2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Environmental Degradation of Materials
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Eiji Tada
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.M403
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Long-term reliability of materials in usage environments is one of the most important properties for structural and functional materials. This course provides an overview of environmental degradation of structural and functional materials in various environments based on electrochemistry and surface science. In addition, this course introduces evaluation methods for environmental strength and life time of metallic materials.
This course aims to understand fundamental aspects for corrosion degradation of metallic materials in various environments and to propose appropriate methods of corrosion prevention.
Course description and aims
By completing this course, students will be able to understand corrosion degradation mechanisms of metallic materials and to evaluate
Keywords
Electrochemistry, Corrosion, Passvity, Environmentally Induced Cracking
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Lecture and exercises in the class
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction Fundamentals of electrochemistry for corrosion research | Understand the course objectives Review of fundamentals of electrochemistry |
| Class 2 | Thermodynamics of electrochemistry (Activity, Activity coefficient, Electrode potential, Potential-pH (Pourbaix) diagrams) | Understand thermodynamics of electrochemistry |
| Class 3 | Kinetics of electrochemical reactions 1 (Fundamentals of electrode kinetics, Absolute rate theory, Butler-Volmer equation) | Understand kinetic treatment of electrode reactions |
| Class 4 | Kinetics of electrochemical reactions 2 (Multi-step reactions, rater-determining step, Tafel slope, Order of reaction) | Understand the rate-determining step of multi-step reactions |
| Class 5 | Anodic dissolution mechanisms of metals | Understand anodic dissolution of metals |
| Class 6 | Anodic dissolution mechanisms of alloys | Understand anodic dissolution mechnism of alloys |
| Class 7 | Passivity of metals | Understand formation of passivity and resulting corrosion resistance |
| Class 8 | Corrosion of metals and forms of corrosion, Mid-term exam. | Understand of corrosion of metals based on electrochemistry |
| Class 9 | Electrochemical methods and surface analysis for corrosion research | Understand electrochemical methods for corrosion research |
| Class 10 | Aqueous corrosion of steels (Carbon steels, Low-alloy steels, Stainless steels) | Understand of corrosion degradation of various steels |
| Class 11 | Localized corrosion of corrosion-resistant alloys | Understand of localized corrosion mechnisms |
| Class 12 | Environmentally-Induced craking (Stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, Hydrogen embrittlement) | Understand the mecanisms of environmentally induced crackings |
| Class 13 | Corrosnio of non-ferrous metals | Understand of corrosion features of non-ferrous metallic matarials |
| Class 14 | Surface treatments for corrosion prevention | Understand principles of corrosion prevention and surface treatments |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts delivered in the class
Reference books, course materials, etc.
H. Kita, K. Uosaki, Denkikagaku no kiso, Gihodo, 1997
D. A. Jones, "Principles and Prevention of Corrosion" Prentice Hall, 1996
Evaluation methods and criteria
Achievement will be evaluated by the assignment level and the results of term-end exams.
Related courses
- MAT.M308 ： Electrochemistry of Metals
- MAT.A204 ： Thermodynamics of Materials
Prerequisites
None
Other
None