of materials, the processing (production and shaping), the properties, the durability, the environmental impact, the possible technological solutions to maximize the materials performance and durability will be explained.

Only frontal lessons are forecasted during the course. Additionally, films and videos will be shown to deepen some aspects of the program; seminars by experts from the industry will be possibly organized.

Textbook:
M. Gastaldi, L. Bertolini "Introduzione ai materiali per l’architettura", Città Studi Edizioni (2011);
Additional material will be available on the Portal.

The learning and grading will be assessed through a written examination, which lasts 1.5 hours, consisting of multiple choices and open questions. For each open question is required an exact, articulated, comprehensive and concise response, to which may be assigned a maximum score of 5/30. The final grade will be provided by the sum of the partial scores obtained for each question. A facsimile of the exam paper will be available and commented during the lessons.