FACULTY OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF MISKOLC, HUNGARY

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Materials engineering – the science of the structure and properties of materials, as well as material manufacturing by energy efficient and environmentally safe technology – is a dynamically developing field worldwide. The Hungarian “capital” of materials engineering is Miskolc. The University of Miskolc is a proud successor of the Mining Academy of Selmecbánya, the oldest institution of technical higher education in Europe (dating back to 1735). This is a heritage that gives us the example of fine engineering education and the one that is also a responsibility for the future.

The economy around us is changing, requiring continuous adaptation of the education system too. Thus, building on the vast experience obtained in metallurgy, the current Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering has expanded its scope of research and education to new materials and their technologies such as ceramics and silicate technology, nanotechnology, polymer technology, quality control, energy management and technology of the chemical industry. We have established the program for materials engineering in both the BSc and MSc level in Hungary and became its national center. In the materials engineering program, our students acquire fundamental knowledge related to the structure and properties of materials, as well as to various material technologies. Our programs (BSc and Msc) allow students to focus on a selected type of material or technology via specialization. The professional heritage and the student traditions are an essential part of student life in Miskolc. Not only do students participate in scientific and research programs at a nationally outstanding level, they also have many fun activities to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Having obtained a first degree, students can pursue their studies at a master level (MSc) and then in doctoral programs (PhD) in a variety of universities in Europe and the world – including the University of Miskolc. Our alumni have been welcomed in the graduate schools of universities in a variety of countries, including Austria, Germany, Sweden, France, UK, USA, Canada, Japan, etc. Those, opting to find a job with a BSc degree can do so effortlessly. Talented young engineers are in demand in the labor market and engineers graduating from the University of Miskolc enjoy a good reputation at the industry. It is fairly common for a young materials engineer to enjoy multiple job offers.

I am convinced that our Faculty, with its historical traditions, is facing a bright future, for it trains specialists meeting the demands of the 21st century in programs at all levels.

Prof. Árpád B. Palotás, Dean

SEVERAL-HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD ROOTS

SEVERAL-HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD ROOTS
The Faculty was founded in 1735 under the name ‘Berg-schola’, and its success led Empress Maria Theresa to promote the institution to the rank of higher education with the name ‘Academia Montanistica’ on 22 October 1762. The term ‘Montanistica’ covered both mining and metallurgical activities. Namely, in the 18th century transportation of the ore extracted was difficult, therefore furnaces were built directly beside mines. The Academy, almost from the moment of its establishment, was a workshop of mining and metallurgical knowledge and related natural sciences that was well-known and recognized all over Europe. Later, the mining and the metallurgical faculty became two separate faculties – first the Faculty of Mining Engineering and the Faculty of Metallurgical Engineering, and after many decades, the Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering.

FIRST PROFESSORS OF OUR ALMA MATER
Sámuel Mikoviny (1700-1750): the first teacher of the institution, the designer of “Hungária Nova”, the court cartographer and architect of His Majesty, the Roman Emperor, and member of the Prussian Scientific Society. He constructed the water-trap system of Selmec, the sweat furnace, a crossing waterwheel, and invented a hydraulic press. Christian Doppler (1803-1853): eminent professor of the department of mathematics and physics from 1848 to 1850. He discovered the Doppler effect named after him. The Selmec Mining Academy was not only the premier technical university in Europe, its educational was primarily industry driven and practice oriented. This “dual type education” was regarded exemplary in Europe.

STUDENT LIFE

A UNIQUE HERITAGE
At the Selmec Academy a great variety of colorful student traditions were born. The students set up their own mutual benefit funds, from which they supported the students in need. They held dances and charity balls. In the course of time, the traditions have changed somewhat, but the essence has remained the same: to teach the fellow students a love for the profession, to help them, and to live a merry student life.

STUDENT LIFE
Although the campus of the University of Miskolc is a vital element of the city, their everyday life takes place on one of the most beautiful campuses in Europe, in the scenic Dudujka-Valley park of about 85 hectares.

