Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. xi, 229 pages; 25 cm

Summary

1. "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"--
2. "Aiming to elucidate the complexity of material flows of modern societies, their prerequisites and their consequences"--

Subject

1. Waste minimization
2. Materials
3. Raw materials

Contents

1. What gets included -- How we got here -- How the materials flow -- Are we dematerializing? -- Material outlook.

Call number

1. JBE 16-492

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-221) index.

Author

1. Smil, Vaclav.

Title

1. Making the modern world : materials and dematerialization / Vaclav Smil.

Publisher

1. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom : Wiley, 2014.

Type of content

1. text

Type of medium

1. unmediated

Type of carrier

1. volume

Bibliography

1. Includes bibliographical references (pages 191-221) index.

Local note

1. AUTH: UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA. ON HISTORY, ENERGY COSTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT & OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE.

Connect to:

1. Cover image

Other form:

1. Online version: Smil, Vaclav. Making the modern world. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom : John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2014 9781118697962 (DLC) 2013028461 (OCoLC)852958632

LCCN

1. 2013024672

ISBN

1. 9781119942535 (pbk.)
2. 1119942535 (pbk.)

Research call number

1. JBE 16-492