University Of British Columbia Corrosion

General Group Overview

The Corrosion group can be found on the University of British Columbia’s campus in the Frank Forward Building.

Our research focus is electrochemical processes with focus on high temperature and pressure applications, corrosion electrochemical synthesis of nano-crystalline materials, aqueous electrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy and fuel cell.

Graduate Studies

Corrosion is a multidisciplinary field. Great opportunities are open to enthusiastic students with education background in Physics, Chemistry, Materials and other engineering fields. Graduate students can register for either a Ph.D. or an M.A.Sc. degree in the Departments of Materials Engineering.

Undergraduate Studies

Students may apply for Co-op students or research assistants in corrosion projects.

Research

Our research spans the fields of advanced metals processing, biomaterials, ceramics, composites, corrosion, hydrometallurgy, microstructure, and semiconductors.

Information on some of the centres and initiatives faculty are involved in can be found in the left hand menu under resources.

The research activities of the department are organized into a number of laboratories. Research is carried out in both the Frank Forward Building and the Brimacombe Building (AMPEL) on UBC campus. Details on research groups can be found in the left hand menu and below.

ubc materials engineering courses

Second Year

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Course	Title	Description	Credits
MTRL 201	Technical Communication	Written and oral communication in business correspondence, engineering design methods, report preparation, and oral presentations of technical materials.	3
APSC 278	Engineering Materials	Atomic bonding; crystal structures and imperfections; properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, wood, concrete and fibre composite materials; selection of materials; corrosion; mechanical testing and heat treatment.	3
APSC 279	Engineering Materials Laboratory	Atomic bonding; crystal structures and imperfections; properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, wood, concrete and fibre composite materials; selection of materials; corrosion; mechanical testing and heat treatment.	1
MATH 253	Multivariable Calculus	Partial and directional derivatives; maxima and minima; Lagrange multipliers and second derivative test; multiple integrals and applications. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.	3
MATH 255	Ordinary Differential Equations	Review of linear systems; nonlinear equations and applications; phase plane analysis; Laplace transforms; numerical methods. Please consult the Faculty of Science Credit Exclusion List: www.students.ubc.ca/calendar/index.cfm?tree=12,215,410,414.	3
MECH 260	Introduction to Mechanics of Materials	Statically determinate frames and trusses; normal and shear stresses and strains; shear force and bending moment diagrams; theory of beam bending, torsion of circular rods; transformation of stress and strain in two and three dimensions, Mohr’s circle; yield and ultimate failure criteria.	3
MTRL 250	Principles and Calculations in Materials Engineering	Basic heat and mass balances applied to materials engineering; thermodynamic principles applied to materials processing: heat of reaction, free energy, activity, phase equilibrium.	4
MTRL 252	Thermodynamics of Materials I	High temperature equilibria: reactions involving gases, Ellingham diagrams, phase diagrams; thermodynamics of combustion systems relevant to materials engineering; advanced heat and mass balances applied to materials engineering.	4
MTRL 263	Transport Phenomena I	Fluid statics; fluid mechanics; laminar and turbulent flow; equations of continuity and motion; boundary layers; flow in conduits and packed and fluidized beds; flow measurements.	3
MTRL 264	Transport Phenomena II	Conduction, forced and natural convection, and radiation. Heat transfer with fluid flow, applications of heat exchange, and solidification of castings.	3
MTRL 280	Materials in Design	The process of materials selection for different design criteria; the importance of shape and processing variables; the use of computer software in the selection process.	3
Complementary Studies electives			6

Third Year

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Course	Title	Description	Credits
MTRL 320	Management of Engineering Design	Fundamental communication and inter-personal skills, as well as operational processes, that engineers require to effectively work in design teams. Concepts and best practices around project management tools and techniques, team dynamics, planning, and organization.	3
MTRL 340	Manufacturing in Materials Engineering	Manufacturing processes from a materials perspective; metal casting, heat treating processes, forming processes, machining and joining. Role of manufacturing in microstructure and material properties development and on component performance.	3
MTRL 350	Thermodynamics of Materials II	Low temperature equilibria: solution thermochemistry, electrochemistry, chemical potential and free energy diagrams applied to materials processing and thermodynamic modelling.	4
MTRL 358	Hydrometallurgy I	Aqueous extraction of metals from ores and concentrates.	3
MTRL 359	Hydrometallurgy I Laboratory	Laboratory exercises on aqueous extraction of metals from ores and concentrates.	1
MTRL 361	Modelling of Materials Processes	Mathematical and physical modelling of processes employed in the production of materials. The application of models to analyse, design and improve materials production.	4
MTRL 363	Transport Phenomena III – Mass Transport	Diffusion and mass transfer with chemical reaction; gas-liquid, gas-solid and liquid-liquid systems; analysis of mass transfer processes in metallurgical operations; mixing in continuous and batch processes.	3
MTRL 365	Mechanical Behaviour of Materials	Polycrystalline and single crystal deformation; dislocation theory; strengthening mechanisms; fracture mechanics; fatigue; high temperature deformation mechanisms.	3
MTRL 378	Phase Transformations	Solidification and solid state transformations; nucleation and growth processes; segregation and structure in castings; phase changes in steel; transformation diagrams; diffusion equations.	3
MTRL 381	Structure and Properties Laboratory	Structure and properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; heat treatment; hardenability; metallography; age hardening.	1
MTRL 382	Ceramics	Fundamentals of engineering ceramics focusing on raw materials, forming, sintering and properties, characterization, and design with ceramics.	4
MTRL 394	Polymers and Polymer Matrix Composites	The structure and properties of polymeric materials, reinforced polymers and polymer matrix composites with emphasis on their engineering properties and applications.	4
STAT 251	Elementary Statistics	Probability, discrete and continuous random variables, joint probability distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression, analysis of variance, goodness of fit. (Consult the Credit Exclusion list within the Faculty of Science section of the Calendar).	3