This park houses one of the largest dormitory complexes of the nation with its seven buildings, providing accommodation for about 2,300 students in rooms with 2, 3, or 4 beds. There are also a number of societies, clubs, and associations on campus.

The university sports club (MEAFC) is more than fifty years old. Students can be involved in competitive sports in 13 divisions, in addition to their physical education classes included in the curriculum. The sports hall is surrounded by handball, tennis, and basketball courts, athletics tracks and fields and football grounds, and the university sports facilities are made complete by the municipal swimming-pool.

The ‘Deer-hunters’ relay race of university and college students, Engineering Sports Day as well as “Selmec Memorial Tours” and other student activities are held regularly

ORGANIZATIONAL SCHEME

DEAN’S OFFICE

Dean: Prof. Árpád B. Palotás
Vice dean: Assoc. Prof. Tamás Szabó
Phone: +36 46 565 091
http://www.mak.uni-miskolc.hu/

INSTITUTE OF CERAMIC AND POLYMER ENGINEERING

Director: Assoc. Prof. Tamás Szabó
http://www.polymer.uni-miskolc.hu/

INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY

Director: Prof. Béla Viskolcz
http://www.chemistry.uni-miskolc.hu/

INSTITUTE OF ENERGY AND QUALITY

Director: Prof. Árpád B. Palotás
http://www.energia.uni-miskolc.hu/

INSTITUTE OF FOUNDRY

Director: Assoc. Prof. László Varga
http://www.foundry.uni-miskolc.hu/

Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology

Director: Prof. Zoltán Gácsi
http://www.matsci.uni-miskolc.hu/

INSTITUTE OF METALLURGY

Director: Prof. Tamás Kékesi
http://www.metallurgy.uni-miskolc.hu/

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Academic programs at all levels

BSC IN MATERIALS ENGINEERING
The Bachelor program in engineering is seven semesters and offers practice-oriented training. Following the general courses, it is possible for students to choose a specialization in metal production, heat treatment, plastic deformation, casting, thermal energetics, polymer technology, silicate technology, chemical technology, or nanotechnology.

MSC IN MATERIALS ENGINEERING
The MSc (Master of Science) degree can be obtained through two additional years of study and represents a deeper, mostly theoretical knowledge of the given specialization. The MSc program offered by the Faculty also follows a structure of specializations. The entry requirement is a first degree obtained in a technical-engineering field (a BSc degree or a degree obtained in a university or college program). Specializations are thermal and surface treatment of metals, ceramic and silicate engineering, polymer engineering, and chemical technological engineering.

MSC IN METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
As in the Master Program in Materials Engineering, the MSc degree in Metallurgical Engineering can also be obtained through studies of two additional years. The entry requirement is also identical, and the structure of the program is also similar in following a structure of specializations. Specializations are metal production and waste processing, thermal energetics, plastic deformation, and casting.

Supplementary specializations can also be chosen in both MSc programs from the following range: (1) Material testing and Nanotechnology, (2) Environmental protection and waste management, (3) Archeometallurgy.

Bachelor program (BSc)

BSC IN MATERIALS ENGINEERING
The knowledge in the bachelor program corresponds to the knowledge included in the programs of materials engineering and metallurgical engineering of the previous training system. Materials engineers have a good knowledge of the structure and properties of materials: metals, ceramics and plastics. They develop, design and produce new materials with up-to-date structures, e.g. high-purity metals, high-strength metal alloys, glasses, adhesives, and they seek possibilities for their application. For this purpose the students have to acquire a thorough knowledge of describing the chemical composition, structure and properties of metallic and non-metallic materials, including how they relate to each other.

SPECIALIZATIONS
Metallurgy and Surface Treatment
Metal Forming and Heat Treatment
Foundry Engineering and Automotive casting
Silicate Technologies and Thermal Energy Management
Polymer Technology and Chemical Process Technology
Nanotechnology

MASTER PROGRAMS (MSc)

Master Programs

MSC IN MATERIALS ENGINEERING
The objective is to train engineers who, based on their knowledge in the fundamental sciences dealing with the structure, properties and behavior of materials (e.g. metals and their alloys, ceramics and silicates, polymers and plastics), are able to design and operate relevant technologies and to perform research and development activities.
In the course of their studies all master program students choose a specialization and also a supplementary specialization.

