In many instances of mechanical interaction between two materials, the physical contact affects only the outermost surface layer, with little discernible influence on the bulk of the material. The resultant high pressures in these localised regimes can induce surface structural changes such as deformation, phase transformation and amorphization.

This volume contains peer-reviewed manuscripts describing the scientific and technological advances presented at the 6th Natural Gas Conversion Sumposium held in Alaska in June 2001. This symposium continues the tradition of excellence and the status as the premier technical meeting in this area established by previous meetings.The 6th Natural Gas Conversion Symposium is conducted under the overall direction of the Organizing Committee. The Program Committee was responsible for the review, selection, editing of most of the manuscripts included in this volum. A standing International Advisory Board has ensured the effective long-term planning and the continuity and technical excellence of these meetings.

Updated and improved, this revised edition of Michel Barsoum's classic text Fundamentals of Ceramics presents readers with an exceptionally clear and comprehensive introduction to ceramic science. Barsoum offers introductory coverage of ceramics, their structures, and properties, with a distinct emphasis on solid state physics and chemistry. Key equations are derived from first principles to ensure a thorough understanding of the concepts involved. The book divides naturally into two parts. Chapters 1 to 9 consider bonding in ceramics and their resultant physical structures, and the electrical, thermal, and other properties that are dependent on bonding type. The second part (Chapters 11 to 16) deals with those factors that are determined by microstructure, such as fracture and fatigue, and thermal, dielectric, magnetic, and optical properties. Linking the two sections is Chapter 10, which describes sintering, grain growth, and the development of microstructure. Fundamentals of Ceramics is ideally suited to senior undergraduate and graduate students of materials science and engineering and related subjects.

Surface chemistry is an essential and developing area of physical chemistry and one that has become increasingly interdisciplinary. The Second Edition of Surface Science: Foundations of Catalysis and Nanoscience has been fully revised and updated to reflect all the latest developments in the field and now includes an extensive discussion about nanoparticle growth and the quantum confinement effects in nanoscale systems. Two new chapters have been added and discuss The Liquid/Solid Interface and Non-Thermal Reactions, and Photon and Electron Stimulated Chemistry and Atom Manipulation. There are now many more worked examples included throughout to help students develop their problem-solving skills.

Surface science has a wide range of applications that include semiconductor processing, catalysis, vacuum technology, microelectronics, flat-panel displays, compact disks, televisions, computers, environmental monitoring of pollutants, biomaterials, artificial joints, soft tissues, food safety, pharmacy, and many more. This volume is intended for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in universities, individual research groups and researchers working on surfaces of materials. It is of interest to chemists, solid-state physists, materials scientists, surface chemists, polymer scientists, electrical engineers, chemical engineers, and everyone involved in materials science.