Fourth Year

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Course	Title	Description	Credits
APSC 450	Professional Engineering Practice	Legislation affecting the practice of engineering; ethical principles and responsibilities. Management of engineering enterprises; labour relations, safety and environmental legislation. Restricted to engineering undergraduate students in the final year of their program.	2
MTRL 455	Economic Aspects of Materials Engineering	Time value of money, cash flows, capital and operating cost estimation, financial decision making and relevant case studies.	3
MTRL 456	Environmental Degradation of Materials	Fundamental aspects of environmental degradation of metals (corrosion), ceramics, and polymers, with an emphasis on aqueous environments.	3
MTRL 460	Monitoring and Optimization of Materials Processing	Measurement systems for materials processing and evaluation, methods of data collection and analysis in materials engineering, materials processing monitoring and control, design of experiments for materials processing and optimization.	3
MTRL 466	Engineering Project I	Design projects to illustrate the full spectrum of design encountered in Metals and Materials Engineering including the design of components, structures and processes used to manufacture materials.	3
MTRL 467	Engineering Project II	Design projects to illustrate the full spectrum of design encountered in Metals and Materials Engineering including the design of components, structures and processes used to manufacture materials.	3
MTRL 489	Seminar III	Training and practice in public speaking and presentation of technical papers.	1
Technical electives*			21

Subject to change.

4th-year streams

Materials Manufacturing and Performance

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Course	Title	Description
MTRL 442	Coatings and Surface Modifications	Strategies for ceramic and metallic coatings by melting-solidification, from the vapour state and from solution, and methods of surface modification.
MTRL 451	Microstructural Analysis Laboratory	Basic principles and techniques of microstructural analysis with particular reference to engineered materials including x-ray, SEM microprobe TEM and high energy electron analysis.
MTRL 471	Nanofibre Technology	Introduction to nanomaterials in the form of fibres and composites, including processing, structure, characterization methods, properties, and modelling. Credit will only be given for one of MTRL 471 or MTRL 571.
MTRL 472	Welding and Joining of Materials	Case studies addressing temperature modelling in welding and joining, material selection for welds and joints, calculation of properties for welds and joints, mechanical analysis of joints, and design of welding and joining procedures.
MTRL 475	Microstructure Engineering	Follows the production of metallurgical products, focusing on process design models used to describe solidification, recrystallization, and precipitation.
MTRL 478	Electronic Materials	Semiconductor materials, MOSFET structure, operation and applications in digital circuits, fabrication techniques, basic mask and fabrication flow design and semiconductor fabrication process theories at an entry level.
MTRL 485	Failure of Materials	Failure by excess deformation, fracture, fatigue, and environmental effects. Failure theories and case studies of engineering failures.
MTRL 494	Composite Materials	Understanding the properties and the mechanical behaviour of composite materials with emphasis on analysis, design, and manufacturing. Credit will only be given for one of MTRL 494, 594.

Minerals and Metals Extraction

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Course	Title	Description
CHBE 355	Kinetics and Reactor Design	Kinetics of homogeneous chemical and biological reactions, isothermal ideal reactor design, analysis of non-ideal reactors using residence time distribution and mixing models.
MINE 331	Physical Mineral Processes	Mineral processing unit operations and sampling, crushing, grinding, screening, classification, gravity separation, magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, concentrate dewatering practices.
MINE 333	Flotation	Theory and technology of flotation and ancillary processes.
MINE 434	Processing Precious Metal Ores	Process alternatives and mineralogical considerations; physical and chemical recovery technologies; environmental protection; flowsheet studies.
MTRL 442	Coatings and Surface Modifications	Strategies for ceramic and metallic coatings by melting-solidification, from the vapour state and from solution, and methods of surface modification.
MTRL 458	Hydrometallurgy II	Leaching, purification, precipitation, regeneration; thermodynamics and kinetics of separation steps; electrochemical applications.
MTRL 475	Microstructure Engineering	Follows the production of metallurgical products, focusing on process design models used to describe solidification, recrystallization, and precipitation.