SPECIALIZATIONS/
HEAT TREATMENT OF METALS
CERAMIC AND SILICATE ENGINEERING
POLYMER ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY

MSC IN METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING
The students studying in this program acquire up-to-date knowledge of metal industrial technologies, metal production, the processing of metal waste, plastic deformation and casting. Graduates with a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering are able to produce metals and alloys with the utilization of metallic raw materials and metal-containing waste as well as to process these materials into products with the form and size specified by the processing industry. Production and output in the industry of metal production and metal processing are growing continuously, and it is necessary to produce metal components and structures meeting ever stricter requirements.

SPECIALIZATIONS
METAL PRODUCTION AND WASTE PROCESSING
THERMAL ENERGY UTILIZATION
METAL FORMING
FOUNDRY ENGINEERING

SUPPLEMENTARY MSC SPECIALIZATIONS

In both of our master programs students can also choose a supplementary (minor) specialization. The choice is the same for the two MSc programs:

SURFACE TECHNOLOGY

MATERIAL TESTING

WASTE MANAGEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

NANOTECHNOLOGY

DOCTORAL PROGRAM (PhD)

Kerpely Antal Doctoral School of Materials Science and Technologies

Students with excellent achievements in the master programs can continue their studies in the Kerpely Antal Doctoral School of Materials Science and Technologies at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering of the University of Miskolc and obtain a doctoral degree.

In the Doctoral School, as in all other doctoral schools, the doctoral programs are offered in full-time, part-time, and individual preparation forms. Successful completion is shown by obtaining the absolutorium (a certificate of course completion). Following this, students can take the doctoral examination, then submit and defend the dissertation. After the successful accomplishment of these requirements and fulfilling other conditions (e.g. knowledge of foreign languages, publications), the doctoral degree can be awarded.

FiElds covered by The Doctoral School.

. chemical metallurgy,
. foundry automotive casting,
. interfacial and nanotechnologies,
. metal forming,
. physical metallurgy, heat treament,
. materials informatics,
. space materials and technology,
. high temperature equipment and thermal energy management,
. ceramic, silicate technology,
. polymer technology.
. chemical proccessings and technologies

STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES

The well-equipped laboratories are an important venue of our practice-oriented training. Here, modern devices applied in the industry are available to our students. One of our major endeavors is that our students should have a thorough knowledge of the use of industrial equipment and should be able to operate and improve it. All of our specializations have more than one laboratory – here we offer you a glimpse into them. Our staff in charge of the laboratories use continuous development to keep up with industrial trends and for the development of the relevant disciplines.

LIST OF OUR LABORATORIES

INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS SCIENCE
. X-Ray laboratory for the analysis of fine structure
. Scanning electron microscopy laboratory
. Conventional (light) microscopy laboratory
. Computer laboratory for image analysis
. Machine workshop and Von Roll experimental mill laboratory

INSTITUTE OF ENERGY AND QUALITY
. Combustion technology laboratory
. Fuel test laboratory
. Experimental combustion facility (furnaces, boilers, burners)
. Thermo analitycal laboratory
. Solar laboratory

INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY
. Chromatography laboratory for environmental analysis
. Elemental analysis laboratory
.Computational chemistry facility

INSTITUE OF FOUNDRY
. Experimental foundry laboratory
. Sand core laboratory
. Sand testing and microscopy laboratory
. Simulation laboratory

INSTITUE OF METALLURGY
. Metallurgical laboratories
. Surface treatment laboratory
. Extractive metallurgy laboratory

INSTITUE OF CERAMIC AND POLYMER ENGINEERING
. Ceramics and Silicates laboratory
. Polymer Laboratory

WITHOUT LIMITS...

