Hard-Copy Data Sources

Polymer and elastomer data are typically producer-specific. Sources therefore tend to be scattered and incomplete. While no single hard-copy source is all encompassing, the following are worth consulting. 

2 Handbook of Plastics Materials and Technology , Irvin I. Rubin John Wiley Sons (1990) ISBN 0471096342. Essential information from acetal to XT polymer. This single source comprises 119 chapters of in-depth basic information about plastic materials, properties, processing, assembly, decorating and industry practices-all presented in a readily accessible and consistent format. Also features a wealth of useful auxiliary information and tables. 

3 Plastics technology manufacturing handbook and buyers guide , Bill Communications (212-592-6570). Updated annually. The Handbook and Buyers Guide is a comprehensive tool for locating suppliers of primary machinery, materials (thermoplastics and thermosets), auxiliary and secondary equipment and controls, chemicals and additives, and a variety of specialized services. Contains extensive equipment and materials specifications. 

4 Performance of plastics , W. Brostow Hanser Gardner Pubis (1999) ISBN 1569902771. Comprehensively covers the behavior of the most important polymer materials. Subject areas range from Computer Simulations of Mechanical Behavior to Reliability and Durability of aircraft structures made of fiber-reinforced hydrocarbons. 

6 Plastics for engineers materials, properties, applications , Hans Domin-inghaus Hanser Gardner Pubis (1993) ISBN 1569900116. Provides a comprehensive overview in text, tables and graphs, of properties and applications for all plastics of current technical and commercial interest. 

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The five hard-copy data-sources listed below attempt in different ways to span the full spectrum of materials and properties. 

In an effort to avoid reproducing indexing errors from other systems, hard copy of all articles selected for inclusion into the data base is always obtained before information is entered into the ETIC file. When a complete copy of an article is in hand, the bibliographic data are entered into the computer. The fields that are entered include the author, title, citation, literature type, language or translation notes, secondary source, and selected abstracts. The technical staff then indexes the data using experimental parameters that allow searching in a variety of ways specific to the interests of the users. Only that portion of the paper concerned with teratology or... 

Appropriate controls should be exercised over computer or related systems to assure that changes in master production and control records or other records are instituted only by authorised personnel. Input to, and output from the computer or related system, of formulae or other records or data shall be checked for accuracy. A backup file of data entered into the computer or related system shall be maintained, except where certain data such as calculations are eliminated by computerisation or other automated processes. In such instances either a written record of the programme (source code) shall be maintained or the system should be validated. Hard copy or alternative systems, such as duplicates, tapes, or microfilm, designed to assure that backup data are exact and complete and that it is secure from alteration, inadvertent erasure or loss, shall be maintained. 

The task requirements will determine critical layout characteristics of the workstation. The relative importance of the screen, keyboard, and hard copy (i.e., source documents) depends primarily on the task, and this defines the design considerations necessary to improve operator performance, comfort, and health. Data-entry jobs, for example, are typically hard copy oriented. The operator spends little time looking at the screen, and tasks are characterized by high rates of keying. For this type of task it is logical for the layout to emphasize the keyboard, mouse, and hard copy, because these are the primary tools used in the task, while the screen is of lesser importance. On the other hand, data-acquisition operators spend most of their time looking at the screen and seldom use hard copy. For this type of task, the screen and the keyboard layout should be emphasized. 

The objective of this task Is to develop a comprehensive computer data base containing the experimental data on properties of ceramic materials generated In the overall effort, This computer system is intended to provide a convenient and efficient mechanism for the compilation and dissemination of the large amounts of data involved. The data base will be made available In electronic form to all project participants. In addition, periodic hard copy summaries of the data, Including graphical representation and tabulation of raw data, will be Issued to provide convenient information sources for project participants. 

The CSD is a fully retrospective archive, and almost all the information has been abstracted from the published literature. Nearly 800 primary literature sources are cited, the earliest reference being from 1930. Much of the data have been re-keyed from original literature and from hard-copy supplementary... 

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