Biomaterials Engineering

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Course	Title	Description
BMEG 410	Biomedical Equipment, Physiology, and Anatomy	Principles and operation of biomedical equipment for cardiovascular system, respiratory system, renal dialysis, endoscopy, surgery, and imaging. Functional relationships of biomedical equipment to physiology and anatomy of major body systems. Credit is given for one of BMEG 410 or 510.
BMEG 456	Clinical and Industrial Biomedical Engineering	Principles of clinical practice, Canadian healthcare system, medical approach to diagnosis, ethics and regulations for clinical trials, medical technology management, medical device development and standards, biostatistics. Credit will be granted for only one of BMEG 257, BMEG 456, BMEG 556.
MTRL 442	Coatings and Surface Modifications	Strategies for ceramic and metallic coatings by melting-solidification, from the vapour state and from solution, and methods of surface modification.
MTRL 451	Microstructural Analysis Laboratory	Basic principles and techniques of microstructural analysis with particular reference to engineered materials including x-ray, SEM microprobe TEM and high energy electron analysis.
MTRL 471	Nanofibre Technology	Introduction to nanomaterials in the form of fibres and composites, including processing, structure, characterization methods, properties, and modelling. Credit will only be given for one of MTRL 471 or MTRL 571.
MTRL 475	Microstructure Engineering	Follows the production of metallurgical products, focusing on process design models used to describe solidification, recrystallization, and precipitation.
MTRL 495	Biomaterials	Engineered materials in medical applications with an emphasis on material properties, functionality, design, and material response in the biological environment.

You will take at least 4 of the recommended courses for the stream you have chosen. Beyond these 4 courses (12 credits) you will take an additional 3 courses (9 credits) for a total of 21 credits. These 9 credits could be from the remaining recommended courses for your stream or any 9 credits from the list in the section “Eligible technical electives”.

4th-year eligible technical electives

If you choose not to take all 7 courses from the recommended list in the stream you selected, you can take courses from the list below for a maximum of (9 credits). Please note that not all course will be available each year.

MTRL Courses

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Course	Title	Description
MTRL 442	Coatings and Surface Modification	Strategies for ceramic and metallic coatings by melting-solidification, from the vapour state and from solution, and methods of surface modification.
MTRL 451	Microstructural Analysis Laboratory	Basic principles and techniques of microstructural analysis with particular reference to engineered materials including x-ray, SEM microprobe TEM and high energy electron analysis.
MTRL 458	Hydrometallurgy II	Leaching, purification, precipitation, regeneration; thermodynamics and kinetics of separation steps; electrochemical applications.
MTRL 471	Nanofibre Technology	Introduction to nanomaterials in the form of fibres and composites, including processing, structure, characterization methods, properties, and modelling. Credit will only be given for one of MTRL 471 or MTRL 571.
MTRL 472	Welding and Joining of Materials	Case studies addressing temperature modelling in welding and joining, material selection for welds and joints, calculation of properties for welds and joints, mechanical analysis of joints, and design of welding and joining procedures.
MTRL 475	Microstructure Engineering	Follows the production of metallurgical products, focusing on process design models used to describe solidification, recrystallization, and precipitation.
MTRL 478	Electronic Materials	Semiconductor materials, MOSFET structure, operation and applications in digital circuits, fabrication techniques, basic mask and fabrication flow design and semiconductor fabrication process theories at an entry level.
MTRL 485	Failure of Materials	Failure by excess deformation, fracture, fatigue, and environmental effects. Failure theories and case studies of engineering failures.
MTRL 486	Nondestructive Evaluation	Principles of test methods; inspection techniques and equipment; quantitative flaw evaluation; reliability analysis.
MTRL 494	Composite Materials	Understanding the properties and the mechanical behaviour of composite materials with emphasis on analysis, design, and manufacturing. Credit will only be given for one of MTRL 494, 594.
MTRL 495	Biomaterials	Engineered materials in medical applications with an emphasis on material properties, functionality, design, and material response in the biological environment.

