Fundamentals of Materials Science for Technologists

Book excerpt: Horath effectively combines principles and theory with practical applications to provide a solid understanding of the characteristics of materials used in today’s machines, devices, structures, and consumer products. Straightforward, nonmathematical coverage uncovers the basic premises of materials science and mechanical behavior 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; and fuels and lubricants. An examination of the chemistry of materials illuminates the common properties important to material applications and how they may be created, reduced, and altered for the design and development of additional materials. Clearly written with an applied, problem-solving approach, the Second Edition is a sound introduction to materials technology. Strong 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 assignments support the text with numerous hands-on exercises that develop skills in industry-sanctioned testing procedures, data collection, reporting and graphing, and determining additional appropriate tests. Additional supplementary resource materials for instructors and students are available for download here.