Despite the significant progress in the study of point defects in metals, some important problems still do not have unambiguous solutions. One of the most practically important questions relates to equilibrium defect concentrations. There exist two opposite viewpoints: (1) defect contributions to physical properties of metals at high temperatures are small and cannot be separated from the effects of anharmonicity; the equilibrium defect concentrations at the melting points are in the range of 10-4 to 10-3; (2) in many cases, defect contributions to the specific heat of metals are much larger than nonlinear effects of anharmonicity and can be separated without crucial errors; the equilibrium concentrations at the melting points are of the order of 10-3 in low-melting-point metals and 10-2 in high-melting-point metals.This book discusses the experimental results and theoretical considerations favoring each claim. At present, the majority of the scientific community hold the first viewpoint. Regrettably, the data supporting the second viewpoint have never been displayed and discussed together, and the criticism of this viewpoint has never included a detailed analysis. Important arguments supporting this viewpoint have appeared in the last decade. It may turn out that just calorimetric determinations provide the most reliable values of equilibrium defect concentrations in metals. In this book, the main attention is paid to equilibrium point defects in metals and their relation to thermophysical properties of metals. Along with a discussion on experimental data and theoretical estimates now available, some approaches are proposed that seem to be most suitable for settling the question.

This textbook offers a strong introduction to the fundamental concepts of materials science. It conveys the quintessence of this interdisciplinary field, distinguishing it from merely solid-state physics and solid-state chemistry, using metals as model systems to elucidate the relation between microstructure and materials properties. Mittemeijer's Fundamentals of Materials Science provides a consistent treatment of the subject matter with a special focus on the microstructure-property relationship. Richly illustrated and thoroughly referenced, it is the ideal adoption for an entire undergraduate, and even graduate, course of study in materials science and engineering. It delivers a solid background against which more specialized texts can be studied, covering the necessary breadth of key topics such as crystallography, structure defects, phase equilibria and transformations, diffusion and kinetics, and mechanical properties. The success of the first edition has led to this updated and extended second edition, featuring detailed discussion of electron microscopy, supermicroscopy and diffraction methods, an extended treatment of diffusion in solids, and a separate chapter on phase transformation kinetics. “In a lucid and masterly manner, the ways in which the microstructure can affect a host of basic phenomena in metals are described.... By consistently staying with the postulated topic of the microstructure - property relationship, this book occupies a singular position within the broad spectrum of comparable materials science literature .... it will also be of permanent value as a reference book for background refreshing, not least because of its unique annotated intermezzi; an ambitious, remarkable work.” G. Petzow in International Journal of Materials Research. “The biggest strength of the book is the discussion of the structure-property relationships, which the author has accomplished admirably.... In a nutshell, the book should not be looked at as a quick ‘cook book’ type text, but as a serious, critical treatise for some significant time to come.” G.S. Upadhyaya in Science of Sintering. “The role of lattice defects in deformation processes is clearly illustrated using excellent diagrams . Included are many footnotes, ‘Intermezzos’, ‘Epilogues’ and asides within the text from the author’s experience. This ..... soon becomes valued for the interesting insights into the subject and shows the human side of its history. Overall this book provides a refreshing treatment of this important subject and should prove a useful addition to the existing text books available to undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in the field of materials science.” M. Davies in Materials World.

The monograph presents the various methods of the modulation and of measuring the temperature oscillations. Important applications of the modulation techniques for studying physical phenomena in solids and liquids are considered in depth (equilibrium point defects, phase transitions, superconductors, liquid crystals, biological materials, relaxation phenomena in specific heat, etc).

This book covers, on close to 2000 pages, all aspects of basic and applied diffusion research in all important engineering materials, including metals and intermetallics, elemental and compound semiconductors, amorphous and nanocrystalline materials and oxides.