Gemstones, metals and the use of light and magnetism 3

Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering offers an up-to-date treatment of ceramic science, engineering and applications. It builds on a foundation of crystal structures, phase equilibria, defects and the mechanical properties of ceramic materials to show how these materials are processed for a range of applications in society.

Concepts discussed in the context of their applications include how and why ions move, how ceramics interact with light and magnetic fields, and how they respond to temperature.

The authors make references to the art and history of ceramics throughout the text, which concludes with discussions of ceramics in biology and medicine and ceramics as gemstones, and also considers the role of ceramics in the interplay between industry and the environment.

Who is it for? Upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who are studying materials science, ceramics, chemistry and mineralogy. Also a reference for materials science researchers.

Presentation: The text is lucid with ample illustrations and easy-to- follow chapters.

Would you recommend it? The book assumes that the reader has a grasp of materials science up to and beyond that covered in at least the first year of a bachelor degree course in the discipline. It is highly recommended for materials science students of intermediate and advanced levels.

Ash Ahmed is senior lecturer in construction materials science, Leeds Metropolitan University.