MSEN 785 Phenomenological & Atomistic K
In this course students will learn about the interconnected processes that occur in materials at the macroscopic and microscopic levels in this course. Understanding irreversible thermodynamics—how systems evolve over time toward equilibrium—will be the focus.
Diffusion—the movement of atoms or molecules from high-concentration to low-concentration regions—will be covered throughout the course. Nucleation—the production of small atom or molecule clusters that can expand into bigger structures—will also be examined. Phase transformations, when materials change phases, will be studied in details explaining the processes leading to ssolidification, melting, and crystallization. Fluid and heat transmission will also be discussed. The course will explain how viscosity and thermal conductivity affect these processes. Morphological instabilities—when a system becomes unstable and changes shape or structure—will also be examined. The causes of pattern creation and surface roughness evolution are examined. Gas-solid, liquid-solid, and solid-solid processes will conclude the course. Students will discover how temperature, pressure, and surface area affect these reactions. This course teaches students about material kinetic and thermodynamic processes.