Materials science is the study of the structure, properties and applications of all types of materials including metals, ceramics, glasses and polymers. Currently many exciting scientific developments are in the materials field. Notable advances have been made recently in studies of amorphous metals, the quasicrystalline state, liquid crystals, semiconductors, nanostructured materials, high critical temperature superconductors, biomaterials, high strength polymers, materials processing techniques such as ion implantation and laser melting, and in new categories of engineered materials such as advanced industrial ceramics or composite materials. Materials science is interdisciplinary, drawing on the basic sciences of chemistry and physics and on more applied subjects such as metallurgy, ceramics and polymer science. Its tools and techniques include electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, surface analysis using Auger emission spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, etc.
This program draws both on the basic sciences of chemistry and physics, and on the more applied areas such as metallurgy or ceramics. Courses dealing with these latter fields are offered through the Department of Materials Science in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. This is an appropriate program for students with career interests in solid-state, polymer, or composite materials industries, or for graduate work in either chemistry or materials science, with an appropriate choice of options. Students may follow the Materials Chemistry path by taking the research course CHM499Y1 or the Materials Science and Engineering path by taking the research courses MSE492H1 and MSE493H1. This program is accredited by the Canadian Society for Chemistry.