Table of Conversion Factors

Section 2 combines the former separate section on Mathematics with the material involving General Information and Conversion Tables. The fundamental physical constants reflect values recommended in 1986. Physical and chemical symbols and definitions have undergone extensive revision and expansion. Presented in 14 categories, the entries follow recommendations published in 1988 by the lUPAC. The table of abbreviations and standard letter symbols provides, in a sense, an alphabetical index to the foregoing tables. The table of conversion factors has been modified in view of recent data and inclusion of SI units cross-entries for archaic or unusual entries have been curtailed. 

Conversion Factors. Excellent tables of conversion factors are available (1 3), in which the conversion factors are Hsted both alphabetically and classified by physical quantity. 

Some approximate conversion factors to SI units are given in Table 1.1. These are worth committing to memory, to give some feel for the units for those more familiar with the traditional engineering units. The exact conversion factors are also shown in the table. A more comprehensive table of conversion factors is given in Appendix D. 

Besides the ASTM standard tests, a number of general reference books have been published on testing and on the mechanical properties of polymers and viscoelastic materials (2-7). Unfortunately, a great variety of units are used in reporting values of mechanical tests. Stresses, moduli of elasticity, and other properties are given in such units as MK.S (SI), cgs, and English units. A table of conversion factors is given in Appendix II. 

Appendix A gives an extensive table of conversion factors for energy as well as for other units. 

Units are always a problem for chemical engineers. It is unfortunate that the US has not converted completely from English units to SI (Systeme International) units. Many books have adopted SI units. Most equipment catalogs use English units. Companies having overseas operations and customers must use SI units. Thus, engineers must be fluent in both sets of units. It could be disastrous not to be fluent. I therefore decided to use both systems. In most cases, the book contains units in both systems, side-by-side. The appendix contains a discussion of SI units with a table of conversion factors. 

Because the author was unable to review the proofs to the second edition, numerous printing errors appeared in that edition. Apologies are due for the inconveniences caused. Much care has been exercised in the printing of this edition. SI units are used where appropriate throughout, particularly for thermodynamic data so that these data are now consistent with the JANAF tables in the appendix. In some instances where certain cgs databases have not been updated and where cgs units are so ingrained that SI may have proved an inconvenience, cgs units have prevailed. The table of conversion factors in the appendix should reduce any inconveniences. 

Factors for converting from one system of units to another may be determined by taking ratios of quantities listed in the table on the inside front cover of this book. A larger table of conversion factors is given on pp. 1-4 through 1-20 of Perry s Chemical Engineers Handbook. ... 

Using the table of conversion factors on the inside front cover, convert... 

Throughout, SI units will be used, unless stated otherwise see Appendix A.5. The SI rules for notation are also followed see Appendix A.4. A short table of conversion factors is given in Appendix A.6. 

Engineers often find it necessary to convert from one unit of measurement to another. The following table of conversion factors provides a convenient method of accomplishing the task. In the following table, a more complete listing of conversion factors is presented, grouped in alphabetical order. 

Table of Conversion Factors Following the notation in Landolt-Bornstein [7], values which have been fixed by convention are indicated by a bold-face last digit. The conversion factor between calorie and Joule that is given here is based on the thermochemical calorie, calthch. and is defined as 4.1840 J/cal. However, for the conversion of the Internationale Tafelkalorie , caliT, into Joule, the factor 4.1868 J/cal is to be used [1, p. 147]. For the conversion factor for the British thermal unit, the Steam Table Btu, BTUst. is used [1, p. 95]. ... 

Most tables of conversion factors do not include conversions between cubic units, but we can derive them from the conversion factors for the basic units. We cube both sides of the preceding equality to obtain the proper conversion factor. 

Most tables of conversion factors do not include a conversion between m and ft but they do have a conversion between m and ft (3.28 ft = 1 m). To obtain the correct conversion factor, cube both sides of this eguivalence ... 

If a value for measurement as given in this standard is followed by an equivalent value in other units, the first stated value is to be regarded as the specification. Conversion factors for quantities stated herein are listed in Appendix F, Table of Conversion Factors. SI units stated herein are in accordance with the Standard for Use of the International System of Units The Modem Metric System, IEEE/ ASTM SI 10. 

Tabulations of values for P, D and S for some typical have been used and tables of conversion factors are... 

We include with this introductory section a table of conversion factors for the most common pressure units employed by dilferent investigators (table 1). Since most of these units have been converted into atm in this chapter, the table will enable readers who may prefer their own units to compare the data presented here with their own data. 

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