Abstract
In this, the second Finniston Lecture, the growth in the production, usage and disposal of engineering materials is reviewed on a worldwide scale over the period of Sir Monty's lifetime. He worked in all stages of the cycle. The materials treated are steel and the common non-ferrous metals, the bulk plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene) and Portland cement. The total tonnage used is determined by improvement in quality, both in production and in service, the market demands, substitution by other materials and waste minimisation. These are considered for each material so as to show an emerging future in which demand per caput decreases as living standards rise. This fact, coupled with a philosophy of ‘do more with less’ and the pressures of environmental concerns are leading to an important change of emphasis within the materials cycle occasioned by the demand to increase the recyclability not only of the materials but also of the components made from them.
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