GTBL042-20 GTBL042-Callister-v3 October 5, 2007 17:41

2nd Revise Pages

Chapter 20 Economic, Environmental, and

Societal Issues in Materials

Science and Engineering

Photograph showing beverage cans that are made of an aluminum alloy (left) and a steel alloy (right). The steel beverage can

has corroded significantly, and, therefore, is biodegradable and nonrecyclable. Conversely, the aluminum can is nonbiodegradable

and recyclable inasmuch as it experienced very little corrosion.

WHY STUDYEconomic, Environmental, and Societal Issues

in Materials Science and Engineering?

It is essential for the engineer to know about and

understand economic issues simply because the

company/institution for which he or she works must

realize a profit from the products it manufactures.

Materials engineering decisions have economic

consequences with regard to both material and

production costs.

An awareness of environmental and societal issues is

important for the engineer because, over time, greater

demands are being made on the world’s natural

resources. Furthermore, levels of pollution are ever

increasing. Materials engineering decisions have impacts

on the consumption of raw materials and energy, on the

contamination of our water and atmosphere, on human

health, on global climate change, and on the ability of

the consumer to recycle or dispose of spent products.

The quality of life for this and future generations will

depend, to some degree, on how these issues are

addressed by the global engineering community.

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