XE Engineering Science

Section 1: Classification and Structure of Materials

Classification of Materials: Metals, ceramics, polymers and composites.

Nature of Bonding in Materials: Metallic, ionic, covalent and mixed bonding; structure of materials: fundamentals of crystallography, symmetry operations, crystal systems, Bravais lattices, unit cells, primitive cells, crystallographic planes and directions; structures of metals, ceramics, polymers, amorphous materials and glasses.

Defects in Crystalline Materials: 0-D, 1-D and 2-D defects; vacancies, interstitials, solid solutions in metals and ceramics, Frenkel and Schottky defects; dislocations; grain boundaries, twins, stacking faults; surfaces and interfaces.

Section 2: Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Phase Transformations

Extensive and intensive thermodynamic properties, laws of thermodynamics, phase equilibria, phase rule, phase diagrams (unary and binary), basic electrochemistry.

Reaction kinetics, fundamentals of diffusion, Fick’s laws, their solutions and applications.

Solidification of pure metals and alloys, nucleation and growth, diffusional solid-state phase transformations (precipitation and eutectoid), martensitic transformation.

Section 3: Properties and Applications of Materials

Mechanical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites at room temperature; stress-strain response (elastic, anelastic and plastic deformation).

Electronic Properties: Free electron theory, Fermi energy, density of states, elements of band theory, semiconductors, Hall effect, dielectric behaviour, piezo- and ferro-electric behaviour.

Magnetic Properties: Origin of magnetism in materials, para-, dia-, ferro- and ferri- magnetism.

Thermal Properties: Specific heat, heat conduction, thermal diffusivity, thermal expansion, and thermoelectricity.

Optical Properties: Refractive index, absorption and transmission of electromagnetic radiation.

Examples of materials exhibiting the above properties, and their typical/common applications.

Section 4: Characterization and Measurements of Properties

X-ray diffraction; spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Vis, IR and Raman; optical microscopy, electron microscopy, composition analysis in electron microscopes. Tensile test, hardness measurement. Electrical conductivity, carrier mobility and concentrations. Thermal analysis techniques: thermogravimetry and calorimetry.

Section 5: Processing of Materials

Heat treatment of ferrous and aluminium alloys; preparation of ceramic powders, sintering; thin film deposition: evaporation and sputtering techniques, and chemical vapour deposition, thin film growth phenomena.

Section 6: Degradation of Materials

Corrosion and its prevention; embrittlement of metals; polymer degradation.

The previous year questions with their solutions are a part of our course material. So when you subscribe for the course material, you will get solutions for GATE XE Materials Science questions from GATE 2011 onwards.

Preparation for GATE XE Materials Science is a 5-step process.

1. Understand the GATE XE Materials Science syllabus and make a study plan based on time left for exam. Plan in a way that gives you atleast 2 months just to answer tests and Mocks.
2. GATE requires you to have strong concepts. So get the best books for each subject along with GATE specific study material from Career Avenues.
3. For better clarity, you can also refer to Career Avenues videos for GATE XE Materials Science, which have been made by one of the best GATE XE Materials Science faculty.
4. As you study, keep making notes. Also solve previous year questions and master the concepts behind each of the question.
5. Answer a lot of GATE XE Materials Science Mocks and Section tests. Career Avenues provides a complete series, which includes Mathematics and Aptitude.

Career Avenues can help you in 3 ways.

1. Best study material for GATE XE Materials Science made specifically for the GATE XE Materials Science syllabus. The study material can be purchased both in online (read access) or offline (printed) mode)
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3. Exhaustive test series with a combination of easy, moderate and difficult questions.

Yes, you can. A trial course is available for Rs. 100 for each of the three courses (study material, video lectures and test series). The trial course will unlock all features and content of the course for a period of 2 days.

Once you are satisfied with the quality of the course, you can then purchase for a duration appropriate to your GATE preparation.

For someone who is serious about his or her GATE preparation, the course is good and sufficient. Since 2011, when we started GATE XE Materials Science courses, hundreds of our students have made it into top colleges like IISc, IITs and NITs.