Advances in Materials Sciences and Engineering – serie

Magnetic and superconducting materials pervade every avenue of the technological world from microelectronics and mass-data storage to medicine and heavy engineering. This Concise Encyclopedia draws together for the first time in a single volume the remarkable advances seen in recent years in the discovery of new materials and improvements of existing materials, in the elucidation of a new and deeper understanding of their phenomenology and in the expansion and diversification of their application in technology. Magnetic and superconducting materials have much in common; they have both experienced, over the last decade, a revolution that has revitalised and galvanised their respective fields. In each case the impetus has come from the discovery of new materials; this, in turn, has stimulated a re-evaluation of a wide range of basic mechanisms and phenomena. The encyclopedia is based on newly commissioned articles and articles revised from the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Materials and Engineering. Details of all important materials systems and their properties are included and key areas such as thin films are covered. The volume contains 110 articles, alphabetically organised and written by over 120 acknowledged experts within the field of magnetic and superconducting materials. Each article discusses in turn one aspect of the subject and includes, where appropriate, photographs, line drawings and tables to aid the understanding of the topic under discussion. Cross-references guide readers to articles covering subjects of related interest and the bibliography at the end of each article indicates the most important recent literature.

73 articles, newly commissioned or revised from the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Materials Science & Engineering, cover the whole range of knowledge and current research in wood science. Topics discussed include the availability of economics and timber resources, wood products such as plywood and mineral-bonded wood composites, the major commercial and wood species of the world, fundamentals of wood properties and behavior, factors causing deterioration and their control and principal processing methods. Recent developments in the use of acoustic emission techniques and biotechnology in wood processing are dealt with and the range of materials covered includes woody materials such as bamboo, coconut wood and rattan, not hitherto treated by any similar publication. Extensively illustrated, with nearly 200 photographs, drawings and tables in over 300 pages, each article is intended to serve as the primary source of information on a given topic. The reader is guided to further reading by helpful cross-references and nearly 500 up-to-date citations in the bibliographies at the end of each article. A comprehensive, three-level subject index is also provided. The Concise Encyclopedia of Wood & Wood-Based Materials will be invaluable to architects, engineers, builders, plant managers, wood technologists, purchasing agents, politicians, timber merchants, and furniture manufacturers.

Containing over 60 articles specially written for this work or revised from the highly acclaimed Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Engineering, the Concise Encyclopedia of Medical & Dental Materials presents, in a single volume, the work of nearly 70 world experts on the current techniques and applications of materials which have been specially developed to satisfy the increasing needs of medical and dental science. Alphabetically arranged, articles cover the basic materials used including prostheses, implants, sutures and wound dressings. The biocompatibility, wear, corrosion and surface properties of the materials are also covered, as well as the mechanics of their implantation, adhesion and repair. Each article is extensively cross-referenced to other related topics and a bibliography is included referring readers to other appropriate current literature. Widely illustrated and complemented by a comprehensive three-level subject index, this is the most comprehensive and up-to-date survey of dental and medical materials available in a single volume.

Polymer usage is widespread with applications in many areas and its growth has been rapid in recent years. The aim of the Concise Encyclopedia of Polymer Processing & Applications is to cover the mainstream areas of application and their associated processing techniques. This is achieved by using a combination of new articles and ones drawn from the acclaimed Encyclopedia of Materials Science and Engineering, its supplements, and related Concise Encyclopedias. The emphasis is placed on the practical handling and production aspects of polymers, with a varied selection of topics examined including overviews on elastomers, fibers and textiles, composites and adhesive joining. Overall the book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of polymer processing and applications.