Materials and dematerialization : making the modern world

By:

Smil, Vaclav

Material type: Text

9781394181209

Uniform titles:

ProQuest eBooks.

Subject(s):

Additional physical formats: Print version:: Making the modern world : materials and dematerialization.DDC classification:

661 SMI-M

LOC classification:

TD793.9 .S64 2014

Online resources:

Click to View

Contents:

1. What Gets Included 2. How We Got Here 3. What Matters Most 4. How the Materials Flow 5. Are We Dematerializing? 6. Material Outlook

Summary: "How much further should the affluent world push its material consumption? Does relative dematerialization lead to absolute decline in demand for materials? These and many other questions are discussed and answered in Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization.Over the course of time, the modern world has become dependent on unprecedented flows of materials. Now even the most efficient production processes and the highest practical rates of recycling may not be enough to result in dematerialization rates that would be high enough to negate the rising demand for materials generated by continuing population growth and rising standards of living. This book explores the costs of this dependence and the potential for substantial dematerialization of modern economies. Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization considers the principal materials used throughout history, from wood and stone, through to metals, alloys, plastics, and silicon, describing their extraction and production as well as their dominant applications. The evolving productivities of material extraction, processing, synthesis, finishing, and distribution, and the energy costs and environmental impact of rising material consumption are examined in detail. The book concludes with an outlook for the future, discussing the prospects for dematerialization and potential constraints on materials.This interdisciplinary text will provide useful perspectives for readers with backgrounds including resource economics, environmental studies, energy analysis, mineral geology, industrial organization, manufacturing, and material science"--

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Status	Notes	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Books	IIITD General Stacks	Chemical Engineering	CB 661 SMI-M (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available	DBT Project Grant		012791

Total holds: 0

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. What Gets Included 2. How We Got Here 3. What Matters Most 4. How the Materials Flow 5. Are We Dematerializing? 6. Material Outlook

"How much further should the affluent world push its material consumption? Does relative dematerialization lead to absolute decline in demand for materials? These and many other questions are discussed and answered in Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization.Over the course of time, the modern world has become dependent on unprecedented flows of materials. Now even the most efficient production processes and the highest practical rates of recycling may not be enough to result in dematerialization rates that would be high enough to negate the rising demand for materials generated by continuing population growth and rising standards of living. This book explores the costs of this dependence and the potential for substantial dematerialization of modern economies. Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization considers the principal materials used throughout history, from wood and stone, through to metals, alloys, plastics, and silicon, describing their extraction and production as well as their dominant applications. The evolving productivities of material extraction, processing, synthesis, finishing, and distribution, and the energy costs and environmental impact of rising material consumption are examined in detail. The book concludes with an outlook for the future, discussing the prospects for dematerialization and potential constraints on materials.This interdisciplinary text will provide useful perspectives for readers with backgrounds including resource economics, environmental studies, energy analysis, mineral geology, industrial organization, manufacturing, and material science"--

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2015. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest affiliated libraries.

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