Program Overview

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Program Overview

The Material Science Course is intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills to manage biomedical problems concerning materials and their properties. Metals, Polymers, and an introduction to Composites will be introduced, and macroscopic features will be presented as directly dependent upon the micro and nano structure of the materials. Bulk and surface features will be highlighted in order to emphasize their importance for biocompatibility aspects.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The purpose of the course is to make it clear to the student how much the material, thermal and chemical treatments, and modifications of the production processes can influence and modify the characteristics of the materials used in the biomedical field. The difference in performance between the material in bulk form compared to its microscopic applications, where the characteristics of the surfaces become fundamental in the interfaces with the organic environment, will be analyzed in detail.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Students will be driven to analyze a problem concerning materials applications as a whole, with great consequences on several aspects of a real project. Therefore, the Material Science Course aims to provide a sure definition of the technical problems and the evaluation of possible different solutions based upon the different parameters affecting a scientific and industrial engagement. Students will be requested to apply their knowledge to analyze and evaluate the technical need of some proposed case studies in a scenario of an engineering approach to the evaluated items.

Prerequisites

Chemical and Physics knowledge are strongly recommended as necessary bases to study Material Science. Measure Units awareness, as well as basic knowledge about forces and tensions, are intended as mandatory.

Teaching Methods

Class lessons and discussion of case studies.

Syllabus/Content

Slides and lectures provided by the teacher. In detail:

• Material Structures (Metals and Polymers)
• Production technologies
• Thermo-mechanical treatments focused to modify materials bulk properties
• Energetic treatments applied to clean and modify the surface materials properties
• Surface - vapour and surface liquid interactions
• Wetting (static and dynamic)
• Introduction to composites (anisotropy of composite materials)
• Introduction to regulatory affairs of biomedical materials

Book Chapters could be provided if any special topics need it. Suggestions from selected scientific papers will also be debated with the students.

Teachers and Exam Board

• Teacher: Fabrizio Barberis
• Exam Board:
  • Rodolfo Repetto (President)
  • Alberto Lagazzo
  • Fabrizio Barberis (President Substitute)
  • Nicoletta Tambroni (Substitute)

Lessons

Lessons Start

The timetable for this course is available on the Portale EasyAcademy.

Exams

Exam Description

Oral Exam with the chance of a first topic proposed by the student and at least two more topics requested by the Teacher. The topic chosen by the student has to be clearly and deeply introduced and discussed. Solid bases on Chemistry, Physics are considered mandatory, as well as good knowledge about dimension units.

Assessment Methods

By oral exams.

Exam Schedule

• 22/12/2025, 09:00, GENOVA
• 07/01/2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 29/01/2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 12/02/2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 08/06/2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 30/06/2026, 09:00, GENOVA
• 22/07/2026, 14:30, GENOVA
• 01/09/2026, 09:00, GENOVA

Further Information

Students coming from other Universities should better contact the professor in order to evaluate the previous background and eventual supporting lectures.

Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Development Goals

• Decent work and economic growth
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Partnerships for the goals