In industry very few metals are used in their pure form; the majority are employed as a combination of a metal with other metals, nonmetals or metalloids. In this way some specific properties are improved, making the alloy more attractive than the pure metal. The present work comprises essential information on alloys in one compact volume.

Classification, properties, preparation, applications, and economic aspects are discussed for alloy steels, primary-metal alloys, light-metal alloys, and some other alloy systems.

The work is based on more than 30 articles from Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry and represents the effort of over 60 specialists. It supplies hundreds of top-quality illustrations, diagrams, and charts and provides hand-picked references for further study. An introductory overview of the subject is provided by the editor.

The book is a handy yet authoritative reference work for the practicing metallurgist, but also for physical metallurgists, engineers and scientists in industry.