Book excerpt: This encyclopedia, written by authoritative experts under the guidance of an international panel of key researchers from academia, national laboratories, and industry, is a comprehensive reference covering all major aspects of metallurgical science and engineering of aluminum and its alloys. Topics covered include extractive metallurgy, powder metallurgy (including processing), physical metallurgy, production engineering, corrosion engineering, thermal processing (processes such as metalworking and welding, heat treatment, rolling, casting, hot and cold forming), surface engineering and structure such as crystallography and metallography.