Work in progress - implementation of a unified materials processing laboratory course

A junior-level materials processing laboratory has been developed and implemented taking a unified approach to processing ceramics, metals, and polymers spanning (1) deposition, (2) solidification, (3) powder, and (4) deformation processing. Three three-week core experiments stress interactions between shaping, microstructure, and properties in an open-ended "make-it-from-scratch" format. Lectures and prelab discussion groups are used to connect laboratory exercises with fundamental concepts. The course is capped off with student-proposed processing projects geared towards specialty materials. Each of the four main classes of processing can be studied at an advanced level in individual senior elective courses. Results from the lab and its role as the gateway into the senior electives were be discussed.