Materials science is a relatively new and very broad field. It involves applications from a number scientific disciplines that contribute to the creation of new materials. Chemists play a predominant role in materials science because chemistry provides information about the structure and composition of materials, as well as the processes to synthesize and use them.
The central theory behind materials science involves relating the microstructure of a material to its macromolecular physical and chemical properties. By understanding and then changing the microstructure, material scientists tailor the properties to create custom, or even brand new, materials with specific properties for specific uses.