Successful scientific papers often make it possible for the students to take part in programs abroad or to submit applications for projects. Our Faculty gives priority to supporting the participation of students in different programs in Europe and the USA. By taking the required courses, the semester requirements can be met and the results achieved abroad are recognized in the home institution. Students of the Faculty have studied in programs in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and in the United States.

As a result of the small number of students of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, which is due to historical reasons, there is a constant excess demand for graduates in the labor market. The unemployment rate of new graduates is far below the national average; practically all of our engineers can find jobs without any delay. In addition, our program structure is very wide: it matches the profiles of around 1,000-1,500 domestic production companies. Our departments receive requests and offers from Hungarian and European companies for thesis topics and for graduating engineers. For many years our Faculty has not been able to provide engineers in sufficient numbers for the industry and there is a constant demand for more well-trained engineers with language proficiency and IT knowledge. Therefore, companies directly support the training of our students through different foundations. Our academic staff has longstanding, close connections with these companies, so our students can do their summer internships, their TDK studies, and research their theses in their prospective workplaces.

Higher education in Hungary provides an organized framework for students to get involved in research activities of their educational institution: this is done through the Students’ Scientific Societies (with the Hungarian abbreviation TDK). Our Faculty, in terms of Students’ Scientific Society activities, is one of the most active and most successful university faculties on the national level. This is also shown by that fact that among the students awarded the Pro Scientia Golden Medal, which is awarded for outstanding academic achievements and TDK-activities, there are many students from our faculty. This prize is awarded to 3-4 students in engineering programs every two years in Hungary.

PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY

The high standards of the education provided by the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering are guaranteed by our academic staff and professors, who enjoy national and international recognition and reputations in their professional fields.

PROF. PÁL BÁRCZY

Institute of Ceramic and Polymer Engineering

The main topic of research groups around Professor Bárczy are cellular materials particularly foams either from water-base or from polymer, carbon or metal. As a project lead of a five member consortium he is the key person of developing a new type shaped metal foam technology which is recently combined also by space experiment on board of the ISS. The self life of foamability of nano particle stabilized aqueous suspension in water or in sponges was and is the topic of many extended studies. The correlations between foam structure and compressive strength were studied on polymer macro lattices built by a super precision rapid prototyping technology. Extended investigation was fulfilled on the development of carbon foam structures by pyrolitic treatments of surface treated PUR foams.

PROF. ZOLTÁN GÁCSI

Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology

Prof. Gácsi, similarly to a number of our other professors, is an alumnus of the University. He is a renowned expert on ceramic particle reinforced metal-matrix composites and a leading domestic expert in the field of computer based image analysis. He is teaching courses on the mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties of metals. Professor Gácsi advises undergraduate and graduate students and his research group also includes doctoral students.

PROF. LÁSZLÓ A. GÖMZE

Institute of Ceramic and Polymer Engineering

Professor Gömze and his students carry out research on traditional ceramics, on ceramic matrix composites reinforced with submicron and nanoparticles and the relationship between mechanical, wear and thermal shock properties and microstructures of complex materials as ceramics. One area of special interest is the development and fabrication of high porosity ceramic materials for metal matrix composites (MMC-s) as well as of hetero-modulus ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMC-s) having several Young’s moduli, extreme mechanical properties and dynamic strength. Another area of particular focus is phase transformation in ceramic particles during high speed collisions and development of diamond-like ceramic materials as *c-Si3N4 *with extreme hardness, mechanical strength and thermal shock resistance.

PROF. GYÖRGY KAPTAY

Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology

Professor Kaptay and his students carry our research in scientific areas like thermodynamics of materials, interfacial phenomena, nanotechnology, electrochemical synthesis and modeling thermo-physical properties of materials. In terms of materials types his group works with liquid metallic alloys, molten salts, ceramics, metal matrix composites and particles stabilized metallic foams and emulsions. One of his and his students latest achievements are a method to calculate surface phase transition lines for monotectic phase diagrams, a method to achieve perfect wettability of carbon surfaces by liquid aluminum, a method to produce particles stabilized metallic emulsions and monotectic alloys, a new technology to produce metallic foams and carbon micro- and nano-phase reinforced Al-matrix composites.

