Materials have to operate and perform in widely varied environments and
situations. The requirements of safety and reliability demand that the materials
and components should perform well in their environments and situations without
premature failure. There are a number of factors and processes which can cause
the failure of materials. As premature failure of critical components can be
disastrous in many situations apart from being a cause for lost production and bad
reputation, it is essential to understand and control these causes of failure.