Materials Science and Engineering

(First level discipline code: 0805 Master degree in Engineering)

1. Educational objectives

The goal of the discipline is to cultivate high-level innovative talents working in the fields of teaching, scientific research, design, management and engineering related to materials. Degree recipients should be qualified with solid foundational theories, extensive professional knowledge and broad international perspective.And also, they should be able to use a foreign language expertly.They are supposed to be familiar with foundational theories of the discipline and frontier trends of engineering technology development. They should have strong abilities of theoretical analysis, experimental studies and solving key interdisciplinary problems, and can get engaged in scientific research which is related to the practical problems of the discipline or undertake specialized engineering and technical work, then acquire systematic research achievements.

2.Brief introduction to subject clots, specialties and research directions

This discipline was established in 1958. It was one of the first batches of master degree sections in China. Material Processing Engineering and Materials Science were approved of granting doctoral degree in 1984 and in 1993 respectively. The discipline of materials science and engineering was approved of establishing post-doctoral research station in 1992 and doctoral degree site of the first level discipline of materials science and engineering in 2001. It owns three doctoral degree sites with second level discipline, including material processing engineering, materials science, material physics and chemistry, and four independently doctoral degree sites with second level discipline, including material surface engineering, material joining technology, polymer materials, and nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials. The discipline of materials science and engineering became the first level key discipline of Liaoning province in 2008.

The discipline site owns one research innovation team of the ministry of education, one key laboratory of the ministry of education, three key laboratories of Liaoning province, one key laboratory of Liaoning province universities, and two technology research centers of Liaoning province. Material Test and Analysis Center of Dalian University of Technology owns advanced analysis equipment, including high resolution transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe, DSC differential thermal analyzer, X-ray diffractometer, fluorescence X-ray spectrometer, and superconducting high magnetic field. In 2006, the center was granted “Postgraduate Training Base of the Key Discipline Area in Liaoning Province Universities”.

Several key research directions have been established in this discipline, including Materials Modification by Plasma and Energetic Beams, Green Joining Technology and Equipment, Electromagnetic Casting of Non-Ferrous Alloys, Solar Photovoltaic Materials, Materials Design and Application, and Computer Application for Material Processing. In recent five years, the discipline has obtained 89 invention patents, commercialization of 40 achievements, 2 second prizes of national technological invention, 16 first or second prize awards on the provincial and ministerial level, and 16 appraised achievements. “High Conductive Aluminum Alloy Material” was listed as designated products for “West-East Pipeline Project” and “Three Gorges Project”. “Material Electromagnetic Processing Technology” on the international leading level was appraised as national initiative. This technology has been involved in developing a new type of high conductive, high strength contact line, which has been applied in the high-speed rail from Beijing to Shanghai. The product of “Low Chromium Austenitic Stainless Steel Welding Material” was identified as national industry standard, and widely applied in domestic petrochemical enterprises. A number of domestic industrialization bases with Laser-argon arc welding technology of Magnesium alloys have been established. Polycrystalline silicon prepared from the metallurgical technology has been applied in a number of domestic enterprises. The poly-Si was listed as key product of national new material industrial during the 12th 5-year plan. Meanwhile, a demonstration base of solar energy photovoltaic system has been established. As chief executive unit, the discipline site is undertaking a 973 project of “Key scientific problems of nuclear main pump manufacture” to offer key technology to the manufacture of nuclear power products.

Main research directions and details:

1). Plasma and Beams Surface Modification of Materials

Advanced surface engineering technology is being increasingly important and indispensable to improve performance and prolong lifetime of key components in equipment for major industrial fields especially with harsh working conditions, such as applications in nuclear power plant, aerospace, naval vessels, etc. The research mainly includes the theory, processing methods and application research of low-temperature plasma surface modification; the theory and technical research of plasma enhanced physical and chemical vapor deposition; surface modification and shock processing based onenergetic beams modification and pulse power techniques;non-detective testing of engineering surfaces and real-time evaluation technology to properties of new principles and its service process.

2). The green welding and joining technology and equipment

Based on the requirement of green welding and joining theory, technology and equipment in the field of national major projects and international frontier basic research, the following research directions are carried out: Laser induced-strengthened arc green welding theory, technology and equipment; High efficiency activating welding theory, technology and materials; High energy beam / adhesive hybrid joining theory and technology; Environmental friendly welding materials preparation and application; Interface design of dissimilar materials joining and the surface protection technology.

