Crystal Structure: BCC, FCC, HCP; lattice parameters; Miller indices; crystal defects (point, line, planar, volumetric)
Solidification: Nucleation and growth; homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation; dendritic solidification; segregation; casting defects
Diffusion: Fick's laws; mechanisms (vacancy, interstitial); Kirkendall effect; diffusion couples; grain boundary diffusion
Iron-Carbon System: Fe-Fe₃C phase diagram; microstructures (austenite, ferrite, cementite, pearlite, bainite, martensite)
Heat Treatment of Steels: Annealing, normalising, hardening, tempering; TTT and CCT diagrams; hardenability (Jominy test)
Martensitic Transformation: Shear mechanism; Ms and Mf temperatures; effect of alloying elements; retained austenite
Precipitation Hardening: Ageing sequence; GP zones; coherency strain; overageing; examples (Al alloys, Ni superalloys)
Recovery, Recrystallisation & Grain Growth: Driving forces; kinetics; annealing textures; grain boundary mobility
Magnetic Properties: Ferromagnetism; hysteresis loop; hard vs. soft magnets; magnetostriction; Curie temperature
Electrical Properties: Band theory; conductors, semiconductors, insulators; Hall effect; superconductivity basics
Corrosion: Electrochemical mechanisms; galvanic, crevice, pitting, intergranular, stress corrosion; prevention methods
Non-Ferrous Alloys: Aluminium, copper, titanium, nickel-base alloys; heat treatment and applications