The Encyclopedia of Advanced Materials (4 Volume Set)

Hardbound. In 1986 Michael Bever's Encyclopedia of Materials Science & Engineering defined the field of Materials Science.

Since then research into how, by an adjustment to its molecular structure, the properties of a material can be adapted to perform specific applications has greatly increased. The Encyclopedia of Advanced Materials defines the limits of this new area of study, taking into account the many different views and perspectives encountered in research and thinking in the field, as well as emphasizing the multidisciplinary nature of the subject.

Advanced Materials are defined as those where first consideration is given to the systematic synthesis and control of the structure of the material in order to provide a precisely tailored set of properties for demanding applications.

Coverage includes: Advanced Ceramic Processing; Advanced Optical Materials and Displays; Composite Materials; Computer Mod

Advanced materials are artifically produced materials that have been "fabricated by the use of skill" and "tailored to endow specific properties to meet the requirements of particular applications." Researchers have learned how to manipulate the microstructure of known materials to produce advanced materials that possess unique properties.

Many will wonder why it is necessary to have another expensive encyclopedia on materials when there is the well-respected, comprehensive Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Engineering (MIT, 1986) (EMSE), which is periodically supplemented with new material. Before saying no to a new encyclopedia on this topic, it should be understood that the field of materials science is a fast-developing one. New products and processes are being developed throughout the world. Thus the Encyclopedia of Advanced Materials (EAM), which provides definitions and discussions of the vocabulary of advanced materials. Some of this information can be found in EMSE but in a broader context; EAM provides the more in-depth information needed by the researcher.

The 518 signed articles in the encyclopedia cover such topics as Aerogel Catalysts, Biomedical Polymers, Color in Ceramics, Fast Ion Conduction in Ceramics, Hydrogels, Metal Matrix Composites, Oligomers, Polymer Blends, and Thin-Film Batteries. These well-researched, comprehensive articles are written for those who understand this highly technical field, not for laypersons. There is ample use of photographs, charts, diagrams, and other illustrative matter as well as bibliographies. An extensive cross-referencing system provides both in-text and end-of-text references. To further aid the user, a classified list groups articles under broad subject headings that reflect the structure and hierarchy of the materials field (e.g., Metals Processing and Fabrication, Fundamental Physical Metallurgy, Films and Coatings, etc.). The subject index is an excellent aid, containing some 30,000 indexed terms. An alphabetical list of contributors notes their affiliations and the titles of the articles they wrote.

EAM is an important reference source that will be used in technical, research, and engineering libraries and laboratories, as well as in large academic libraries where the latest information on advanced materials and new technologies in this field is needed. However, if need for this information is marginal, and the Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Engineering is already on the shelf, the Encyclopedia of Advanced Materials may not be a necessary purchase.