Understanding Materials Science (eBook)

This introduction to materials science for engineers examines not only the physical and engineering properties of materials, but also their history, uses, development, and some of the implications of resource depletion, materials substitutions, and so forth. Topics covered include: the stone, copper, bronze, and iron ages; physical properties of metals, ceramics, and plastics; electrical and magnetic properties of metals, semiconductors, and insulators; band structure of metals; metallurgy of iron. This new edition includes new developments in the last five years, updated graphs and other dated information and references.

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ties and applications of metals, alloys, ceramics, plastics, and electronic materials by means of easily understandable expla- tions and entertaining historical facts. It is also intended to raise the readers' awareness of their obligations to society as pract- ing engineers and scientists. What has been changed compared to the first edition? Na- rally, there is always room for improvement. Accordingly, a large number of additions, corrections, and clarifications have been made on almost each page. Furthermore, the treatment of "e;hi- tech ceramics"e; has been substantially expanded (mostly at the suggestions of my colleagues) by including topics such as silicon nitride ceramics, transformation-toughened zirconia, alumina, ultra-hard ceramics, and bioceramics. A separate section on c- posite materials has been added, including fiber-reinforced composites, particular composites, and laminar composites. A section on advanced fabrics seemed to be of interest to the re- ers. Most of all, however, Chapter 18 (Economic and Envir- mental Considerations) has been rewritten and expanded in many places by updating the statistical information on prices of materials, production figures, world reserves, consumption (p- ticularly oil), recycling (particularly plastics, paper, household batteries, electronic scrap, automobiles), the possible use of "e;b- diesel"e; (rape plant oil), waste prevention, lead-free solder, energy savings through recycling, efficient design, and stability of - terials. The iron and steel production statistics were updated in Chapter 7, and new figures on gold production and consumption were included in Chapter 17.