ABSTRACT
Probably aeronautical engineers are involved in materials problems to the same extent as are the mechanical engineers. But their needs are often so specialized that they work very closely with materials engineers on designs which often involve new or recently developed materials. Nevertheless, there are also
some rather mundane or standard materials that must be specified in the aircraft industry. They use fasteners, springs, insulation, and similar common materials throughout their work. Even electronic and electrical engineers are not immune to materials problems. Parts as common as electrical contacts involve wear resistance, spring characteristics, and electrical conductivity, and all of these properties must be considered. In thin-film microcircuits it has been estimated that 75 to 80% of device failures can be traced to materials problems. The creep of solders, electrical migration of atoms, interdiffusion between thin layers of metals, metal deposition whiskers, and other defects are just a few of the materials problems encountered in electronic devices. Certainly, civil engineers work with materials of construction and must stay up to date on new materials and their properties, especially their corrosion resistance. Of course, industrial engineers are always concerned with the cost of materials. In many situations this can be one of the most important factors.
