The field of materials science and engineering is rapidly evolving into a science of its own. While traditional literature in this area often concentrates primarily on property and structure, the "Materials Processing Handbook" provides a much needed examination from the materials processing perspective. This unique focus reflects the changing complexity of new and emerging materials such as cutting-edge semiconductors, smart materials, and materials based on spintronics. This highly comprehensive work also presents groundbreaking coverage of the processes applied to a myriad of solid materials including ceramics, polymers, metals, composites, and semiconductors. Organized into six sections, this work examines processes that convert one phase into another, processes that change only the microstructure within a solid phase, shape changes that modify the microstructure and properties of materials, joining processes, and the basics of processes integration. Rich in data, yet accessible across several fields, this volume provides technicians and students with a one-stop resource on proven and promising new developments in materials processing.