MATERIALS SCIENCE: Metallurgy in the Age of Silicon

Abstract

Perspectives MATERIALS SCIENCE: Metallurgy in the Age of Silicon D. C. Chrzan* With the dawn of the Bronze Age some 5000 years ago, humankind learned that mixing two metals together can result in a material that is stronger than either of its constituents. Since then, metallurgists have been creating and exploring the properties of metallic alloys. Even in modern times, this practice can lead to curious results that appear to conflict with the collective wisdom of 5000 years of research. On page 1665 of this issue, Trinkle and Woodward (1) explain one of these outstanding puzzles--the solute-induced softening of some elemental metals.