xii Preface to the First Edition and thermal properties of all materials including textiles,fibers, paper,cement,and wood in a balanced and easily understand- able way.This book is not an encyclopedia of materials science. Indeed,it is limited in its depth so that the content can be con- veniently taught in a one-semester (15-week),three-credit-hour course.Nevertheless,the topics are considered to be essential for introducing engineers and other interested readers to the fasci- nating field of materials science. Plenty of applied problems are given at the end of the techni- cal chapters.The solutions for them are listed in the Appendix. The presentation follows an unusual sequence,starting with a description of the properties of the first materials utilized by man, such as stone,fiber,and copper.Subsequently,the differences between these materials are explained by considering their atom- istic structure,the binding forces between the atoms,and their crystallography.A description of the Bronze Age is followed by the treatment of alloys and various strengthening mechanisms which are achieved when multiple constituents are blended to compounds.The properties of iron and steel are explained only after an extensive history of iron and steel making has been pre- sented.In Part II,the electronic properties of materials are cov- ered from a historical,as well as from a scientific,point of view. Eventually,in Part III the historic development and the proper- ties of ceramics,glass,fibers and plastics as we understand them today are presented.The book concludes with a chapter on eco- nomics,world resources,recycling practices,and ecology of ma- terials utilization.Finally,an outlook speculating on what mate- rials might be utilized 50 years from now is given.Color reproductions of relevant art work and artifacts are included in an insert to show the reader how materials science is interwo- ven with the development of civilization. This book is mainly written for engineering,physics,and ma- terials science students who seek an easily understandable and enjoyable introduction to the properties of materials and the laws of physics and chemistry which govern them.These students(and their professors)will find the mixture of history,societal issues, and science quite appealing for a better understanding of the con- text in which materials were developed.I hope,however,that this book also finds its way into the hands of the general read- ership which is interested in the history of mankind and civi- lization as it relates to the use and development of materials.I trust that these readers will not stop at the end of the historical chapters,but instead will continue in their reading.They will dis- cover that the technical sections are equally fascinating since they provide an understanding of the present-day appliances and tech-and thermal properties of all materials including textiles, fibers, paper, cement, and wood in a balanced and easily understand￾able way. This book is not an encyclopedia of materials science. Indeed, it is limited in its depth so that the content can be con￾veniently taught in a one-semester (15-week), three-credit-hour course. Nevertheless, the topics are considered to be essential for introducing engineers and other interested readers to the fasci￾nating field of materials science. Plenty of applied problems are given at the end of the techni￾cal chapters. The solutions for them are listed in the Appendix. The presentation follows an unusual sequence, starting with a description of the properties of the first materials utilized by man, such as stone, fiber, and copper. Subsequently, the differences between these materials are explained by considering their atom￾istic structure, the binding forces between the atoms, and their crystallography. A description of the Bronze Age is followed by the treatment of alloys and various strengthening mechanisms which are achieved when multiple constituents are blended to compounds. The properties of iron and steel are explained only after an extensive history of iron and steel making has been pre￾sented. In Part II, the electronic properties of materials are cov￾ered from a historical, as well as from a scientific, point of view. Eventually, in Part III the historic development and the proper￾ties of ceramics, glass, fibers and plastics as we understand them today are presented. The book concludes with a chapter on eco￾nomics, world resources, recycling practices, and ecology of ma￾terials utilization. Finally, an outlook speculating on what mate￾rials might be utilized 50 years from now is given. Color reproductions of relevant art work and artifacts are included in an insert to show the reader how materials science is interwo￾ven with the development of civilization. This book is mainly written for engineering, physics, and ma￾terials science students who seek an easily understandable and enjoyable introduction to the properties of materials and the laws of physics and chemistry which govern them. These students (and their professors) will find the mixture of history, societal issues, and science quite appealing for a better understanding of the con￾text in which materials were developed. I hope, however, that this book also finds its way into the hands of the general read￾ership which is interested in the history of mankind and civi￾lization as it relates to the use and development of materials. I trust that these readers will not stop at the end of the historical chapters, but instead will continue in their reading. They will dis￾cover that the technical sections are equally fascinating since they provide an understanding of the present-day appliances and tech￾xii Preface to the First Edition