TVM0030, Steels: From Fundamentals to Future Innovations

COURSE SYLLABUS, third-cycle courses

Course name: Steels: From Fundamentals to Future Innovations

Svenskt kursnamn: Stål: Från grundläggande kunskap till framtidens innovationer.

ECTS/HP: 7.5 HP

Course code: TVM0030

Educational level: third-cycle course

Entry requirements: Basic knowledge in steel.

Course background: The course offers a basic overview to steels, focusing on their fundamental principles, processing techniques, and modern innovations. Designed for PhD students and researchers in materials engineering, the course is structured in three main modules: (i) Understanding Steel – Key Fundamentals, (ii) Steel Innovation – Transition to High-Strength Low-Alloy Steels, (iii) Ultrafine-Grained Steels and Severe Plastic Deformation.

Course content: The course will cover microstructure-property relationships, phase transformations, alloy design, and processing techniques, heat treatments, welding, and corrosion control in steels. It will focus on the transition from conventional to high strength steels, exploring the impact of alloying, advanced processing, and microstructural design. Includes an in-depth look at modern steel types. The course will introduce deformation techniques for producing nanostructured steels with exceptional properties. Discusses strengthening mechanisms and the role of plastic deformation in enhancing performance and sustainability in steel recycling.

Learning outcomes:

• Develop a foundational understanding of steel composition, structure, and properties.
• Gain knowledge of advanced processing techniques and their effects on steel performance.
• Evaluate innovative steel grades and their applications in modern industries.
• Understand cutting-edge approaches in nanostructuring and sustainability through SPD.

Course methods:

The course will feature a series of introductory lectures delivered by leading experts including Ilana Timokhina, Farid Akhtar and other active researchers from the Division of Materials Science at LTU. In addition, distinguished guest speakers will present advanced seminars, offering insights into current research frontiers and industrial applications.

Participants will take part in seminar assignments that involve collaborative teamwork on selected topics. Each team will present their findings and submit a written report, both of which will form the basis for assessment. In addition, students will gain valuable hands-on experience through one or more laboratory exercises, where they will investigate key phenomena or apply advanced characterization techniques focused on steels of special interest.

Examination form: Seminars and Laboratory exercises

Grading scale: Pass/Fail

Course literature:

1. "Steels: Microstructure and Properties ", Harry Bhadeshia and Robert Honeycombe, 4th edition. Bhadeshia and Honeycombe. Elsevier Ltd 2017. ISBN 978-0-08-100270-4 (also as e-book).
2. "Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering", William D. Callister
3. "Steel Metallurgy for the Non-Metallurgist", John D. Verhoeven.
4. "Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys", David A. Porter, Kenneth E. Easterling, and Mohamed Y. Sherif.
5. Engineering materials properties and selection, Budinski K.G. and Budinski M.K.
6. Mechanical Metallurgy, G.E. Dieter, McGraw-Hill Book Company.
7. “Bainite in Steels”, H. Bhadeshia.
8. "Introduction to the Physical Metallurgy of Welding", Kenneth Easterling.
9. Structure and properties of engineering alloys.
10. Stål och värmebehandling. 2010. Swerea IVF. ISBN9789186401047
11. Steel and heat treatment. 2010. Swerea IVF. ISBN978-91-86401-11-5

Education cycle: Third-cycle

Course is given periodically: No

Send application to: Ilana Timokhina, ilana.timokhina@ltu.se

Start date: 22nd of September, 2025.

Final presentation: 18 of December 2025.

Deadline for application: 2025-09-19

Course open for application by doctoral students admitted to other universities than LTU: Yes

Limited number of students: No

Tuition: If the course is allocated resources via internal resource allocation system, the course is free of charge for doctoral students admitted at LTU, for doctoral students admitted to other universities, course fees may be required. For other students the Department decides on course fees.

Contact person: Ilana Timokhina, ilana.timokhina@ltu.se

Phone: 0920-492234

Examiner: Ilana Timokhina

Course syllabus decided by: Prof. Lars-Göran Westerberg, Head of PhD studies

Date of decision: 2025-04-23