Material Research

Material Online Databases:

Search by Specification

• Comprehensive Data

  • Material ConneXion (access through Penn Library and PennKey)

  • CustomPart.net - The material selector provides access to a material database of metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), polymers (thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers), composites, and ceramics.

  • Matweb - Data sheets and attributes for metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites.

  • Knovel – provides access to reference materials in the fields of engineering and applied sciences. Subject areas covered include: chemistry and chemical engineering, plastics and rubbers, semiconductors, advanced materials, and safety, health and hygiene.

  • Cameo - a database that compiles information on terms, materials, and techniques used in the fields of art conservation and historic preservation

  • Materials Project - provides open web-based access to computed information on known and predicted materials as well as powerful analysis tools to inspire and design novel materials.

• Specifications of Metals and Plastics

  • The Plastic Historical Society - Resource that outlines the types of plastics, types of polymers, the acronyms and trade names for plastics, conservation of plastics., and a video archive of historical

  • online metals (and plastics) product guide - brief explanations of the applications of different metal alloys and plastics

  • Mcmaster Carr has excellent summaries of different materials when you type about plastics, about steel, about wool felt, about rubber

  • Tool Steel - Crucible Industries - selector explains alloy characteristics of tool steels

Commercial or Novel New Material Products

• Material District leading platform in the field of innovative materials - empowers innovation by match-making material needs with material solutions.

• Materio - Material library in Paris. Requires an account - the staff of our material library have an account but we do not

• Materiom - Materiom provides open data on how to make materials that nourish local economies and ecologies.

Architectural Material Products

• Building Product Index UK online database of building materials, including links to company websites. You can search by company and brand, or by product or material. Requires free registration.

• GreenSpec Created with government funding so independent of companies or trade, GreenSpec promotes sustainable building products and materials.

• RIBA Product Selector A leading resource on building products, NBS specification information and RIBA CPD providers with free access to product catalogues, technical documents and contact information of 10480 UK manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, trade associations and construction service providers.

• Smart Building Index In-depth information on commercial building products - including technical data, sourcing, cost data, project use examples, and downloadable specs, CAD and BIM objects.

• ESI.info Working across five environmental sectors, ESI.info offers the broadest mix of supplier and product information on the market, combined with insightful articles and case studies to keep architects up to date with sector innovations.

• Transmaterial Online catalogue and expert knowledge of new materials and the latest high-tech and environmentally friendly products. Aims to inspire architects and designers looking to transform the structure, spaces and surfaces of their projects.

Material Research Collections:

• Penn Fisher Fine Arts Material Library Penn's new Materials Library is a collection of physical materials (samples) ranging from innovative, new materials to those used in everyday construction and design. Material Research Guide

• UT Austin Materials Lab A multidisciplinary resource dedicated to hands-on and in-depth material investigations. UT online material search

• RISD Materials & Materiality: Material Resource Center

• Institute of Making The Institute of Making is a cross-disciplinary research club for those interested in the made world: from makers of molecules to makers of buildings, synthetic skin to spacecraft, soup to diamonds, socks to cities.

Material Safety

• The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide (glass, metal, wood, photo, stone, fibers)

• The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques (safety manual for common art materials - painting)

• 3D Printing - Fused Deposition Particle Emissions (PLA, ABS and others)

• OSHA Woodworking (safety considerations for milling, assembly and finishing wood)

• OSHA Computer Workstation

Unique Emerging Materials / Methods:

• 3D Printed Glass

• Aerated Concrete

• Self-Folding Structures using two types of 3D printing filaments (TPU and PLA) think about method in relation to laminates as well?

• Silicon actuators/springs at Penn

• Mycellium Bricks and 3D printed / CNC Extruded Mycellium

• matterdesign - stone and concrete case studies

• Zetteler Film Production Studio that produces work about Innovative Design

• Ledelle Moe - casting concrete figures with mud full lecture

• Conflict Materials (3TG) - Tantalum, Tin, Tungsten, and Gold

• Contemporary Damascus Steel - Vegas Forge and American Metal Exchange