ABSTRACT
Many properties of a material are a function of their atomic structure: chemistry, crystal structure, and atomic or molecular bonding. Examples of these atomic properties are the Young’s modulus, coefcient of thermal expansion, and melting point. Other properties are primarily a function of the way in which the material has been processed, such as yield strength, ductility, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. Thus, in order to select the appropriate material for a specic task, it is necessary to specify its processing. The processes that are used to form the material affect its microstructure. Consequently, understanding these process-microstructure-property relationships is necessary in order to correctly select the appropriate material for a given application.