PROF. TAMÁS KÉKESI

Institute of Metallurgy

Professor Kékesi gives lectures in all fundamental fields of extractive/chemical metallurgy, including high-temperature and aqueous methods, waste processing and metal refining. His dominant research activity encompasses the purification and extraction of metals. Industrial processes of molten metal production and melt refining are examined and optimized by theoretical and experimental methods. A special field of his major scientific interest is the preparation of ultra-high purity metals and the processing of secondary raw materials. Ultra-high purity metals are tested in cooperation with Japanese research partners and new technologies are developed for advanced materials processing.

PROF. KÁLMÁN MAROSSY

Institute of Ceramic and Polymer Engineering

Professor Marossy graduated from the Technical University Budapest as chemical engineer in 1972. He started his career at BVK, the legal predecessor of BorsodChem Zrt and dealt with the research and development of PVC and PVC related polymers. He obtained his dr.univ. degree in 1983, PhD in 1998 from the TU Budapest and professorship at the University of Miskolc in 2008. He deals with the structure-property relationship and relaxation phenomena of polymers by thermally stimulated discharge and dynamic-mechanical methods; and was awarded the Dennis Gabor award for his research in his field. Recent research projects are polymer nano-composites, compatibility of polymers, polymer blends.

Prof. Valéria Mertinger

Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology

Professor Mertinger has been working at the Department of Physical Metallurgy of the University of Miskolc since her graduation as Metallurgical Engineer. She also obtained a Physicist - Materials Engineer degree at the University of Debrecen. She has spent over a year abroad at various universities (3 months each at Munster, Berlin and Cambridge as well as 7 months at Bochum) where she had deepened her knowledge of the various aspects of metallography and the crystallization processes of metals. She has successfully supervised three doctoral (PhD) students and several MSc and BSc students, respectively. She is also very active in involving students in current research works for which she was recognized with the Master Teacher Golden Medal in 2013.

PROF. ÁRPÁD B. PALOTÁS

Institute of Energy and Quality

Árpád B. Palotás is both a metallurgical engineer (University of Miskolc) and a chemical engineer (MIT, Cambridge, USA). In his role as head of the Institute of Energy and Quality Issues, as well as the Department of Combustion Technology and Thermal Energy he is responsible for several research facilities, resources and research projects. His research activities include various aspects of the field of combustion, including, e.g., the use of high resolution scanning electron microscopy on soot particulates for the purpose of tracing the samples back to the sources responsible for their emission. Due to his commitment to a sustainable society, he is working on projects to expand the research scope at the Institute to a wider utilization of renewable energy by, e.g., establishing a new solar laboratory in addition to further developing the Department's capabilities in the field of biomass combustion and related issues (e.g., ash fusion).

PROF. ANDRÁS ROÓSZ

Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metal Forming and Nanotechnology

Professor Roósz is also an alumnus of our faculty, he graduated in 1968. He is member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, former director of the Institute of Materials Science, founder of the physics-engineering education in Hungary and a world renowned expert on the solidification of metals and their alloys. His research group forms the base of the domestic space materials research. He is teaching the rules of transformation processes occurring in metals and their alloys as well as their computer based simulation. Students are often involved in his research projects.

PROF. ISTVÁN SZŰCS

Institute of Energy

The research activity of Professor Szűcs includes the development of furnace and boiler structure, efficiency enhancement, optimization of their operation. He has decades of activity in the area of refractory lining optimization and increasing their life span as well as operational safety by investigating the application technology of refractories. He is known for his expertise on solid air pollutant formation from industrial activities, as well as on the mathematical modeling of air pollutants’ transmission in open atmosphere. He has been leading projects on the enhancement of the operation of waste incinerators and the reduction of their air pollution. He is the lead researcher in the enhancement of thermal utilization of biomasses. Professor Szűcs teaches subjects on high temperature equipment (furnaces, boilers, etc.), refractory materials and air pollution control.

