Science & Technology Resources 101 : Focus on Materials Sciences
James E. Manasco
Ekstrom Library, Collection Development 
University of Louisville
What is Materials Science?
Background Information
How About Databases, Abstracts and Indexes?
Any Helpful Sites?
What Societies and Organizations are involved?
What are materials, exactly?
Pop Quiz:  Are these factual or fictional materials?
What classes constitute materials?
Ionic Crystals
Covalent Crystals
Metals
Intermetallics
Semiconductors
Polymers
Composite Materials
Vitreous Materials
Iron
Carbon Nanotubes
Kryptonite
Aluminum, Transparent
Adamantium
Glass
Vibranium
Inertron
Polymers
Unobtanium
According to Wikipedia, Materials Science is "an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering....  Materials science also deals with fundamental properties and characteristics of materials."
Basically, "stuff."
Materials can be classified by the type of bonds in atoms.
ASM Handbooks Online
Available in print and online.
Produced by ASM International-The Materials Information Society
Also produces the Engineered Materials Handbook and the Metals Handbook
CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook
Contains tensile strengths, hardness, elasticity, etc.
Available online or print.
http://www.crcnetbase.com/isbn/9781420038408
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
Now in its 5th edition, one of the greatest resources in chemistry and materials going.
All editions are still useful and relevant (3rd is particularly strong in polymers, for example).
While available online, I find the print to be easier to use and aids in serendipitous findings.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/0471238961
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
New Edition launching this Fall (online is updated quarterly).
6th edition in 2003 was 40 volumes.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/14356007
Encylopedia of Materials Science and Engineering
First major treatment of the field.
8 volumes including over 1500 articles by expert authors.
Yes, its from 1986, but still important!
http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?tid=9358&ttype=2
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology
4th edition as of January 2011
I haven't had the chance to peruse this one, but did want to include it as a heads-up.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/0471440264
A quick note about Standards
Standards are the accepted, approved way of doing something.  They keep you out of lawsuites (hopefully) and keep everyone safe and happy, if all goes well.
There are many organizations that deal with standards in materials science, but the granddaddy of them all is ASTM, the American Society of Testing and Materials.
ASTM's standards are available via their Digital Library or can be purchased in print.  The Annual Book of ASTM Standards is the bible of standards in this area.  Keep in mind that even outdated standards are still useful for researchers, engineers and...lawyers.
http://www.astm.org/Standard/index.shtml
Metadex
Compendex
Chemical Abstracts
Web of Fred
Provides access to:
Science Citation Index Expanded
Social Sciences Citation Index
Arts & Humanities Citation Index
Index Chemicus
Current Chemical Reactions
Journal Citation Reports
Medline, etc. etc.
More info: http://thomsonreuters.com/products_services/science/science_products/a-z/web_of_science/
Provides online access to Metals Abstracts, Metals Abstracts Index and Alloys Index
Approx. 1966-current.  But, the oldest record dates from 1939.
Updated monthly.  Over 7 million records as of June 2011.
ProQuest product.
Mother database for engineering.
Covers 1884 to present.
For more info, check out:   http://www.ei.org/compendex
Sci-Finder Scholar for us academics is the online version.
1907 to present.*  Mother database to chemistry.
*A rep from CA noted that content actually went back further in the 1800s.  Upon review of the information on their websites (http://www.cas.org/expertise/cascontent/ataglance/index.html and http://www.cas.org/help/scifinder/content.htm), I'm able to offer this clarification.  According to the first link, patent and journal references go back to the early 1800s, but according to the second "Literature from 1907 to present plus selected pre-1907 references."  For registry information, the first link states that "Substances...from the early 1800s to present" while the second notes "Specific chemical substances, including organic...covering 1957 to present, with some classes going back to the early 1900s."  Please review these pages for further information, but there does seem to be some disagreement between the pages...
Web version has replaced the client-server version.
http://www.cas.org/
MatWeb (http://www.matweb.com/)
Provides free materials property data for thousands of generic and commercial engineering materials, including polymers, alloys, etc.
SubsTech (http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php)
Free and open knowledge source on materials engineering.
MSDS on the Internet
Several sites are out there.
I particularly like this one:  http://www.ilpi.com/msds/
A Government Flavor
Your tax dollars at work:
DTIC Public Technical Reports (http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/search/tr/)
Nasa Technical Reports Server (http://ntrs.nasa.gov)
National Technical Information Service (http://www.ntis.gov)
Science.gov (http://www.science.gov/index.html)
Iron
Carbon Nanotubes
Kryptonite
Aluminum, Transparent
Transparent aluminum Star Trek technical manuals indicate that transparent aluminum is used in various fittings in starships, including exterior ship portals and windows. It was notably mentioned in the 1986 film Star Trek IV.

Aluminium oxynitride is a form of ceramic whose properties are similar to those of the fictional substance seen in Star Trek.
Adamantium
Glass
Yep, it does exist.
Vibranium
Inertron
Unobtanium
Thank you for your kind attention!
You can always reach me at james.manasco@louisville.edu or 502-852-8731
http://prezi.com/frmd7gjmvbb5/science-technology-101-focus-on-materials-science/
http://prezi.com/frmd7gjmvbb5/science-technology-101-focus-on-materials-science/
http://products.asminternational.org/hbk/index.jsp