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Title: Structure of Materials: An Introduction to Crystallography, Diffraction and Symmetry
ISBN: 0521651514
Author:
Marc De Graef
Michael E. McHenry
Publicate Date: 2007-09-03
Publish: 2007-09-03
List Price: $95.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $68.98
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $68.98
Amazon Merchant Price: $95.00
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Early revision; Needs work
We're using this text in a graduate-level course on material structures. The book is generally well organized but there are few worked examples, especially in the later chapters. There are also minor, but noticeable, gaps and omissions in the explanations.
Throughout the book the author is fond of statements to the effect of 'and by inspection of the diagram it is obvious that...', where in-fact it is not obvious how to make that conclusion from the diagram or table. For example, the chapter on stereographic projections is mostly high-level explanation and little time is devoted to operations that one can actually perform using them.
The chapters on direct and reciprocal space are long in derivation, short in conclusions. More worked examples in these chapters would remedy this problem. And end-of-chapter summary of the most important relationships derived in the chapter would also be useful.
Overall, this book is a great reference, but needs more worked examples and explanations of key relationships to be an effective course textbook.
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2: Excellent text -- thorough, descriptive, and authoritative
I had the pleasure of using an earlier review copy of this text in one of Professor McHenry's crystallography classes. Although he himself is not the best lecturer, his knowledge of crystallography is limitless. This profound knowledge and understanding of students translate well to his book, which I can easily say is one of the best books I've read on crystal structure.
Professor McHenry's text goes through the mathematical and historical background of crystallography, progressing from the simple to the complex. The first half of the book describes general crystal systems, symmetry operations, and how to describe crystal properties mathematically. In the second portion of the book he describes in detail many crystal systems, ranging from layered superconducting oxides to molecular solids. This approach worked particularly well for me, since I first learned the basics and then how to apply them to real-world systems.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to any student looking for a deep, thorough treatment of crystallography. Professor McHenry has managed to craft a thorough but completely readable text that is sure to become a standard for future materials science students.
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