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The structure of metals and alloys
BOOK REVIEWS The Structure of Metals and Alloys By W. Hume-Rothery, R. E. Smallman and C.W. Haworth, published by the Metals and Metallurgy Trust, London, 5 edn., 1969 ; 407 pages. Price $6.00 for members of Institute of Metals, $10.25 for nonmembers,
A continuing theme in the study of materials is the interrelation of structure and properties, particularly mechanical properties. Hume-Rothery's Structure of Metals and Alloys, originally published in 1936, was the first book written for metallurgists to deal with the atomic structure of alloys from the point, of view of crystal chemistry. It succeeded in simply explaining many of the observed alloy crystal structures in terms of the character of the cohesive forces acting between the atomic species present and so offered a rational basis for the design of new alloys. The fifth edition, prepared in collaboration with R. E. Smallman and C. W. Haworth, continues to fill the need of metallurgists for an elementary text on alloy structure. This new edition has been expanded to include a section on imperfections in crystals, which should certainly be considered part of their structure, and the relation between imperfections and mechanical properties. The new material is not extensive or complete enough to make The Structure of Metals and Alloys a cornprehensive text on physical metallurgy, but it serves the important function in a book primarily devoted to the crystal chemistry of alloys of reminding us that the character of the imperfections in a material
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may be as important as the crystal structure in determining mechanical properties. As in the other well-known books by HumeRothery, the author's aim is qualitative explanation in simple terms of complex phenomena, in this case metal and alloy crystal structures. The required principles of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics are not developed in depth and so the reader must accept some statements and equations on faith or, for detailed explanation of the underlying science, go to other books. There are plenty of books where these principles are developed; there are few other books from which alloy structure may be studied. Also left to other books is an explanation of how crystal structures are determined by diffraction experiments. References to the relevant, current texts are given at the chapter ends. The unique thing that "The Structure of Metals and Alloys" does is to discuss in detail a wide range of crystal structures important in metallurgy in a compact form. References to original literature are given so that the book is of value not only to metallurgy students but to the practicing metallurgist concerned with the formulation of alloys. Theauthors have achieved a good balance in keeping the book to a reasonable length while including enough discussion of real alloy systems to be useful in a practical sense. ROBERTB. GORDON Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 06520 (U.S.A.) Mater. Sci. Eng., 5 (1969/70) 61
Engineer's Guide to High-Temperature Materials
By FRANCIS J. CLAUSS, published by AddisonWesley Publ. Company, Inc., New York, 1969; 401 pages, 144 illustrations; price: US $14.95. The author has assembled a wealth of information concerning high-temperature materials and organized it in a lucid, readily referenceable fashion, As such, the material presented should be ofparticular use to designers and production engineers, Although there is broad coverage of the various material categories and the metallurgical principles governing material behavior at elevated temperatures, the book calls direct attention to the vital role of metallurgy and the cause and effect relationship between test environmental conditions and
mechanical properties. Consequently, it should provide a better perspective of the whole process of materials selection and application to the nonmaterials oriented engineer. The text begins with a general survey of the creep-rupture behavior of materials and the contributing aspects of test environment, procedure, and metallurgical effects. The reference list cited for this section is most comprehensive. The next section deals with the properties of different classes of materials from the steels through the refractory metals and includes the important and often overlooked category of ceramics, intermetallics, and cermets. The materials categories are treated in a generally comprehensive fashion, although the section on nickel base alloys does not include Mater. Sci. Eng., 5 (1969/70) 61 62
A continuing theme in the study of materials is the interrelation of structure and properties, particularly mechanical properties. Hume-Rothery's Structure of Metals and Alloys, originally published in 1936, was the first book written for metallurgists to deal with the atomic structure of alloys from the point, of view of crystal chemistry. It succeeded in simply explaining many of the observed alloy crystal structures in terms of the character of the cohesive forces acting between the atomic species present and so offered a rational basis for the design of new alloys. The fifth edition, prepared in collaboration with R. E. Smallman and C. W. Haworth, continues to fill the need of metallurgists for an elementary text on alloy structure. This new edition has been expanded to include a section on imperfections in crystals, which should certainly be considered part of their structure, and the relation between imperfections and mechanical properties. The new material is not extensive or complete enough to make The Structure of Metals and Alloys a cornprehensive text on physical metallurgy, but it serves the important function in a book primarily devoted to the crystal chemistry of alloys of reminding us that the character of the imperfections in a material
61
may be as important as the crystal structure in determining mechanical properties. As in the other well-known books by HumeRothery, the author's aim is qualitative explanation in simple terms of complex phenomena, in this case metal and alloy crystal structures. The required principles of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics are not developed in depth and so the reader must accept some statements and equations on faith or, for detailed explanation of the underlying science, go to other books. There are plenty of books where these principles are developed; there are few other books from which alloy structure may be studied. Also left to other books is an explanation of how crystal structures are determined by diffraction experiments. References to the relevant, current texts are given at the chapter ends. The unique thing that "The Structure of Metals and Alloys" does is to discuss in detail a wide range of crystal structures important in metallurgy in a compact form. References to original literature are given so that the book is of value not only to metallurgy students but to the practicing metallurgist concerned with the formulation of alloys. Theauthors have achieved a good balance in keeping the book to a reasonable length while including enough discussion of real alloy systems to be useful in a practical sense. ROBERTB. GORDON Department of Engineering and Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 06520 (U.S.A.) Mater. Sci. Eng., 5 (1969/70) 61
Engineer's Guide to High-Temperature Materials
By FRANCIS J. CLAUSS, published by AddisonWesley Publ. Company, Inc., New York, 1969; 401 pages, 144 illustrations; price: US $14.95. The author has assembled a wealth of information concerning high-temperature materials and organized it in a lucid, readily referenceable fashion, As such, the material presented should be ofparticular use to designers and production engineers, Although there is broad coverage of the various material categories and the metallurgical principles governing material behavior at elevated temperatures, the book calls direct attention to the vital role of metallurgy and the cause and effect relationship between test environmental conditions and
mechanical properties. Consequently, it should provide a better perspective of the whole process of materials selection and application to the nonmaterials oriented engineer. The text begins with a general survey of the creep-rupture behavior of materials and the contributing aspects of test environment, procedure, and metallurgical effects. The reference list cited for this section is most comprehensive. The next section deals with the properties of different classes of materials from the steels through the refractory metals and includes the important and often overlooked category of ceramics, intermetallics, and cermets. The materials categories are treated in a generally comprehensive fashion, although the section on nickel base alloys does not include Mater. Sci. Eng., 5 (1969/70) 61 62