Book excerpt: Provides a thorough explanation of the basic properties of materials; of how these can be controlled by processing; of how materials are formed, joined and finished; and of the chain of reasoning that leads to a successful choice of material for a particular application. The materials covered are grouped into four classes: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. Each class is studied in turn, identifying the families of materials in the class, the microstructural features, the processes or treatments used to obtain a particular structure and their design applications. The text is supplemented by practical case studies and example problems with answers, and a valuable programmed learning course on phase diagrams.