Acta Materialia provides a forum for publishing full-length, original papers and commissioned overviews which advance the in-depth understanding of the relationship between the structure and the properties of materials. The structure encompasses atomic and molecular arrangements, chemical and electronic structures, and microstructure. Papers addressing mechanical, chemical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties will be considered.

Emphasis is on the following aspects of the science and engineering of structural and functional materials at all length scales:
(i) Experimentation, simulation and modeling which advance the understanding of the properties;
(ii) Elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the synthesis and processing of materials which advance the understanding of the properties; and
(iii) Improvement in the characterization of the structure and chemistry of materials which advance the understanding of the properties.