Division Director's Message

Our department is one of the most traditional departments in the Faculty of Engineering, with its roots in the Department of Metallurgy, which was founded when the Kyushu Imperial University Institute of Technology was established in 1911. Since April 2021, it has become the Department of Materials, and as a member of the Faculty of Engineering Group II, we conduct education and research related to materials engineering. In addition, the graduate school major has been reorganized as the "Department of Materials'' in consideration of the 6-year integrated education in the Faculty of Engineering. The graduate school offers education and research programs that deepen the expertise learned in the undergraduate program and produce leaders in the field of materials engineering.

Human civilization began in the Stone Age, passed through the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and continues into modern civilization. It is no exaggeration to say that humanity has developed together with "Materials". Nowadays, a wide variety of materials continue to be created, including not only metal materials such as iron, aluminum, and titanium, but also ceramics, semiconductors, and superconducting materials. Although there are only 118 elements in this world, materials with various properties are created from an almost infinite combination of these elements. Materials engineering is a field of study that serves as the basis for creating the materials that form the basis of all the "things" around us.

The Department of Materials conducts education and research that leads this field through 11 laboratories, based on three academic foundations: "Metallurgical Physical Chemistry," "Structural Metal Materials Science," and "Functional Materials Science." At the same time, in order to create science and technology that will support the next generation, we will contribute to the development goals (SDGs) that enable sustainable development by reducing the environmental impact of metal refining technology, reducing the weight of structures, materials recycling, and utilization of renewable energy.

Kyushu University's Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials and Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Materials are engaged in education and research with the goals of developing a new society with "Materials'' and protecting the earth with "Materials.''

Our department is able to take on challenges in unexplored fields, such as creating new materials that have never existed before, by making full use of cutting-edge materials analysis and materials computational science. Graduates of the "Department of Materials" are active as scientists and engineers who contribute to society through manufacturing that enables sustainable development. Would you like to learn materials engineering and build a new era with new materials?

For more information, see the faculty profiles on the website and the videos on the Materials Channel of the department..

Ko-ichiro Ohno
Division Director and Professor
Department of Materials

Materials engineering as a "Key Technology"

Materials that are processed from naturally occurring materials such as stone tools and wood are "first generation materials", artificially converted natural materials such as copper and iron are "second generation materials", and polymeric materials are "third generation materials". Purpose-designed semiconductors and composite materials are classified as "fourth-generation materials". The industrial revolution that occurred in Britain in the late 18th century included the invention and development of iron manufacturing methods, and the establishment of mass productivity through iron and the industrial revolution became the basis of modern civilized society. The mass production of iron created an automobile society, the invention of duralumin led to the development of aircraft, and progress in the development of super heat-resistant alloys led to the spread of large passenger aircraft using jet engines. Furthermore, without the invention of semiconductors, the current telecommunications and computer technology, as well as the development of the information society, would not have occurred. These are all examples of how the invention of a "new material'' became a "key technology'' for the development of civilization.

What we can do for the "Next Generation"

Currently, unprecedented materials that go beyond conventional wisdom are being developed one after another, such as ultra-quenched amorphous materials, superconducting materials, artificial superlattices, ultrafine particles, superplastic materials, and ultra-heat-resistant materials.
In areas such as superconductivity, nuclear fusion, and space exploration, which will support the next generation of social infrastructure, the key is to develop materials that are superconducting at room temperature, materials that can be stably used in harsh environments, and lightweight and high-strength materials.
Materials research plays a central role in responding to climate change issues, including the development of recycling technology, the development of environmentally friendly materials, and the reduction of weight and longevity of mobility.
We are aware that scientists and engineers involved in materials research will support the next generation of civilized society, and we at the Department of Materials strive to contribute to society through materials research and technology development, and to foster advanced human resources who will lead the next generation.

History

1911

The department of Materials Science and Engineering was firstly organized as the Department of Metallurgy in 1911, while as the Kyushu University was founded, which is known as the third oldest department of Metallurgical Science in Japan.

1961

The department of Ferrous Metallurgy was established.

1990

The department of Metallurgy and the department of Ferrous Metallurgy were merged into the department of Materials Science and Engineering.

2005

The Research Center for Steel was founded.

2021

Reorganized into the Department of Materials due to organizational reform of the Faculty of Engineering.