Materials science is one of the oldest forms of engineering and applied science. One of the responsibilities of an engineer, or NDT inspector, is to investigate the relationship between the structure of materials and their properties, which can involve elements of applied physics and chemistry, as well as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. With significant media attention to nanoscience and nanotechnology in the recent years, materials science has been propelled to the forefront at many universities. Modern materials science evolved directly from metallurgy, which itself evolved from mining. Before the 1960s (and in some cases decades after), many materials science departments were named metallurgy departments, from a 19th and early 20th century emphasis on metals. The field has since broadened to include every class of materials, including: ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, magnetic materials, medical implant materials and biological materials.

Related Publications