The Equations of Materials

This primer describes important equations of materials and the scientists who derived them. It provides an excellent introduction to the subject by making the material accessible and enjoyable. Each chapter covers a single equation and materials subject, and is structured in three sections: first, a description of the equation itself; second, a short biography of the scientist after whom it is named; and third, a discussion of some of the ramifications and applications of the equation. The biographical sections intertwine the personal and professional life of the scientist with contemporary political and scientific developments. Topics included are: Bravais lattices and crystals; Bragg’s law and diffraction; the Gibbs phase rule and phases; Boltzmann’s equation and thermodynamics; the Arrhenius equation and reactions; the Gibbs-Thomson equation and surfaces; Fick’s laws and diffusion; the Scheil equation and solidification; the Avrami equation and phase transformations; Hooke’s law and elasticity; the Burgers vector and plasticity; Griffith’s equation and fracture; and the Fermi level and electrical properties.