Semester-wise syllabus outline for an M.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering

Semester 1: Core Foundations 

1. Advanced Thermodynamics of Materials 

   - Gibbs free energy, phase equilibria, binary/ternary phase diagrams, CALPHAD method. 

2. Physical Metallurgy 

   - Crystal defects, diffusion mechanisms, recrystallization, precipitation hardening. 

3. Materials Characterization Techniques 

   - XRD, SEM, TEM, EBSD, spectroscopy (EDS, XPS), mechanical testing (hardness, tensile). 

4. Extractive Metallurgy 

   - Pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, ore beneficiation, slag chemistry. 

5. Lab 1: Basic Metallography & Testing 

   - Sample preparation (cutting, polishing, etching), microscopy, hardness testing. 

Semester 2: Advanced Processing & Applications 

1. Alloy Design & Development

   - Steel, aluminum, titanium, and superalloys; heat treatment (quenching, tempering, annealing). 

2. Computational Materials Science 

   - Phase-field modeling, molecular dynamics, finite element analysis (FEA) for microstructural evolution. 

3. Corrosion & Surface Engineering 

   - Electrochemical corrosion, coatings (PVD, CVD), surface modification techniques. 

4. Elective 1 (e.g., Nanomaterials or Powder Metallurgy) 

5. Lab 2: Advanced Characterization 

   - TEM for dislocation analysis, DSC/TGA for thermal properties, corrosion testing (polarization curves). 

Semester 3: Specialization & Project Work 

1. Elective 2 (e.g., Biomaterials or Additive Manufacturing) 

2. Elective 3 (e.g., Recycling of Metals or High-Temperature Materials) 

3. Industrial Metallurgy 

   - Process optimization, quality control (Six Sigma), industrial furnaces, sustainability in metal production. 

4. Project Work Part 1 

   - Research on topics like alloy design for aerospace, failure analysis, or slag utilization. 

5. Workshops/Industrial Training 

   - Software training (Thermo-Calc, JMatPro), plant visits (steel plants, foundries), ISO certifications. 

Semester 4: Thesis/Dissertation 

- Independent Research Thesis 

  - Focus areas: 

    - Development of lightweight alloys (e.g., Mg/Al composites), 

    - Sustainable extraction processes (e.g., zero-waste metallurgy), 

    - Advanced coatings for extreme environments, 

    - AI/ML for microstructure prediction. 

  - Thesis submission and defense. 

Elective Options (Semesters 2–3): 

- Composite Materials 

- Welding Metallurgy 

- Semiconductor Materials 

- Computational Thermodynamics (Thermo-Calc) 

- Nuclear Materials 

- Smart Materials (Shape Memory Alloys) 

Key Tools & Software: 

- Simulation: Thermo-Calc, MATLAB, COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS. 

- Characterization: ImageJ for microstructural analysis, OOF2 for property modeling. 

- Industry Tools: FactSage (pyrometallurgy), JMatPro (alloy design), ABAQUS for FEA. 

Lab/Practical Focus: 

1. Phase Diagram Analysis: Using Thermo-Calc to predict phase stability. 

2. Failure Analysis: Investigating fractures using SEM/EDS. 

3. Additive Manufacturing: 3D printing of metal powders (SLM, EBM). 

4. Hydrometallurgical Experiments:  Leaching, solvent extraction, electrowinning.