Online Materials Info These Q&A are posted to help direct you to other useful resources. Click on a question to see the answer.

• Where can I find lots of materials-related information online?
• Where can I take a basic metallurgy course?
• Where can I find books related to materiallography?
• Where can I get a digital camera for my microscope?

Where can I find lots of materials-related information online?

Most of the reference materials you'll need are not available in their entirety online. Many can be ordered online, but if you're in a hurry use online resources to track down the books, journals, or articles which can then be studied in greater detail at your local library.

ASM International is the largest distributor of materials information (not just metals information) in the world. Their website is a great place to begin a search. The ASM Bookstore is searchable by keyword and contains descriptions and tables of content for most of the books ASM publishes. Once you find an appropriate reference, jot down it's title, author, and ISBN number to help you locate it in your local library. Or the 10,000 volume ASM Library offers 24-48 hour delivery service for copies of: conference papers, journal articles, phase diagrams, and alloy data sheets. You can also arrange a literature search through ASM's library and ASM maintains several Webboard Discussion Forums at their website where you may post questions.

METALogic N.V., a spin-off company of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (MTM) of the Katholieke Universteit Leuren in Belgium, maintains an online materials information system. It's purpose is to provide concise information on materials and materials selection criteria for corrosive applications, but the site contains plenty of other data on a variety of materials from non-metallics to Zinc.
The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) maintains a website where you can search the subject index and tables of contents for their journal "JOM". About 40 selected articles are available in their entirety online. One in particular, "Understanding the Internet: A Guide for Materials Scientists and Engineers" by Dr. Kenneth J. Meltsner, lists many of the materials science related newsgroups (discussion groups) available online. You might also find some help through one of the sites listed on the TMS "Links to Links" page.

A good source for technical standards on a wide variety of materials is The American Society for Testing and Materials. ASTM "has developed and published 10,000 technical standards, which are used by industries worldwide...Technical publications, training courses, and Statistical Quality Assurance Programs are other ASTM products; ASTM services include The ASTM Institute for Standards Research." You can search their files several ways and read summaries of the standards online or have complete standards faxed to you within 15 minutes.

The Principal Metals, Inc. website offers free access to their "Specifications Cross Reference", "Material Property Data", and "Prime Metals Weight Calculator". They cross reference over 6000 AMS, ASTM, ASME, MIL, QQ, UNS and proprietary DMS, GE (B50) and PWA specifications. There is complete property data including chemistry, mechanicals, welding, heat treating, forming, fabricating and application data on more than 5000 ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. The weight calculator automatically calculates the weight of rounds, flats, hexagons, sheets, plates, tube, discs and rings in standard or metric sizes in any metal.
If you're looking for a material to fit your property requirements, Automation Creations, Inc. has created MatWeb, a free online materials information resource. MatWeb's database currently includes comprehensive coverage of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, aluminum, magnesium, steel, titanium and zinc alloys, plus a solid and growing list of ceramics and other metals.

If you're seeking general information about individual elements, you'll find a wealth of data on the Periodic Table maintained by Los Alamos National Laboratory.

For those interested in copper alloys, the Copper Development Association maintains a great site full of copper alloy micrographs and other pertinent information.

Interested in polymers? Check out The Plastics Learning Center hosted by Connecticut Plastics. The information provided includes answers to frequently asked questions, An Introduction to Plastics, The Ultimate Polymer Science Guide, Plastic Material Selector, Articles & Videos, Machining vs. Molding and more.

Looking for information about steel? Check with the Steel Manufacturers Association or the International Iron and Steel Institute. You'll also find over 4,000 links to steelmaking and steel-related technologies at "Steelynx" a site maintained by Cathy Stewart (no relation). For technical inquiries or other steel-related conversation subscribe to "SteelTalk", the listserver administered by Ted Kuster a contributing editor for Iron Age/New Steel magazine.

The Rhode Island Chapter website maintains a list of links to websites for all sorts of materials organizations and universities at http://www.metallography.com/asm/links.htm.
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Where can I take a basic metallurgy course?

There are several places to find basic metallurgy courses other than at colleges and universities. ASM International offers the largest variety of basic, introductory, and advanced courses at their headquarters outside Cleveland, Ohio. A partial list includes:

Several of these courses are available via correspondence and on video tape. The entire ASM course schedule is available online. For more information call 216-338-5151 or send email to mem-serv@po.asm-intl.org. ASM also has local chapters scattered around the country which occasionally sponsor courses locally.

Buehler Ltd., of Lake Bluff Illinois, also has an ambitious course schedule which includes:

Buehler's course schedule is also available online. For more information call Sandy Kaucic at 847-295-4679.

Leco Corporation offers two courses at their St.Joseph, Michigan headquarters:

If you're looking for in-house training in heat treating, metallurgy, metallography, or any of a variety of other topics, contact A.M. Integrity Services at 13765, Clover Lake Drive, Chardon, OH 44024; Phone: 216-564-9128, Fax: 216-564-7835. For additional information email Marc Starrett at mstarrett@cyberdrive.net.
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Where can I find books related to materiallography?

There are hundreds of books relating to metallurgy in general, and of specific materials in particular.

Technicians and metallographers should also have a copy of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards Section 3, Metals Test Methods and Analytical Procedures, Volume 3.01, Mechanical Testing; Elevated and Low-Temperature Tests; Metallography. There are 1152 pages comprising 114 standards. According to ASTM:
"This volume features 20 metallography tests and practices that define standard optical, electron, and x-ray procedures for determining the constituents and structure of metals and alloys. Examples: E 384 Test Method for Microhardness of Materials and E 45 Test Method for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel.
Several standard practices cover procedures for determining the effect of temperature on metals.
55 tests and practices detail the standard procedures needed to perform mechanical testing, including: machine calibration, bend and flexure testing, compression, ductility and formability, elastic properties, impact, linear thermal expansion, shear and torsion, residual stress, and tension testing. Includes: E 238 Test Method for Pin Type Bearing Test of Metallic Materials and E 10 Test Methods for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
About 10 standards define terms related to fatigue testing and loading, and explain procedures involved in fatigue testing, such as cycle counting and statistical analysis. Example: E 606 Practice for Constant-Amplitude Low Cycle Fatigue Testing.
Nearly 15 tests and practices list the steps required to perform fracture testing. Includes: E 561 Practice for R-Curve Determination."
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The following suggestions are not meant to recommend any particular camera.
The Scientific Imaging Systems group of the Eastman Kodak Company offers a Microscopy Documentation System based on the Kodak Digital Science DC120 digital zoom camera. For more information on the Kodak camera send email to Robin Montmayeur Microscopy Marketing Specialist (rlmont@kodak.com) or contact Kodak's Technical Support Group at sis-support@kodak.com or call 877-SIS-HELP.
Diagnostic Instruments Inc. sells a high resolution digital camera called "SPOT" that was specifically designed for use on microscopes.
Polaroid has a digital camera called the "DMC" or Digital Microscope Camera.
Sci-Eye Inc offers a miniature color camera for microscope use called the MMC-2. It has lower resolution than the others mentioned above (320X240).
The list of camera vendors maintained by ASM International might include those offering digital equipment.
You'll find many others by doing a "Keyword Search" for "digital camera" at the Microscopy Vendors Database maintained by Henrik Kaker.
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