provides an overview of some of the most exciting developments in advanced materials. The book contains review papers based on tutorial lectures given at The First Pan American Advanced Study Institute held in Merida, Mexico, 1995. Each paper serves as a comprehensive introduction and review to the topic covered. Topics included: diamond and related materials, nanocrystalline metals and ceramics, Co-based alloys for biomedical applications, high-temperature superconductivity materials, composite materials, cement-based materials, ion-implanted ceramics and structural ceramics. Each chapter emphasizes the relationships among processing parameters, micro-structure and properties. provides an excellent review of the state of the art in advanced materials for the working engineer or researcher. Students will also find this text an accessible introduction to the field. weiterlesen