Aerospace Materials

Module code: PA7038

Development of new materials and enhanced materials properties are at the forefront of the enormous improvement in the performance, reliability and sustainability of advanced aerospace systems. The performance requirements of air and spacecraft place huge demands on their materials of construction. Graduates with sound knowledge of the attributes of different classes of materials will be at the forefront of these developments. 

In addition to the traditional aerospace sector, other industries are increasingly adopting materials with aerospace heritage, e.g. automotive, motorsport, marine and renewable energy. The Aerospace Materials module will provide a sound foundation for a wide variety of careers and give you an appreciation of how material properties contribute to the performance of advanced engineering systems. The module provides an opportunity to study a comprehensive range of topics in structural materials, informed by the latest research and industrial practice.

This module covers a number of major material groups or topics:

• ‘Light’ alloys based on aluminium, titanium and more exotic metals such as magnesium and beryllium
• Nickel-based superalloys; used for high temperature applications in gas turbine engines
• Polymer composite materials such as carbon fibre reinforced plastic
• Sandwich materials
• ‘Smart’ or ‘multifunctional’ materials and structures