1.5 Importance of Material Science

The basis of materials science involves studying the structure of materials, and relating them to their properties. Once a materials scientist knows about this structure-property correlation, he/she can then go on to study the relative performance of a material in a certain application. The major determinants of the structure of a material and thus of its properties are its constituent chemical elements and the way in which it has been processed into its final form. These characteristics, taken together and related through the laws of thermodynamics and kinetics, govern a material's microstructure, and thus its properties.

Materials science underlies all technological advances and an understanding of the basics of material and their application will not only make you a better engineer, but will help you during the design process. In order to be a good designer, you must learn what materials will be appropriate to use in different applications. You need to be capable of choosing the right material for your application based on its properties, and you must recognize how and why these properties might change over time and during processing. Any engineer can look up materials properties in a book or search databases for a material that meets design specifications, but the ability to innovate and to incorporate materials safely in a design is rooted in an understanding of how to manipulate materials properties and functionality through the control of the material's structure and processing techniques.

本章小结

1. 内容概要

本章主要介绍材料物理的范围和方向。首先，介绍了材料的定义和分类，简单回顾了材料的发展历程；然后，介绍了材料物理的概念，简单地界定了材料科学与工程、材料物理、材料化学、量子力学、固体物理之间的关系，同时，指出材料物理的内容侧重点。最后，简述了材料科学的重要性。

2. 基本概念

材料、材料物理、材料化学、材料科学、材料工程。