Review of metallic conduction on the basis of free electron theory Fermi-Dirac distribution – variation of conductivity with temperature and composition, materials for electric resistors- general electric properties; brushes of electrical machines, lamp filaments, fuses and solder.
Mechanism of conduction in semiconductors, density of carriers in intrinsic semiconductors, the energy gap, types of semiconductors. Hall effect, compound semiconductors, basic ideas of amorphous and organic semiconductors. Magnetic materials: Classification of magnetic materials- origin of permanent magnetic dipoles, ferromagnetism, hard and soft magnetic materials magneto materials used in electrical machines, instruments and relays.
Dielectrics: Dielectrics polarization under static fields- electronic ionic and dipolar polarizations, behavior of dielectrics in alternating fields, Factors influencing dielectric strength and capacitor materials. Insulating materials, complex dielectric constant, dipolar relaxation and dielectric loss. Insulating materials: Inorganic materials (mica, glass, porcelain, asbestos), organic materials (paper, rubber, cotton silk fiber, wood, plastics and bakelite), resins and varnishes, liquid insulators (transformer oil) gaseous insulators (air, SF6 and nitrogen) and ageing of insulators.
Materials for solar cells, fuel cells and battery. Materials for coatings for enhanced solar thermal energy collection and solar selective coatings, Cold mirror coatings, heat mirror coatings, antireflection coatings, sintered alloys for breaker and switch contacts.
Optical microscopy, Electron microscopy, Photo electron spectroscopy, Atomic absorption spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance and ferromagnetic resonance.
Introduction Properties and Application of Piezoelectric materials, Eletrostrictive materials, Ferromagnetic materials, Magnetosrtictive materials, Shape memory alloys, Electro archeological fluids, Magneto archeological fluids, Smart hydrogels
Ceramics: properties, application to conductors, insulator & capacitors Plastics: Thermoplastics, rubber, thermostats, properties.