Introduction

The product designer would be the first to admit that in many areas of knowledge he is sadly lacking. It is the usual experience that those who choose materials for products are usually (and rightly) much more knowledgeable about the operation of the product, and the means by which their associates can make it, than about the finer points of materials science or technology, and especially on the question of where to find materials data.

The successful designer manages to survive very well with his inner resources of knowledge, through his contacts with colleagues and consultants, and with his personal collection of well-tried, tested, and favourite books and data sheets. However, the world moves on rapidly, and its materials technology activity generates a wealth of information. Access to this is increasingly vital to every company in the present climate in which research, development and product lifecycles become ever shorter.

Although several texts, in passing, assist the reader to find information, few of them treat this aspect of a product designer's operations specifically. This chapter seeks to fill that gap by focusing upon the various sources of materials information available at present. Although primarily concerned with the UK some reference is made to overseas sources, in particular via directories which offer information on world-wide data bases.