Preface

The first chapter of the book begins with a quick overview of compositional and structural imperfections, categorized into zero- (which includes point defects and solid solution), one-, two-, and three-dimensional defects (which include precipitates). The second chapter of the book is the focal point: a list of questions related to imperfections with complete solutions. These questions go beyond traditional plug-and-chug exercises and contribute to the learning and applications of concepts articulated in Chapter 1. Think of this book as a leisurely journey. Go at your own pace. Make an attempt to answer each question on your own before looking at the answer. Very often, there are multiple approaches to solving a given problem. Yours may be better than mine. There is no single “correct” approach, and that is the nature of engineering. I wish you a happy journey. Have fun exploring!