Materials and Real Application (FSI-WMR)

The aim of the course is to stimulate students’ interest in materials engineering, strengthen their motivation and confidence within technical studies, and develop an intuitive understanding of the foundational principles governing material behaviour. Students will learn to observe, describe, and qualitatively explain physical phenomena through real experiments, recognise major material classes, and understand their practical applications. The course also introduces students to basic experimental techniques and the laboratory environment of the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering.

Basic knowledge of secondary-school physics and chemistry, ability to work within a team, and willingness to participate actively in laboratory and discussion-based activities.

The course provides students with an initial orientation in the field of materials engineering through experiential and practice-oriented instruction. It introduces the role of materials in technology and everyday life, their fundamental properties, and basic processing routes. Through interactive exercises and demonstrations, students observe, test, and explain the behaviour of common materials, leading to a qualitative understanding of the principles governing structural materials.

The course emphasises creativity, teamwork, and the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly without the need for advanced mathematical formalism. It serves as a motivational and introductory subject preceding the follow-up course Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering (BUM) in the second semester.

The course is completed with a credit followed by an examination.

Credit: Active participation in classes, continuous completion of laboratory tasks, and submission of a final team project or poster that qualitatively describes the relationship between the structure, properties, and application of a selected material or product. Assessment reflects creativity, engagement, and the quality of presentation and is based on continuous feedback.

Examination: Oral or written assessment verifying that the student understands the basic principles of material behaviour, can qualitatively explain observed phenomena, and demonstrates orientation within the thematic areas of the course.

Lectures – thematic areas:

• Materials and their structure in engineering practice


• Mechanical behaviour and failure of materials


• Thermal phenomena, structural changes, and surface interactions


• Chemical resistance, corrosion, and environmental effects


• Materials processing and their role in modern technology

Exercises – thematic areas:

• Practical identification of materials and structural observation


• Experiments on mechanical behaviour and fracture analysis


• Thermal experiments and surface-related phenomena


• Corrosion experiments and material degradation


• Simple processing technologies and product analysis