Polymers & Shape memory alloys (136241-SoSe24)

The module addresses students (Master courses, mechanical engineering) and consists of two lecture series. In the lectures on engineering polymers, first the basics of polymer materials are repeated. Then emphasis is placed on the macromolecular morphology of solid polymers. Important characterization methods like transmitted light optical microscopy and IR-spectroscopy are discussed. Moreover special mechanical test procedures for assessing the mechanical properties are introduced.

An important teaching objective is the acquisition and interpretation of mechanical and functional properties (to name but a few: viscous flow, damping, entropy elasticity and the shape memory effect in polymers). Finally polymer materials with special properties are discussed like particle or fibre reinforced polymers and high temperature polymers. In the classes on shape memory alloys first basic principles are repeated to establish common ground. Subsequently, the physical and crystallographic fundamentals of the martensitic transformation are discussed in the light of the latest results from materials research. This involves taking a close look at thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the martensitic transformations. Then advanced topics of shape memory alloy research are introduced and discussed. These involve modern processing technologies, the functional and structural fatigue of shape memory alloys and the development of new shape memory alloys (e.g. with low thermal hysteresis or with higher transformation temperatures).

The lecture consists of two parts and is led by Dr. rer. nat. Klaus Neuking (Polymers) and apl.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Frenzel (Shape Memory Alloys).

The course password will be announced in the first session.