Although the last two generations have seen an enormous amount of attention paid to advances in electronics, the fact remains that high-income, high-energy societies could thrive without microchips, etc., but, by contrast, could not exist without steel. Because of the importance of this material to comtemporary civilization, a comprehensive resource is needed for metallurgists, non-metallurgists, and anyone with a background in environmental studies, industry, manufacturing, and history, seeking a broader understanding of the history of iron and steel and its current and future impact on society.

Photovoltaics (PV) is a fast growing market: the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of PV installations was 44 % during the period from 2000 to 2013. Deployment of modules is reaching a cumulative capacity of 200 GW. World record PV module efficiency is of 36.7 %, when concentrating lens are used in a four-junction solar cell, while best industrial silicon module efficiency is larger than 20%. 90% of the deployed PV modules are fabricated with silicon. Cost for PV module is less than 1$ per Watt. Energy Payback Time in the south of Europe is around one year, which – for a 20 years lifespan – means that PV can produce twenty times the energy needed to produce it. Still, there is large room for improvements in the field both on the technological level as well as on the scientific level. The book Materials Challenges: Inorganic Photovoltaic Solar Energy looks at these improvements from a material science perspective.

Modelling of Damage Processes in Biocomposites, Fibre-Reinforced Composites and Hybrid Composites focuses on the advanced characterization techniques used for the analysis of composite materials developed from natural fiber/biomass, synthetic fibers and a combination of these materials used as fillers and reinforcements to enhance materials performance and utilization in automotive, aerospace, construction and building components.

Nanomaterials for Solar Cell Applications provides a review of recent developments in the field of nanomaterials based solar cells. It begins with a discussion of the fundamentals of nanomaterials for solar calls, including a discussion of lifecycle assessments and characterization techniques.

The fi eld of nanotechnology is growing. The tunability of nano-objects such as semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) has spurred interest in chemical synthesis. In this regard, this book’s arrival is timely. It groups the various synthesis techniques for popular SQDs, comprised of 295 pages distributed among seven chapters and a comprehensive subject index. Preparation methods for II-VI, II-V, and IV-VI SQDs are described in the fi rst three chapters. The fi rst chapter introduces and develops various organometallic routes to the synthesis of Zn and Hg chalcogenides and anisotropic growth of Cd-based chalcogenides such as tetrapods and their alloys. Properties of Group III phosphides, nitrides, arsenides, and antimonides, which have different optical properties compared to II-VI semiconductors, are discussed in chapter 2. This chapter also reviews the tuning of SQD properties via dehalosilylation reactions and non-coordinating solvent routes.

Kinetic Control in Synthesis and Self-Assembly provides a unique overview of the fundamental principles, novel methods and practical applications for researchers across organic synthesis, supramolecular chemistry and materials sciences. The book examines naturally occurring molecular systems in which kinetic processes are more ubiquitous than thermodynamic processes, also exploring the control of reactions and molecular self-assemblies, through kinetic processes, in artificial systems. These methods currently play a crucial role for tuning materials functions.

Tribology of Metal Cutting is about an emerging field of studies called Metal Cutting Tribology. Tribology is defined as the science and technology of interactive surfaces moving relative each other.

The science of Tribology concentrates on contact physics and mechanics of moving interfaces that generally involve energy dissipation. The book clarifies that the ultimate objective of the metal cutting tribology is the reduction of the energy spent in metal cutting. Increased tool life, improved integrity of the machined surface, higher process efficiency and stability are the results of the achieving this goal.

Industrial Applications of Nanomaterials explains the industry based applications of nanomaterials, along with their environmental impacts, lifecycle analysis, safety and sustainability. This book brings together the industrial applications of nanomaterials with the incorporation of various technologies and areas, covering new trends and challenges.

There is great commercial interest in hyperbranched polymers from manufacturers of polymer formulations, additives and coatings, polymer electronics and pharmaceuticals. However, these polymers are difficult to characterise due to their very complex, multidimensional distribution and there is a great need to understand how to control their synthesis to obtain certain material properties. Hyperbranched Polymers is, according to the publishing house, the first book to examine in detail the recent advances in hyperbranched polymers. Focusing on the structural characterisation of hyperbranched polymers, it summarises the research in the field and makes a direct correlation between the chemical structure and global molecular properties.