This volume contains the papers presented at the First Mexico-U.S.A. Symposium on Materials Sciences and Engineering held in Ixtapa, Guerrero, Mexico, during Septem- ber 24-27, 1991. The conference was conceived with the primary objective of increas- ing the close ties between scientists and engineers in both Mexico and the U.S. with an interest in materials. The conference itself would have not taken place without the drive, determination and technical knowledge of John K. Tien of the University of Texas at Austin and of Francisco Mejia Lira of the Universidad de San Luis Potosi. This book...