PROF. TAMÁS TÖRÖK

Institute of Metallurgy

Within the fields of Chemical Metallurgy and Surface Engineering Professor Török and his interested colleagues and students have recently been concentrating both on some application oriented tasks and fundamental research topics. In the departmental Surface Treatment Laboratory his students test different samples coated by protective metallic and/or organic layers. Among the experimental techniques applied the in depth profile analysis by GD-OES has been one of the newest development used in collaboration with an industrial partner. Corrosion studies are also performed by means of various electrochemical and chemical testing devices in different atmospheres and/or aqueous solutions. Development of some novel pre-treatment procedures as well as studying the mechanism of electroless nickel deposition onto several metallic (steel, aluminum and magnesium alloys) substrates has also been dealt with for a few years now.

Prof. Béla Viskolcz

Institute of Chemistry

He has experience in the field of elemental radical reactions and thermodynamics of complex systems. His work uses ab initio quantum chemical and molecular dynamic methods to understand the complex chemical space, based on molecular networks. The molecular networks can be also use to design new molecular libraries and also to understand the prebiotic molecular evolution. His other interest is in understanding the processes of molecular ageing in oxidative stress of biological systems. The origin of numerous degenerative diseases (cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases) is associated with a variety of free radical reactions within the human body and it is one of the major current theories of aging.

International

AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
The Institute of Materials Science of the University of Miskolc (and its predecessor, the Department of Metallography) started to research solidification processes in the 1970s. These research activities provided the foundation for the BEALUCA space material technology program, which was implemented in 1980 for joint Soviet-Hungarian space flight.

One of the lessons of the program was that the crystallization equipment used on the SALIUT-6 space station was not up-to-date; therefore the results obtained were not very accurate. In 1987, the Department was invited to design and build a new, a so-called poly-zonal type of crystallization equipment, at that time with a Soviet partner for a Soviet space device. Following the changes in the political system, this connection has come to an end, but at the same time experts at NASA showed an interest in the equipment.

This was the background to the organization of the first Solidification and Gravity international conference. The conference was held in Miskolc-Tapolca, with the participation of 35 research specialists from 10 countries. The success of the equipment and the internationally acknowledged research results of the Department, have made a conference series possible every fourth year. The 7th International Conference on Solidification and Gravity will be held in 2016 in Lillafüred.

The number of participants is growing continuously: the last conference was attended by about 90 research specialists from 25 countries (including the USA, India, China, Australia, Germany, France, England, and Austria), as well as 30 domestic researchers. These experts reported on the most interesting research results of the four years, from different areas of the solidification of metals and alloys, in 12 sections and with 120 presentations.

For prospective students

There are various opportunities for secondary school students to get acquainted with the potentials of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering.

Our young and not so young teaching and research staff (from doctoral students to professors) regularly visit secondary schools and not only provide information on university life in Miskolc, but also present various interesting lectures and perform exciting experiments.

The National Competition on Materials Science is organized yearly and is always a great success amongst those who make the finals. Usually 12 teams of 5 pupils + a their coach teacher arrive on campus and present their view on the topic of the year (e.g., solar energy utilization, the role of polymers in our life, etc.) try their knowledge on a quiz and participate in hands-on experiments.

Recently the national finals of the Irinyi János Secondary School Chemistry Competition were organized at our Institute of Chemistry. Through these conferences the brightest secondary school and university students find opportunities to establish connections with each other as well as with distinguished scientists and key industry leaders in their fields of interest.

The annual Researchers’ Nights as well as Open Days organized twice a year provide additional opportunities to bring prospective students and the general public closer to the various exciting research projects of the university. These events are often attended by full secondary school classes and children-parents-grandparents from Miskolc, neighboring villages and cities as well as from remote parts of the country, reinforcing the general opinion: The Hungarian capital of Materials Science and Engineering is Miskolc.