A collection of 40 case studies in materials selection. They illustrate a methodology for selecting materials for a range of applications - mechanical, thermal, electrical, and combinations of these. Each study asks - out of all the materials, how can a short list of candidates be identified?

Mechanical: selection methodology; materials for oars; mirrors for large telescopes; materials for table legs; materials for buildings; materials for flywheels; materials for cooling fans; golf-ball print heads; materials for springs; elastic hinges and couplings; materials for static seals; diaphragms for pressure actuators; knife edges and pivots; materials to resist fracture; safe pressure vessels; con-rods for high performance engines; piston rods for aircraft vane actuators; materials for deep submersibles; materials for Shaker tables. Thermo-mechanical: insulation for isothermal containers; energy-efficient kiln walls; materials for sauna walls; materials for passive solar heating; materials for storage heaters; heat exchanger tubes; aperture grills for cathode ray tubes; minimising distortion in precision devices; heat sinks for microchips; ceramic valves for taps. Electro-mechanical; materials for radomes; materials for bus-bars; windings for high-powered magnets; windings for high-speed electric motors; materials for relay arms.