Dimensionality plays a critical role in determining the properties of matter. The nanostructure of a material is the key factor in the development of novel properties and in controlling the structure at the nano-level. Nanotechnology is therefore a highly promising field of the twenty-first century, which is expected to totally restructure the technological applications in the fields of semiconductors, inorganic as well as organic materials, energy storage, and biotechnology. The term "nanotechnology" can be defined as the controlled manipulation of materials with at least one dimension less than 100 nm. This technology attempts to integrate chemistry, physics, materials science, and biology to create new material properties that can be exploited to develop facile processes for the production of electronic devices, biomedical products, high performance materials and consumer articles. The commercialisation of nanotechnology is expected to boost wide technological development, improved quality of life and societal benefits around the world.

This compendium of twenty laboratory experiments on metals and alloys attempts provides insight into the relationship between the physical, mechanical properties of metals with grain structures/ microstructures. In almost all the experiments microstructural investigation is provided. Experiments have also been included on the determination of important mechanical and thermal properties and on the aqueous and atmospheric corrosion of metals. The theoretical background of each experiment is provided to enable students to understand the underlying principles and to appreciate the significance of the experiments. Information which could not be accommodated in the text of the experiments is provided in appendices. These include: reflection microscopy, experimental determination of transition points through cooling curves to get data for plotting phase diagrams, and quenching media for tempering of alloys. This book will be useful to the students of materials chemistry and materials science and students of various engineering courses. It will also be helpful to the students of industrial chemistry, practising engineers in metallurgical and mechanical engineering based industries.

A Laboratory Manual of Polymers provides laboratory activities that will help students to understand the basic principles of polymer synthesis, structure and functions. It is intended to enable students to prepare a variety of common polymers, to investigate their properties, and explore their uses and applications. This book is intended to be used as a laboratory manual at the graduate and postgraduate levels in materials science as well as for a polymer chemistry course. The book, divided into four chapters covering: Different kinds of polymerization reactions and their kinetic aspects. Detailed spectral, thermal and morphological characterization of polymers. Identification of polymers with FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR spectroscopies. Thermal characterization of polymers through DSC and TGA techniques. Structural characterization with XRD. Purification procedures of monomers and solvents. 26 experiments and general analytical techniques to characterize common polymers.