ENE2503 Material properties and recycling
Faculty of Engineering
ENE2503 Material properties and recycling is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 35%
- and 4 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ENE2503
No prerequisites or corequisites.
After ENE2503
1 unit list ENE2503 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
This unit will give you an appreciation of materials, their place in the environment and ways of dealing with their presence in the waste stream. You will gain a basic understanding of the structure and properties of the main classes of materials: metals, polymers and ceramics. You will learn about the ways in which these different materials can be disposed of, ranging from incineration, recycling and degradation, and the technologies involved in these processes. The advantages of these methods, as opposed simply to landfill, will be discussed. Methods of sorting of different materials from the waste stream into their various components will also be covered.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Moodle quizQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle20%
- Group assignmentsWrittenThreshold hurdle20%
- Lab pracsDemonstrationThreshold hurdle15%
- Flux questionsQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle10%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle35%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Understand the broad interrelationship of materials in society and issues related to their reuse or disposal
- 2
Have a basic understanding of the mechanical properties of materials, of how these properties are measured and their importance in various applications
- 3
Have an understanding of the key classes of materials (metals, ceramics and polymers), how their structure relates to their properties and applications and how this differs between classes
- 4
Understand the technical aspects of other alternatives to disposing of these materials such as incineration, degradation and recycling
- 5
Have an understanding of the basic concepts of an energy balance (life-cycle analysis) with regards to materials usage
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Laboratories6 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Problem classes, case studies, lab practical, quizzes, assignments
Where it fits
ENE2503 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Neil Cameron
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Neil Cameron
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ENE2503?
ENE2503 has no prerequisites.
What can I take after ENE2503?
ENE2503 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including ENE3031.
When is ENE2503 offered?
In 2026, ENE2503 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ENE2503?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ENE2503 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 35% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ENE2503?
ENE2503 is part of Civil engineering and Environmental engineering.