Fundamentals of Materials Science for Technologists

Book excerpt: The properties of materials provide key information regarding their appropriateness for a product and how they will function in service. The Third Edition provides a relevant discussion and vital examples of the fundamentals of materials science so that these details can be applied in real-world situations. Horath effectively combines principles and theory with practical applications used in today's machines, devices, structures, and consumer products. The basic premises of materials science and mechanical behavior are explored as they relate to all types of materials: ferrous and nonferrous metals; polymers and elastomers; wood and wood products; ceramics and glass; cement, concrete, and asphalt; composites; adhesives and coatings; fuels and lubricants; and smart materials. Valuable and insightful coverage of the destructive and nondestructive evaluation of material properties builds the groundwork for inspection processes and testing techniques, such as tensile, creep, compression, shear, bend or flexure, hardness, impact, and fatigue. Laboratory exercises and reference materials are included for hands-on learning in a supervised environment, which promotes a perceptive understanding of why we study and test materials and develop skills in industry-sanctioned testing procedures, data collection, reporting and graphing, and determining additional appropriate tests.