Table of contents

In order to understand the property of superplasticity and its current applications the plasticity-the ductility or malleability-of metals and alloys which is one of the distinguishing properties of the metallic state is first discussed. It is found that superplasticity is a high temperature deformation property associated with alloys having particular microstructures. Current industrial superplastic fabrication methods and applications are reviewed. Finally, it is shown how the rediscovery of superplasticity has not only led to the development of advanced manufacturing techniques but has also provided the key to an understanding of the lost craft or technique by which Damascus steel sword-blades were forged

Monetarist and Keynesian prescriptions for economic recovery both ignore the role of technological change. There is evidence however that technical developments are essential to growth

Modern fibre optic cables and satellite communications, which are part of the new technology in the Mercury network, now under construction are described

Glow discharge processes have been developed to produce equipment which now plays an essential role in the deposition and etching of thin layers of materials for the electronics industry. The technique is described

Certain slurries show a marked increase in flow resistance when exposed to electric fields of the order of 4 kV mm-'. Such fluids have tremendous potential in closed loop control systems, but we first need to understand how they work

Report on 3rd International conference on magnetic fluids, 28-30 June 1983 at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, Wales.

Report on Friction of textile fibres, Institute of Physics (Tribology Group), 5 July 1983 at Imperial College, London.