ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter lays the foundation of metallurgy and materials science. The dependence of metallurgy and materials on the role of an engineer is highlighted by establishing the relationship between structure-properties-performance of a material. A comprehensive classification of materials is diagrammatically presented and the four classes of materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites) are explained. The field of metallurgy is classified into subfields: (a) extractive/process metallurgy, (b) physical metallurgy, (c) mechanical metallurgy, and (d) manufacturing processes in metallurgy. Each subfield of metallurgy is explained with particular reference to the basic manufacturing processes. It is established that physical metallurgy is the heart of this book.