3). Nonferrous Alloy and its forming technology under physical field

Study the conveying and control of physical quantities during materials solidification and processing, and explore the effective and environmental preparative techniques of high-performance materials; Apply external fields, such as electro-magnetic field and ultrasonic field, to the study and preparation of materials to obtain high-performance aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys and copper alloys; Research the visualization of metallic alloy crystal in-situ growth under the interference of external fields; Research new techniques for multi-layer materials, preparation of ultra-light porous metal materials, laminated composite materials as well as the particle reinforced composites; Explore new techniques of high-purity materials preparations, and provide high-purity aluminum alloys and copper alloys for informational field, power transmission and transformation and high speed railways.

4). Solar Photovoltaic Materials

This research direction centers on the silicon materials that are considered necessary in photovoltaic industry as well as the core supporting materials utilized in silicon preparation process, which includes the research on basic science and application of photovoltaic materials represented by polycrystalline silicon, thermal field materials, coating materials and electrode materials. The main work focuses on the preparation mechanism of high purity silicon, the migration mechanism and removal behavior of impurities in silicon, thermal field simulation of melting and solidification process, and the properties of the required thermal field materials, crucible coating materials and electrode materials, etc.

5).Applications of computer technologies in materials processing

The computational simulation and modeling is conducted for materials processing, such as casting, forging, welding and heat treatment, to optimize the processing parameters and structural parameters of equipment. The simulation involves temperature, fluid flow, stress, solute and electromagnetic fields on macroscopic scale; grain nucleation and growing on mesoscopic scale; molecular dynamics and first principles on microscopic scale, and the on-line monitoring and visual, intelligent comprehensive controlling technology in the continuous casting process.

6). Strength and Reliability of Materials

Aimed at strength design and reliability evaluation of vital engineering equipment, the research of service condition, medium, and the regulations between tissue structure and properties of engineering equipment and component materials is carried out. And the academic research of deformation and damage behavior of materials, strength design and operational reliability has formed and been applied to engineering. The research topics includes: strength and deformation behavior of materials; creep, fatigue, fracture and life expectancy of high-temperature materials and components; corrosion and protection of metallic materials; failure analysis and reliability evaluation of materials.

7). Materials Design and Applications

The present project focuses on the compositional and structural design principles at the atomic scale, based on the ‘cluster-plus-glue-atom model’ which is the unique theory previously developed by us. Our investigation, in combination with materials calculation and experiments, aims at forming a world-famous research orientation being able to guide the research and development of a variety of materials such as engineering alloys, bio-alloys, information materials, thin film materials, solar energy materials, and hydrogen energy materials. Novel and special functional materials play a key role in the development of high technology industry. This research direction consists of preparation, microstructure characterization, assessment of functional properties, and basis theory and application for magnetic materials, piezoelectric materials, electromagnetic shielding materials, high temperature materials, biomedical materials, fuel cell materials, shape memory materials, stealth and absorbing materials, electronic packaging materials, etc. New ideas, new designs, and new process for functional materials are investigated and developed.Arc-discharge plasma acts as the core technology to prepare nanopowders of metals, alloys, graphene, silicon nanosheets, ceramics and “core/shell” type composites, etc. The surface modification, function and engineering on nanopowders are also developed.

3. Training methods

The training of academic master degree students combines systematic theory study with scientific research, and also combines individual guidance from their own supervisors with collective cultivation from the laboratories. The training methods combine lectures with discussion and self-studies. In addition to the guidance from the supervisor and collective cultivation from the laboratories, the students will be strongly encouraged to improve theirabilities of self-studies, working independently and innovation. The supervisor should pay very close attention to the growth of students, including teaching and educating.

The course program for master degree study is based on credit system, meaning thatthe postgraduate students have to earn all the required credits before they apply for their dissertation defense.

4. Periodlimit of schooling

1).Basic length of schooling: 3 years

2).The longest time of schooling is 4 years for academicmaster degree application, from the enrollment day to the day when the degree committee of university discuss the dissertation (including suspension time).

3). Within the period prescribed by basic length of schooling, postgraduatesare supposed to finish their dissertation defense and academic degree conferring examination and so on.

For academically legitimate reasons, the longest time for academic master degree application can be elongated to four years with the prerequisites that: the postgraduate student submits the dissertation progress report and application report for deferment of dissertation to the academic degree evaluation sub-committee of the school within two months before the end of the basic length of schooling; the reports are examined and approved by the academic degree evaluation sub-committee and then examined and approved by the academic degree evaluation committee of DUT.

