The design and discovery of new materials falls under the domain of materials science and engineering. It primarily focuses on solids. It studies the factors which influence the structure, properties and performance of materials. The study of the relationship between the properties, structure and processing of materials is known as materials paradigm. The fields of nanotechnology, metallurgy and biomaterials have advanced with the understanding of this paradigm. The major categories of materials studied under this field include semiconductors, polymers, biomaterials, metals, nanomaterials and ceramics. The common methods of materials processing include welding, crystal growth, casting, sintering, glassblowing, etc. This book is a valuable compilation of topics, ranging from the basic to the most complex advancements in the field of materials science and engineering. There has been rapid progress in this field and its applications are finding their way across multiple industries. In this book, using case studies and examples, constant effort has been made to make the understanding of the difficult concepts of materials science as easy and informative as possible, for the readers. Provided by publisher.