About the module
Electrical steels are an important class of magnetic materials whose properties make them essential for manufacturing motor, generator and transformer cores. Their performance is directly related to microstructure and physical properties, connecting condensed-matter physics fundamentals with applications in electromagnetic devices. In this module, these relationships will be explored through fundamental concepts and experimental techniques including optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and magnetic and electrical characterization. The results will be analysed together to understand how microstructural features influence magnetization mechanisms, magnetic losses and the electrical behaviour of these materials. The module therefore moves from condensed-matter fundamentals to the performance of electrical steels and their role in the energy efficiency of electromagnetic devices.
Syllabus
- Fundamentals of crystal structure and materials microstructure, with emphasis on electrical steels.
- Influence of processing on microstructure, including grain size and crystallographic texture.
- Fundamentals of magnetic and electrical properties, including permeability, magnetization, hysteresis, magnetic losses and electrical resistivity.
- Experimental characterization of electrical steels by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrical and magnetic techniques.
- Integrated analysis of experimental results, establishing correlations between microstructure and the physical properties of electrical steels.
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.
Bibliography
- M. Getzlaff, Fundamentals of Magnetism, 2007.
- J. E. Villate, Física 2 - Eletricidade e Magnetismo, 2011.
- W. D. Callister, Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais: Uma Introdução.
- B. D. Cullity & S. R. Stock, Elementos de Difração de Raios X, 1978.
- C. Suryanarayana & M. Grant Norton, X-Ray Diffraction - A Practical Approach, 1998.