This text emphasizes material properties and classifications, fabrication and processing considerations, performance objectives, and selection based on specific application requirements, such as frequency of use (duty cycle) and operating environment. Each chapter focuses on a particular material family — the format is consistent in each chapter, promoting comparison of materials across families and classes. Unique to this book on material selection, the final chapter discusses critical aspects of adhesives, including cure methods and joint configurations.

From the Preface: “The ability to select and apply the appropriate material or adhesive is as important to the success of a design as the concept itself. The most creative ideas often require equally creative material formulations and application. Electromechanical products that fail prematurely in a mechanical fashion often do so as the result of poor matieral selection and implementation rather than defective materials. The rapid product development cycles of today's economy necessitate the ability to properly select the correct materials and adhesives quickly...”

Target Audience: Students, engineers, and designers in need of a guide to materials selection.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Material Selection

Structure of Materials

Material Properties and Behaviors

Ferrous Metals

Nonferrous Metals

Engineering Plastics

Adhesives

Appendix

Index