Materials play a major role in civil design and for this reason "Technology of Construction Materials" intends to provide a thorough engineering culture on building and civil engineering materials. In addition to theoretical insights, the course shows many applicative uses of materials in order to stimulate students ability and critical sensitivity on how material properties constitute a crucial information for the selection of an optimal materials and processing route for the realization of civil engineer structures. Technological processes for materials production and for the optimization of their properties will also be illustrated in details.

The overall aim of the course is to supply the student with a robust background in construction materials, encompassing both scientific and technological knowledge, and providing general guidelines for translating scientific knowledge into an effective tool for civil engineering design.
The student will learn:
- how scientific principles are exploited in controlling relevant properties of construction materials;
- the international (English) nomenclature and terminology;
- the main international standards for the definition and characterization of constructions materials;
- how to select materials to fulfill design and project requirements;
- how to evaluate material properties, and to plan material testing activities, for both purchasing and quality control activities.

Basic knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, Structural mechanics, and Material Science and Technology

Metals (30h)
The metallic bond and the crystal structures of metals. Elements of metals crystallography: FCC, BCC, and HCP structures; planes and directions; Miller indeces; interstitial sites; point defects and solid solutions; dislocations, slip systems, and plastic deformation.
The tensile test: elastic and plastic deformation, engineering and true curves, results.
Strenghtening of metals and alloys: strain hardening; solid-solution strengthening; grain boundaries grain refinement; precipitation strengthening.
The Brinell, Vickers and Rockwell hardness tests.
Principles of ironmaking and steelmaking: blast furnace and basic oxigen furnace; electric-arc furnace; ladle metallurgy; continuous casting; hot rolling.
Binary phase diagrams of metals: principles and examples.
The Fe-C phase diagram. Transformation of austenite into ferrite and pearlite. Elements of metallography.
Pearlitic steels: rail steels; eutectoid steel wires and wire ropes: fabrication and properties.
Steel metallurgy: reconstructive and displacive transformations; formation, structure and properties of martensite and bainite; kinetic of phase transformations.
Mechanical properties of low carbon, ferritic-pearlitic steels. Strenghtening of low carbon steels by microalloying and thermomechanical treatment; grain refinement and precipitation hardening effects; application to HSLA weldable steel rebars.
Cold working and subcritical annealing. Full annealing and normalization. Steel quenching: thermophysical issues, hardenability, ideal critical diameter. Quenching and tempering. Effects of tempering on microstructures and mechanical properties.
The tempcore process for weldable steel rebars: hot rolling, partial quenching, and auto-tempering.
Steel welding and weldability: fusion zone and heat-affected zone, weld defects, microstructures, equivalent carbon content. Welding technologies: Oxy-fuel welding, exothermic welding, arc welding and resistance welding.
The Charpy impact tests and the brittle-to-ductile transition in low-alloy steels; effects of composition, microstructure and heat treatment. Fractography and microscopic fracture mechanisms: cleavage, intergranular fracture, and microvoid coalescence.
Classification and designation of main steel products for civil engineering: products used for reinforced concrete and pre-stressed concrete, for welded metal structures, and for bolts; classes, specifications, microstructural and mechanical properties.
Corrosion of metals: electrochemical principles; galvanic corrosion; passivation; pitting and crevice corrosion. Weathering steels and zinc-coated steels.
Stainless steels: main concepts and role of alloy elements. Austenitic, ferritic, and duplex stainless steels: compositions, grades and properties; second phases; sensitization; heat treatments.
Non-ferrous alloys: aluminum alloys, copper alloys.

Non Metallic materials (30h)
Glass production: energy saving glasses and relevant standards. Exercises. Chromogenic and photocromic glasses.
Thermal insulation: thermal properties of materials; foam glass; innovative materials. Phase modification materials and heat accumulation properties.
Semiconducting materials and photovoltaic system (materials, structure and uses).
Polymeric materials: fundamentals, structure, synthesis and manufacturing technologies. Polymeric materials for civil engineering applications: foams, adhesives, painting and sealants.
Composite materials: fundamentals, classification, reinforcing mechanisms, manufacturing, fibers reinforced composites, with emphasis on fibers reinforced polymers.
Bitumen and derivatives (properties and applications).
Wood: structure, mechanical strength, deformation and degradation. Timber-frame and lamellar wood.

Theoretical classes (prevalent) and practical exercises (on some parts).

Learning is based mainly on the lecture notes provided by the professors and available on the web site, and on the students’ own notes. The following textbooks are recommended for consultation:
- Callister and Rethwisch, "Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction" (metals and non-metals)
- Campbell, "Elements of Metallurgy and Engineering Alloys" (metals only)
- Krauss, "Steels, Processing, Structure, and Performance" (metals only)

Individual written test, consisting of 2 or 3 question on metals and 2 or 3 questions on non-metals, with a total duration of about 2 h.
The evaluation includes all lecture topics. Textbooks, lecture notes, formularies, and electronic devices cannot be used during the exam.