Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Written for both students and professionals in engineering fields, this reference discusses the development and applications of lightweight materials, particularly super alloys and related composites capable of withstanding aeronautical and aerospace conditions. The book covers the fundamentals, production, and processing of superalloys, aerogels, piezoelectric materials, and materials used in the space environment to protect against fatigue, wear, and corrosion. It also addresses carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composites, the processing of polymer and metal-matrix composites, and emerging composites for future applications. This unique, up-to-date resource enables the practitioner to develop a faster, more efficient, more reliable air/spacecraft"--