CHBE Courses

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Course	Title	Description
CHBE 355	Kinetics and Reactor Design	Kinetics of homogeneous chemical and biological reactions, isothermal ideal reactor design, analysis of non-ideal reactors using residence time distribution and mixing models.
CHBE 381	Bioprocess Engineering I	Biological process engineering in the fields of biotechnology and biomedical engineering; enzymatic and cellular kinetics; cell culture, process development and product recovery; bioreactor design and operation. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 381, CHBE 560.
CHBE 477	Fuel Cell and Electrochemical Engineering	Stoichiometry, thermodynamics and kinetics of electrode reactions; conductivity and mass transport in electrolytes; material, energy and voltage balances; design of electrosynthesis, electrorecovery of metals, and energy generation of batteries and fuel cells. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 477, CHBE 577.
CHBE 481	Bioprocess Engineering II	Bioprocess flowsheeting; production-scale fermenter design; production recovery and purification; bioseparations; chromatography; viral inactivation and removal; process validation.
CHBE 485	Air Pollution Prevention and Control	Impacts of air pollutants on health, visibility, smog formation, ozone depletion and global warming; air quality and emission standards; atmospheric dispersion of air pollutants; prevention and control technologies for particulates, SOx, NOx, VOCs, and CO2. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 485, CHBE 575.
CHBE 487	Interfacial Phenomena	Outline of the physics and chemistry of interfaces; discussion of the part played by surface effects in technical processes. Credit will be granted for only one of CHBE 357, CHBE 487

IGEN Courses

Course	Title	Description
IGEN 450	Pipeline Engineering	Pipeline materials and material selection; fracture mechanics; manufacturing and processing; welding and corrosion; soil-pipe interactions; surveying and site investigations; slope stability; natural hazards; pipeline loads and response.
IGEN 451	Pipeline Systems and Infrastructure	Energy infrastructure; pipe flows; equipment and facilities including compressors, pumping stations, coolers and controls; terminals; pipeline integrity; corrosion control.
IGEN 452	Pipeline Engineering Design	Pipeline and pipeline system design reflecting technical, regulatory, environmental, societal, professional, and economic aspects; pipeline design project.

MECH Courses

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Course	Title	Description
MECH 360	Mechanics of Materials	Beam deflections, singularity functions; use of tabulated solutions; column buckling; Castigliano’s theorem, statically indeterminate beams, bending of beams with asymmetric cross-sections, shear centre; principal stresses and stress invariants in three dimensions.
MECH 435	Orthopaedic Biomechanics	Musculoskeletal anatomy. Muscle and joint loads. Muscle mechanics. Musculoskeletal dynamics. Gait. Tissue mechanics of tendon, ligament, articular cartilage, and bone. Biomaterials. Application examples in orthopaedics including joint replacement and fracture fixation. Students who have received credit for BMEG 230 or 330 cannot also receive credit for MECH 435.
MECH 436	Fundamentals of Injury Biomechanics	Introduction to injury biomechanics. Anatomy. Impact experiments. Multi-body dynamic simulation and finite element analysis. Skull, face, brain, spine, eye, pelvis, abdomen, and extremity injury. Anthropomorphic test devices, seat belts, airbags, child restraints, and helmets. Credit cannot be obtained for both MECH 436 and MECH 536.
MECH 462	Finite Element Analysis	Theory and element selection. Virtual work and weighted residual formulation. Linear elastic analysis. Heat transfer analysis. Isoparametic elements. Development of computer programs for simple problems. Utilization of existing computer packages. Application to mechanical engineering problems.
MECH 485	Aircraft Design: Structures	Structural components of aircraft, introduction to the finite element method, bending and buckling of thin plates. Design of aircraft wing and fuselage structures, moments of inertia for complex shapes.

MINE Courses

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Course	Title	Description
MINE 303	Rock Mechanics Fundamentals	The study of the mechanical and structural properties of rock materials at the laboratory and field scale, with reference to common mining, geological and civil engineering problems.
MINE 331	Physical Mineral Processes	Mineral processing unit operations and sampling, crushing, grinding, screening, classification, gravity separation, magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, concentrate dewatering practices.
MINE 333	Flotation	Theory and technology of flotation and ancillary processes.
MINE 404	Strategic Issues in Mining	Strategic issues in an organization; types of organizations; personnel evaluations and job rating systems; impact of manpower planning on decision-making; union negotiations; public relations; dealing with the media; corporate responsibilities to society and employees.
MINE 434	Processing Precious Metal Ores	Process alternatives and mineralogical considerations; physical and chemical recovery technologies; environmental protection; flowsheet studies.
MINE 486	Mining and the Environment	Environmental topics of importance to engineers practicing within the mining, metallurgical and related industries including technical practices, regulatory and public issues.

APSC Courses

Course	Title	Description
APSC 440	Management Fundamentals for Technology-Based Product Marketing and Development	Management topics are presented from the perspective of technology-based industrial practice; project management, marketing and marketing planning, product development and commercialization, introduction to quality management, teamwork and effective individual participation.
APSC 486	New Venture Design	Teams comprising students in APSC 486 and COMM 486 create a business plan and a prototype or engineering solution of a novel product, process, or process component.
APSC 498	Directed studies	Requires approval of a Department Head or Program Director.

All courses subject to change.