BARELLA GRUTTADAURIA - Introduction to Metallurgy and Non-Metallic Materials

• CONTENTS

Since the dawn of civilization, metals have marked the fundamental milestones of human development: from the Copper Age to the Iron Age, and into the modern era of steel and advanced alloys. Every major technological revolution has been accompanied—if not driven—by the discovery, processing, and use of new metallic materials. Humanity has learned to melt, forge, treat, and transform metals to build tools, buildings, machines, infrastructure, and vehicles. In short, to build the world. In the field of mechanical engineering, metallurgy is not a secondary discipline—it is a cornerstone. Understanding the structure, properties, and behavior of metals under stress is essential to designing components that are safe, efficient, and durable. Whether it’s turbines, engines, aerospace structures, industrial plants, or even simple bolts, the selection and treatment of the material often make the difference between success and failure. This book is intended to provide mechanical engineering students with a solid foundation in metallurgical knowledge, maintaining a balance between theory and practical application. It’s not just about studying phase diagrams or hardness curves, but about developing a critical mindset toward the behavior of metallic materials under real-world conditions. Today, more than ever, metallurgy is a living science - one that tackles the challenges of energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in both processes and materials. And it is a science that continues to shape the future of engineering.

SILVIA BARELLA and ANDREA GRUTTADAURIA are professors of Metallurgy at Politecnico di Milano. They’ve been happily collaborating since 2010 — because, as metallurgy teaches us, two combined elements often perform better than pure ones! Together, they have been teaching Metallurgy for over 15 years and have published more than 100 papers in international journals in the field.