The Nuts and Bolts of Materials Science

Below are listed the main features of Nuts and Bolts which set it apart from similar books. For a better sense of what I mean by individual items, you should have a look at some chapter excerpts.

1.  Focus on Structure
This involves extensive discussions of both atomic structure and microstructure, and the close connection between the two, as determined by the processing of a material.

2.  Use of Simple Atomic Models
In support of arguments about structure, for both crystals and defects, atomic models are used extensively. These models seek to show in a simplified, but qualitatively correct manner, the origin and consequences of structural features.

3.  Numerous Original Illustrations
The book contains over 300 illustrations. These include about 240 line drawings, many original, as well as about 60 images from the materials literature, in particular electron micrographs. Most of the images are new and not seen in other books.

4.  New Approaches and Explanations
A look at the table of contents will reveal that Nuts and Bolts treats the topics expected for an introductory engineering course in materials. However, you will find new approaches and explanations throughout the book, especially in the chapters on atomic bonding in solids, structure, defects, diffusion, mechanical properties, phase changes, and electronic properties. Again, check out the chapter excerpts for some examples.

5.  Two Types of Homework
Homework is given in two forms, with emphasis on "how" and "why" rather than on calculating another number.
There are what I call Excercises (about 170). These are meant to be doable readily for students who have read the book carefully. They will have one correct answer.
There are also so-called Problems (about 130). These are more open-ended. They will require first some thought and discussion as to what the question really is, and then some research that is based on, but goes beyond, what is outlined in the book. Problems will have any number of "correct" answers.

6.  Extensive Web Resources
These are URLs pointing to references in support of arguments made in the text, suggestions for further reading, image or data sources, and company literature and spec sheets for particular materials.