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Focuses on the environmental aspects of materials. This book provides coverage of such topics as material consumption and its drivers, the material lifecycle, eco-informed material selection, renewable materials and sustainability. It contains case studies showing how the methods discussed in the book can be applied to real-world situations.
List of contents
1.Introduction - Material Dependence
2.Resource Consumption and its Drivers
3.The Material Life Cycle
4.End of First Life - A Problem or a Resource?
5.The Long Reach of Legislation
6.Eco-data - Values, Sources, Precision
7.Eco-audits and Eco-audit Tools
8.Selection Strategies
9.Eco-informed Material Selection
10.Sustainability - Living on Renewables
11.The Bigger Picture - Future Options
12.Data Sheets - Metals, Polymers, Ceramics, Composites, Natural Materials
Appendix - Units, Conversion factors, etc.
Report
"Like Ashby's other textbooks, the information is reasoned, clearly presented and "chunked" into digestible sizes for easy assimilation. Best of all are his modulus-density charts with helpful selection criteria, and a chapter devoted to highly useful material profiles that make comparisons between materials actually enjoyable. Materials and the Environment is structured for classroom use, but I find it to be one of the most practical guides to the subject that it should be a desk reference in every design office."--IFAI's Fabric Architecture
