Fondamenti di Materiali Ecosostenibili

The aim of the course is to provide students with fundamental knowledge of the main classes of engineering materials, their properties, and the criteria used to assess their suitability for specific applications, with particular attention to sustainability. The course addresses the main aspects related to sustainable materials, durability, recovery, recycling, and end-of-life.

The course also introduces criteria for materials selection based on technical and environmental requirements, including the use of materials databases and software-based selection tools. Guided exercises focus on comparing alternative materials, interpreting materials selection charts, and performing simplified environmental assessments. The latter are introduced at a basic, non-specialist level, with the aim of integrating environmental aspects into the materials selection process.

The skills acquired can be applied to the selection, use, and management of materials for engineering applications, with attention to the responsible use of resources, reduction of environmental impacts, and technological innovation, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” and 12 “Responsible Consumption and Production” of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Knowledge and understanding

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of:

·        the main classes of materials and the corresponding classification criteria;

·        the main mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of materials and the essential relationships among structure, properties, and in-service behaviour;

·        the main categories of sustainable materials, including materials from renewable resources, bio-based materials, recycled materials, and recyclable materials;

·        the fundamental concepts of durability, reuse, recovery, recycling, and end-of-life;

·        the basic criteria for materials selection according to design requirements;

·        the meaning and use of materials selection charts and simple performance indices;

·        the main environmental attributes used to compare materials;

·        the basic principles of materials selection using materials databases and simplified environmental assessment.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

·        identify and classify the main families of materials;

·        compare materials according to the properties required by the application;

·        identify function, requirements, constraints, and objectives in a simple materials selection problem;

·        use property charts and simple performance indices to compare different classes of materials;

·        use materials databases and software tools for basic materials selection procedures;

·        compare alternative materials by jointly considering technical performance and key environmental aspects;

·        develop and discuss a simple materials selection case study.

Making judgements

Through guided exercises, materials comparison, and case-study discussions, students will develop the ability to critically evaluate different alternatives and justify the selection of a material by considering performance, durability, cost, recoverability, and key environmental aspects, while recognizing trade-offs between technical requirements and sustainability.

Communication skills

Students will be able to describe the properties and characteristics of the main classes of materials using appropriate technical terminology, explain the criteria adopted for their selection, and present the results of a case study in a concise and well-reasoned manner, also using charts and comparative data.

Learning skills

Students will acquire the skills required to independently deepen and update their knowledge through specialized textbooks, materials databases, technical documentation, and scientific literature, and to follow developments in materials and materials selection criteria from a sustainability perspective.

The course consists of 28 hours of lectures and 65 hours of guided practical activities. The lectures are aimed at providing the fundamental knowledge of materials classes, material properties, sustainable materials, and materials selection criteria.

The guided practical activities focus on materials comparison, the reading and interpretation of materials selection charts, the use of materials databases and software-based support tools, and the progressive development of simple case studies. These activities enable students to move from understanding material properties to formulating a reasoned materials selection.

The course is organized into two integrated parts: 6 CFU mainly devoted to materials classes, their properties, sustainable materials, durability, recovery, recycling, and end-of-life; and 3 CFU mainly devoted to materials selection criteria, materials selection charts, assisted selection, and introductory environmental assessment.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

·        Basic knowledge of chemistry and physics (important).

·        Knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of solids and the main physical quantities used to describe materials (useful).

Attendance is mandatory. 

Fundamentals and materials

1. Introduction to materials: role of materials in engineering; main families of materials; classification and general comparison criteria.

2. Material properties and behaviour: main mechanical, physical, and thermal properties; essential relationships among structure, properties, processing, and in-service behaviour.

3. Materials classes and applications: metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, and materials of natural origin; main characteristics, limitations, and fields of application.

4. Sustainable materials: general sustainability criteria; materials from renewable resources, bio-based materials, recycled materials, recyclable materials, and materials with reduced environmental impact.

5. Durability and service life: in-service durability, maintenance, degradation, and opportunities for extending the service life of materials and components.

6. Recovery, reuse, recycling, and end-of-life: principles of recovery and reuse; recycling of the main classes of materials; end-of-life scenarios and application examples.

Materials selection and environmental criteria

7. Materials selection criteria: definition of the selection problem; function, requirements, constraints, objectives, and free variables; preliminary screening and ranking of alternatives.

8. Materials selection charts: comparison of properties; property-property charts; reading and interpretation of selection charts; introduction to simple performance indices.

9. Database-assisted materials selection: materials databases; property search and comparison; progressive application of constraints; graphical representation and comparison of alternatives.

10. Sustainability in materials selection: introduction to the main environmental attributes of materials; embodied energy, associated emissions, recycled content, recyclability, durability, and end-of-life.

11. Introductory environmental assessment: life-cycle concept; raw material, production, transport, use, and end-of-life; use of simplified environmental assessment tools to compare alternative materials.

12. Materials selection case study: application of selection criteria to a simple component; comparison of alternatives and justification of the final choice based on technical and environmental requirements.

1.        B. Del Curto, C. Marano, M.P. Pedeferri (eds.), Materiali per il Design. Introduzione ai materiali e alle loro proprietà, 2nd ed., Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2015.

Recommended textbook for further study

2.        M.F. Ashby, Materials Selection in Mechanical Design, Elsevier.

The assessment of the course consists of a written test, a short applied assignment, and an oral examination.

The written test is designed to assess students’ knowledge of the main classes of materials, their properties, sustainable materials, and the fundamental criteria for materials selection. The test includes open-ended questions and, where appropriate, simple application exercises.

The applied assignment consists of a simple materials selection case study in which students compare different alternatives and justify their choice on the basis of technical and environmental requirements, using materials databases and software tools where appropriate.

The oral examination covers the entire syllabus and includes discussion of the applied assignment. It is aimed at assessing students’ ability to establish connections among the different course topics, apply the acquired knowledge to simple engineering problems, and critically justify their choices.

The final evaluation will take into account knowledge of the course contents, the relevance and accuracy of the answers provided, the ability to establish connections among the different topics covered in the course, the ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the case study, the appropriate use of technical terminology, and the overall clarity of presentation.

Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should the conditions require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current regulations, students with specific needs may request a personal meeting in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on the learning objectives and their individual requirements. Students may also contact the CInAP (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) representative of their Department.

·        The candidate shall describe the main families of materials and compare their fundamental properties.

·        The candidate shall explain what is meant by a sustainable material and discuss some criteria that can be used to assess its suitability for an application.

·        The candidate shall describe the main opportunities for recovery, reuse, and recycling of a selected class of materials.

·        Given a simple component, the candidate shall identify the function, requirements, constraints, and objectives of the materials selection problem.

·        The candidate shall explain the concept of a performance index and describe its role in comparing materials.

·        Given a simple application case, the candidate shall justify the selection of the most suitable material among a set of proposed alternatives.