After successful completion of the course, students are able to identify the relevant characteristics of hard and superhard materials and the resulting areas of application, present the process chains for fabricating the most important hard and superhard materials, explain the physical-chemical requirements relevant for the respective application, and discuss and apply the essential methods for determining the hardness of materials.

As a fundamental base for the lecture, the term hardness is first defined, and the underlying chemical-structural characteristics which influence the hardness of materials are explained. In connection with this, the essential methods for determining hardness are presented, and the basic principles of hardening or strengthening materials are discussed in detail.
With regard to the general application of hard materials, the basics of machining and abrasives are taught.
Subsequently, the most important ionically or covalently bonded hard and superhard materials (corundum, silicon carbide, diamond, cubic boron nitride) are explained, including the chemical-physical characteristics, the respective manufacturing methods, and the individual application scenarios.
The second half of the lecture is focused on hardmetal (cemented carbides), where, in addition to the process chain for manufacturing, the link between microstructure, composition and properties is explained in detail. In addition, methods for coating substrates with hard materials are presented (CVD, PVD,...), and finally applications of hard metal materials are presented.

The contents are conveyed via lectures, which are intercepted regularly by teacher-student interactions, and buzz group acitivies. Furthermore, a large variety of course unit-related showpieces are presented. The lecture slides will be provided via TUWEL.

The learning outcomes are evaluated via an oral exam with both lecturers.

Bitte im TISS zur Vorlesung anmelden.
Angemeldete Studierende werden im TUWEL freigeschalten.

The relevant literature will be provided via the TUWEL course.