Thermal Expansion of Crystals is a comprehensive examination of the various aspects of thermal expansion of crystals. The book provides both theoretical and experimental aspects of the study of thermal expansion. Chapters are devoted to subjects on measurement methods of thermal expansion; the theory of thermal expansion; behavior of thermal expansion during the occurrence of phase transformations; and thermal expansions in ferroelectric materials. Physicists and researchers, both theoretical and experimental, in the field of thermal expansion of crystals will find this book a valuable piece of reference.

The only book to provide a complete survey -- from the crystallographic fundamentals right up to recent high-tech applications in aerospace technology. Following a general introduction to the topic, the authors go on to cover the crystal chemistry of mullite and related phases, as well as its basic properties, phase equilibria and stability. One whole section is devoted to the synthesis and processing of mullite ceramics, while later ones cover mullite coatings, fibers and matrix composites. For materials scientists, solid state chemists and physicists, crystallographers and mineralogists.

First published in 1957, this classic study has been reissued in a paperback version that includes an additional chapter bringing the material up to date. The author formulates the physical properties of crystals systematically in tensor notation, presenting tensor properties in terms of their common mathematical basis and the thermodynamic relations between them. The mathematical groundwork is laid in a discussion of tensors of the first and second ranks. Tensors of higher ranks and matrix methods are then introduced as natural developments of the theory. A similar pattern is followed in discussing thermodynamic and optical aspects.

This, the second special topical conference on the properties of Non-Metallic Materials at Low Temperatures, was sponsored by the International Cryogenic Materials Conference Board. The potential for plastics materials in the field of cryogenics is vast and as yet only partly explored. In addition, many other materials, which qualify for the title non-metallic but are not 'plastics', have numerous possible outlets in low temperature technology. This conference aimed at providing a forum, whereby specialists from Industry, the Universities and from Government sponsored Institutions could assemble to discuss the extent of our current knowledge. As it transpired, the meeting was also to high light the considerable gaps that still exist in our fundamental understanding of the low temperature behaviour of these materials. On this theme, during the course of the conference, a reference was made to an almost forgotten quotation by Lord Kelvin, who said: "When you cannot measure what you are speaking about, when you cannot express in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind; it may be the beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely in your thoughts advanced to the stage of a science, whatever the matter be." This simple statement sums up the aims, objectives and hopefully the achievements of this conference. To discuss and disseminate the current knowledge on non-metallic materials in order that realistic predictions of in-service performance may be made.

The birth of this monograph is partly due to the persistent efforts of the General Editor, Dr. Klaus Timmerhaus, to persuade the authors that they encapsulate their forty or fifty years of struggle with the thermal properties of materials into a book before they either expired or became totally senile. We recognize his wisdom in wanting a monograph which includes the closely linked properties of heat capacity and thermal expansion, to which we have added a little 'cement' in the form of elastic moduli. There seems to be a dearth of practitioners in these areas, particularly among physics postgraduate students, sometimes temporarily alleviated when a new generation of exciting materials are found, be they heavy fermion compounds, high temperature superconductors, or fullerenes. And yet the needs of the space industry, telecommunications, energy conservation, astronomy, medical imaging, etc. , place demands for more data and understanding of these properties for all classes of materials - metals, polymers, glasses, ceramics, and mixtures thereof. There have been many useful books, including Specific Heats at Low Tempera tures by E. S. Raja Gopal (1966) in this Plenum Cryogenic Monograph Series, but few if any that covered these related topics in one book in a fashion designed to help the cryogenic engineer and cryophysicist. We hope that the introductory chapter will widen the horizons of many without a solid state background but with a general interest in physics and materials.

Provides a detailed examination of theory and techniques in thermal expansion of solids. Subjects include a generalized theory, estimation techniques and selected effects, temperature measurements in solids, thermal expansion by X-ray diffraction, high sensitivity expansivity measurement techniques,