Materials science encompasses four classes of materials, the study of each of which may be considered a separate field: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. This volume gathers important research from around the globe in this dynamic field including research on the fabrication, properties and thermal stability of quasi-amorphous Ta-Si-N diffusion barriers; sol-gel immobilised micro-organisms for bioremediation systems and biosensors; glass-ceramics with oriented non-linear crystals; plastic based nanocomposite films for active packaging with tailor diffusion properties; thermal barrier coated superalloys used in turbine blades and using feldspar to produce ceramic floor tiles.