Chapter 1. ABS Plastics.- Chapter 2.Aluminium/Aluminum.- Chapter 3.Asphalt.- Chapter 4. Bakelite.- Chapter 5.Bronze.- Chapter 6.Celluloid.- Chapter 7.Clay.- Chapter 8.Concrete.- Chapter 9. Copper.- Chapter 10. Cotton.- Chapter 11. Diamond.- Chapter 12. Gallium Arsenide.- Chapter 13.Glass.- Chapter 14.Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers.- Chapter 15.Gold.- Chapter 16.Graphite.- Chapter 17.Gutta Percha.- Chapter 18.Iron.- Chapter 19.Kevlar and Other Aramid Fibers.- Chapter 20.Lead.- Chapter 21.Lead Zirconate Titanate.- Chapter 22.Leather.- Chapter 23.Lithium.- Chapter 24.Magnesium.- Chapter 25.Nickel-Based Superalloys.- Chapter 26.Nitinol.- Chapter 27.Nylon.- chapter 28.Paper.- Chapter 29.Platinum.- Chapter 30.Polyster.- Chapter 31. Polyethylene.- Chapter 32. Polypropylene.- Chapter 33. Polystyrene.- Chapter 34. Polytetraflouroethylene.- Chapter 35.PVC.- Chapter 36.Rare Earth Magnets.- Chapter 37.Rayon.- Chapter 38.Rubber.- Chapter 39.Silicon.- Chapter 40. Silver.- Chapter 41. Steel.- Chapter 42. Stainless steel.- Chapter 43. Stone.- Chapter 44. Tin.- Chapter 45. Titanium.- chapter 46. Tungsten.- Chapter 47. Uranium/Uranium Oxide.- Chapter 48. Wood.- Chapter 49. Wool.- Chapter 50. Zinc.

This book introduces materials and how advances in materials result in advances in technology and our daily lives. Each chapter covers a particular material, how the material was discovered or invented, when it was first used, how this material has impacted the world, what makes the material important, how it is used today, and future applications. The list of materials covered in this book includes stone, wood, natural fibers, metals, clay, lead, iron, steel, silicon, glass, rubber, composites, polyethylene, rare earth magnet, and alloys.  

“This fascinating and useful book, aimed at a wide readership, adopts the point of view that human civilization has been materials-based throughout its history. … Readers with a basic (high school level) understanding of chemistry or physics can easily grasp the material. … the selection of 50 solid materials is quite thorough; readers will be hard pressed to name solid materials important to human history that were omitted. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels.” (J. Lambropoulos, Choice, Vol. 56 (5), January, 2019)

Provides a concise introduction to various materials with broad day-to-day applications Describes how the uses of certain materials were discovered and their importance in today’s world Examines how advances in materials underlie and enable advances in technology Covers a wide range of materials including stone, wood, leather, cloth, natural fibers, gold, and numerous alloys