5. Course credit requirements and curriculum provision

Required total credits for academic master degree study should not be less than 32 in principle, including at least 21 credits for compulsory courses and at least 11 credits for elective courses.

For the studentscoming from different disciplinesand therefore being lack of the fundamentalknowledge on the undergraduate level, theynormally should select 1 to 4 undergraduate courses with the guidance of the supervisor as additional courses. And the student will get 1 credit after passing the examination of one additional course, which will be considered as a component of the elective courses credit.

6.Requirements for dissertation preparation procedure

1). Opening report

The opening report of academic master degree study should be finished in the third semester, and it should be finished on the base of reading a certain amount of Chinese and English literature, including at least 60 Chinese academic papers and 20 English papers. The evaluation to opening report is organized by school according to research direction, and the assessment team appointed by school is made of 3 to 5 people, who are specialists in the same or similar research direction. Students are required to preparean‘Opening report of academic master degree dissertation of Dalian University of Technology’, which includes research topic selection, literature screening, difficulty of study, plan and fundamental of research, writing ability, and defense skills, etc. Then they should prepare PowerPoint presentation, and self-representation time and question time should not be less than 10 minutes. The evaluation team has to assess the qualifying report seriously with comments of pass or failure. Related teachers and postgraduates are welcome toattend the meeting.If the dissertation topic is interdisciplinary, supervisors in related research fields will be invited to take part in the meeting of opening report. The student who fails to pass the evaluation at the first time could apply the second examination after 3 months. But if the student fails again, she/he will be dismissed.

2). Mid-term assessment

The mid-term assessment of academic master degree study should be carried out in the fifth semester. The evaluation is organized by school, and the assessment team appointed by school is made of 3 to 5 people, who are mastersupervisorsin the same or similar research area. Students are required to prepare a ‘Mid-term report of academic master degree dissertation of Dalian University of Technology’, which includes the process of dissertation, the correction of partial results, whether the schedule has to be adjusted, the correction of the follow-up work thoughts, whether the progress can be guaranteed, whether the expectation could be achieved, whether the quality of dissertation could be guaranteed and the existing problems. Then they should prepare PowerPoint presentation, and self-representation time and question time should not be less than 10 minutes. The evaluation team has to assess the mid-term report seriously with comments of pass or failure. The postgraduate who fails to pass the evaluation at the first time could apply the second examination after 3 months. But if the student fails again, she/he will be dismissed.

3). Academic activities

The postgraduate are required to attend various academic activities, and fill the record forms to present the activity content and achievements. Academic master degree students should attend at least 6 academic activities, including at least 1 activity as a host.

4). Publish academic papers

The postgraduates pursuing academic master degree are required to publish at least one paper in the public journals. (Notes: Dalian University of Technology should be the first affiliation, and the postgraduate should be the first author, or the supervisor is the first author (excluding the vive-supervisor) and the student is the second author. The publications on informal international and domestic conference proceedings, online-edition academic periodical of schools, scientific-paper-online, will not be taken into account.)

7. Scientific research and dissertation requirement

After getting the required credits, students should perform deep and systematic scientific research, including reading literatures, selecting topics, in-depth theoretical analysis, computer programming and(or) experiments, study of commercial software and the practice of that, mastery of numerical analysis methods, analysis and solution of engineering problems, attending research projects and preparing valuable research report by their own. Then they should write the dissertation matched the requirements.

The dissertation should possess systematic research ideas and plans, reflect the scientific process of research, own independent opinions and academic exploration, be scientific advance and valuable for significant engineering applications. Abundant work and clear as well as convincible research conclusions should be included. The writing of dissertation should match the writing criterion ofscientific papers, and possess great logicality, concise and clear word expression, under-required English abstract.

8. Reference books and related academic journals

Omitted.

9. Assessment and defense of dissertation

The format of dissertation should strictly follow the dissertation template of Dalian University of Technology.Duplicate checking, external auditor (spot checking), pre-defense and final defense of dissertation should be carried out according to‘Working instruction of degree awarding of Dalian University of Technology’ and relevant documents of degree awarding management.

10. Graduation and degree awarding

Postgraduates, who get required creditsand pass the dissertation oral defense, are allowed to graduate and are granted the certificate of graduation. Assessed by the degree evaluation sub-committee of schools and further by the committee of university, the postgraduate could be awarded with master degree, and be granted the certificate of diploma.