Instructions for Authors

Aims, scope and submission of papers The Journal of Materials Science is published bi-weekly. Papers span a very wide range of materials which are investigated in a variety of physical forms using many different techniques. Original research results on such international and interdisciplinary subjects as metals, ceramics, glasses, polymers, electrical materials, composite materials, fibres, biological and biomedical materials will also be considered for publication. Review articles of topical interest are published regularly. Submissions to Journal of Materials Science should be sent in triplicate to: Professor W. Bonfield, Chapman & Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SEl 8HN, UK. Please note that the resubmission of rejected manuscripts will not be accepted. The Journal of Materials Science Letters is published bi-weekly. It consists of short, original communications normally less than 1500 words. It publishes letters on the same variety of topics as Journal of Materials Science. Submissions to Journal of Materials Science Letters should be sent in triplicate to: Professor W. Bonfield (address as above). The Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics is published bi-monthly. It publishes original research papers on both coventional and new preparation methods and applications of materials in the field of electronics. Submissions should be sent in triplicate to Professor A Willoughby, Engineering Materials, Room 304, Eustice Building, The University, Southampton, SO9 5NH, UK. The Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine is published bimonthly. It covers a wide range of topics in the field of medicine and dentistry. Submissions should be sent in duplicate to Professor W. Bonfield (address as above). The Reviews Editor for Journal of Materials Science, Professor R.J. Young and the and the Reviews Editor for Materials in Electronics, Professor J. Harris will be happy to receive suggestions for suitable subjects for review. Submissions should be sent in duplicate for Journal of Materials Science to Professor R.J. Young, Manchester Materials Science Centre, University of Manchester & UMIST, Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HS, UK. Submissions should also be sent in duplicate for Materials in Electronics to: Professor J. Harris, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College, University of London, London WC1E 7JE, UK. Copyright Submission of an article to any of the above mentioned journals is taken to imply that it presents original, unpublished work, not under consideration for publication elsewhere. A Copyright assignment form will be sent to the authors of submitted papers prior to refereeing. This publishing agreement should be completed and returned to the editorial office. The agreement becomes void if the paper is not accepted for publication in the journal. The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the article, including reprints, photographic reproductions, microfilm or any other reproductions of similar nature, and translations. The manuscript Language and style The manuscript must be in English. Permission to reproduce previously published materials must be obtained by the author prior to submission. It should be typed on paper of the following dimensions: 203 x 267 mm, 216x279mm or 210x297mm with margins of at least 25 mm. If a dot matrix printer is used, submit letter-quality text and do not justify the margins. Use double spacing throughout. On acceptance, authors are encouraged to provide a disc with a ASCII version of the manuscript. Presentation For Journal of Materials Science, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics and Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine each of the following sections should begin on separate pages: title page, abstract and keywords, text, acknowledgements, references, individual tables, figure legends. The abstract should be a brief and factual statement of the contents. This should not exceed 200 words in length. Three relevant keywords should also be submitted with the original manuscript. The main text ofthe paper should be divided into sections and subsections as exemplified in the headings of these "Instructions for authors". The above format does not apply when submitting to Journal of Materials Science Letters. For this journal, the format is that of a chronologically constructed letter. It should be less than 1500 words in length. Pages should be numbered consecutively beginning with the title page. Please adhere to these instructions carefully as improperly prepared manuscripts will be returned for alteration. References References should be numbered consecutively in the text, thus: "According to a recent theory [4] ..." and collected at the end of the paper in the following styles, for journals, Proceedings and books, respectively: 4. A. BLACK and C. DENT, J. Mater. Sci. 1 (1997) 274. 5. R. CHANG, in Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Fracture, Brighton, April 1997, edited by P. L. Pratt (Chapman & Hall, London, 1996) p.306. 6. R. J. YOUNG, in "Introduction to Polymers" (Chapman & Hall, London, 1995) p.137. Illustrations All illustrations, of whatever type, should be numbered in a single sequence and referred to in the text and caption as Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc. The author's name and the figure number should be clearly shown on the front or back of each illustration. Original art-work should be sent; photocopies or any other form of copy will generally be unsuitable for reproduction in the Journals. A separate list of captions for illustrations should be provided and a note inserted in the typescript to indicate where they should appear. Figures will normally be reduced to either single (80 mm) or double (167 mm) column width and this should be remembered when the figures are labelled: a final capital-letter height of about 2 mm (after reduction) is preferred. Line diagrams: Originals must be presented as high quality laser printed computer output. Lettering should be unambiguous, handwritten annotations are not acceptable. Photographs: Photographs should be positive glossy prints, unmarked and not creased, and of high contrast. They must have internal scale bars. Symbols, arrows or letters used in photographs should contrast with the background. Colour printing is available, subject to the author meeting the extra cost involved. Please note that the Publishers regret that original micrographs cannot be returned. Units and abbreviations: SI units must be used. If unconventional units are employed (e.g., denier) appropriate conversion factors should be given. All abbreviations should be spelt out in full on first appearance, e.g., scanning electron microscope (SEM). Offprints A total of 25 offprints for each article will be provided FREE. Extra copies can be purchased using the Offprint Order Form provided with the proofs or on acceptance of the article. Cover photographs The cover photographs are enlarged versions of photographs appearing in the issues. Contributors are invited to draw the Editor's attention to a photograph of outstanding scientific importance. Larger copies of these illustrations may be submitted. For more detailed information please contact the relevant editor or write to:  Journals Department, Chapman & Hall, 2-6 Boundary Row, London SEl 8HN, UK.