The main aim is to supply the student with a robust background on materials, able to couple scientific and technological knowledge in a synergic way, providing general guidelines for translating scientific knowledge into technological tools for engineering design. The student should then: - know the chemical and atomic nature of the materials and the strong dependence of the macroscopic features and properties from it; - know how to exploit this scientific background in controlling the material properties up to the tailoring of material features for a specific application; - be conscious of the role of material selection in matching design requirements; - know a deep English vocabulary on Materials Science and Technology.

A basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and physics can be useful for an effective understanding of the course. In any case, in the frame of the first part of the program, basic concepts are provided to the students for a deeper fruition of the contents.

The program of the course can be summarised as follows: Part 1: Introduction to Material Science and Technology. Chemical bond and its influence on the properties of materials. Structure of crystalline and amorphous materials. Crystal defects. Relationship between material structure and elastic behaviour. Relationship between material structure and plastic behaviour. Relationships between material structure and other properties (chemical, physical). Modification of the material properties: microstructural constituents (solid solutions, intermediate phases,...), phase diagrams and transformations (melting/solidification, precipitation hardening), basic knowledge on thermal treatments, microstructural evolution and effect on properties. Part 2: General discussion of the principal classes of the engineering materials (metals, ceramics, polymers), with specific examples on the most interesting materials. Building 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 some other metal alloys – such as aluminium, copper and titanium alloys will be discussed), 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.

In details, the course covers the following topics: 1. Materials introduction. Main materials related to the field of civil engineering. Classification. 2. Correlation structure-properties. Chemical bonds and influence on materials properties. Crystalline and amorphous materials structure. Elastic behaviour; yielding; ductile and brittle fatigue; resilience; principle of fracture mechanics. Tension, compressive, flexural, hardness, Charpy and cyclic tests. 3. Binding materials. Gypsum, lime and hydraulic lime. Portland cement; raw materials and production processes; composition; hydration; setting and hardening; development of microstructure; heat of hydration. Environmental concerns. Blended cements. 4. Concrete and reinforced concrete. Aggregates and mix-design. Concrete admixtures. Fresh concrete: workability, segregation and bleeding. Hardened concrete: microstructure, mechanical properties, hygrometric shrinkage, creep, cracking. Concrete degradation phenomena (overview). Introduction to concrete demolition wastes (CDW) and concrete recycling. Innovative cements and special concretes. 3D printing of concrete (robocasting). 5. Metals and alloys. Crystal structure of metals and phase diagrams. Strengthening mechanisms. Metals in construction: steel reinforcement for concrete, prestressed concrete, stainless steel, cast iron. Non-ferrous metals: copper and its alloys; aluminium. Forming of metals, shaping and finishing. Introduction to corrosion mechanisms. 6. Ceramics and glasses. Traditional ceramic products used in the construction field (brick, tiles, refractories). Main types of glasses: structure, properties and applications. 7. Polymers. Definition of a polymer and of a monomeric unit. Polymers classification and their use in the construction field. Polymers in the solid state: amorphous state; glass transition; crystalline state. Physical, thermal and mechanical properties and their correlation. Polymers processing, shaping and recycling. 8. Other materials. Composites and innovative materials.

The following textbooks are recommended: W.D. Callister, Jr. D. G. Rethwisch, Materials science and engineering. An introduction, John Wiley & Sons Inc (10th Edition, 2018); M. Soutsos, P.L.J. Domone, Construction Materials: Their Nature and Behaviour, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group (Fifth Edition, 2018); G.D. Taylor, Materials in construction: an introduction, Pearson Education (3rd Edition, 2000). Other reading materials will be provided by the professor during the course.

Lecture slides; Exercises; Exercise with solutions ; Multimedia materials;

Exam: Written test;

Learning will be assessed by a written exam of 1h and 30 min that comprises questions with open and closed answers covering all the topics explained during the course. Theoretical as well as simple analytical problems and exercises will be proposed. The evaluation aims to verify the level of learning and the degree of assimilation of the subjects presented and is based on the level of knowledge acquired, on the correctness of expression and terminology, and on the ability to connect the concepts. Particular attention will be given to the evaluations of the knowledge of the physical-microstructure characteristics of the most used materials and their durability but also the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the most used building materials. An example of a typical exam will be reviewed at the end of the course. Textbooks, lecture notes, formularies, and electronic devices cannot be used during the exam. The maximum score that can be achieved by the students is 30/30 cum laude.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.