Book excerpt: Materials Processing: A Unified Approach to Processing of Metals, Ceramics and Polymers, Second Edition is the first textbook to bring the fundamental concepts of materials processing together in a unified approach that highlights the overlap in scientific and engineering principles. It teaches students the key principles involved in the processing of engineering materials, specifically metals, ceramics and polymers, from starting or raw materials through to the final functional forms. Its self-contained approach is based on the state of matter most central to the shaping of the material: melt, solid, powder, dispersion and solution, and vapor. With this approach, students learn processing fundamentals and appreciate the similarities and differences between the materials classes. This fully updated edition includes expanded coverage on additive manufacturing, as well as adding a new section on machining. The organization has been modified and a greater emphasis has been placed on the fundamentals of processing and manufacturing methods. This book can be utilized by upper-level undergraduates and beginning graduate students in Materials Science and Engineering who are already schooled in the structure and properties of metals, ceramics and polymers, and are ready to apply their knowledge to materials processing. It will also appeal to students from other engineering disciplines who have completed an introductory materials science and engineering course. - Includes comprehensive coverage on the fundamental concepts of materials processing - Provides coverage of metals, ceramics, and polymers in one text - Presents examples of both standard and newer additive manufacturing methods throughout - Gives students an overview on the methods that they will likely encounter in their careers