This is an advanced text book on the microstructure and properties of materials,the first volume of a possible 3-volume set. While there are many elementary text books in materials
science,there are very few advanced text books. In our graduate school courses,we rely on our own notes or some conference volumes and journal articles. One of the reasons is that there are so
many different kinds of materials and each has its own microstructure property charateristics. So it is difficult for a single person to be expert in all the materials. Thus the idea of a
multi-author collection appears good. I am inviting the best authoritative expert that I can find in each material area and since they are all busy people,it has taken longer than expected to
finish the task.Hence this is the first volume which should be a good supplement to your microstructure course. If you are working with a certain material area in one of the chapters,you will
find a rich source of design ideas and applications as well as a good understanding of how does the microstructure affect the properties.