If you're looking for further information about specific materials (such as ceramics, glass, metals or plastics), you'll find some useful organisations listed towards the end of this section
(This list is intended only to provide examples of companies and organisations operating in this sector, and is therefore not comprehensive. It should not be taken as a recommendation of their services.)
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
www.iom3.org
Created from the merger of The Institute of Materials (IOM) and The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM), the Institute is the leading international professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia and the general public.
Institute of Packaging
www.pi2.org.uk
Now part of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining its website has some useful links to various organisations that deal with different materials within the packaging industry.
UK Centre for Materials in Education
www.materials.ac.uk
The UK Centre for Materials Education aims to support and promote good and innovative learning and teaching practices as informed by research, in the disciplines related to, and using, materials.
The Building Centre
www.buildingcentre.co.uk
A central London venue for a range of building and interior products and materials. It is planning an open access free materials library.
Challenge of Materials Gallery
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/challenge/
The Science Museum gallery and website dedicated to materials.
Design Museum
www.designmuseum.org
The UK's main museum for contemporary and classic design. A great place to see new designers' work and to appreciate the use of materials in design from a historical and modern perspective.
British Standards Institute
www.bsi-global.com
Produces guides on a range of subjects ranging from hot-water bottles manufactured from rubber and PVC to methods of testing plastics and specification for aluminium pigments. You can register free of charge to search for specific standards or materials, or if you know the specific standard you can search this way. There is a charge for obtaining copies of the standards themselves, and they are priced individually. The Education section of the site is a good source of easy-to-digest information on some standards.
Materials Research Laboratory, Stanford Research Institute
www.sri.com/psd/materials
SRI's Materials Research Laboratory offers interdisciplinary, problem-solving materials scientists and chemical engineers with expertise in materials research and development, fracture mechanics, and prototype production.
email: inquiry.line@sri.com
Fraunhofer Institute
www.fraunhofer.de
A German research institute for all fields of engineering science. It has a number of locations and divisions internationally and is responsible for developing some amazing materials.
email: info@fraunhofer.de
The A to Z of Materials
www.azom.com
A fantastic web resource including a massive range of technical information on materials.
University of Cambridge
www-materials.eng.cam.ac.uk/mpsite/
Cambridge University's Engineering department has a useful website with accessible information on materials, properties and manufacturing.
Matweb
www.matweb.com
MatWeb's database of material properties includes thermoplastic and thermoset polymers such as ABS, nylon, polycarbonate, polyester, and polyolefins; metals such as aluminium, cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel, steel, superalloys, titanium and zinc alloys; ceramics; plus a growing list of semiconductors, fibres, and other engineering materials.
Rematerialise ecosmart materials
www.rematerialise.org
The website is very easy to navigate and is a good way of finding sustainable materials. The information is relevant, with great photographs of the materials.
Materio
www.materio.com
An independent information centre for materials. Its aim is to forge links between creative people and manufacturers and engineers. Its service is web-based but also has a physical resource centre in Paris with access to all its samples.
Health & Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk
Excellent site for looking up hazardous materials and chemicals. Go to 'free leaflets' option for a complete listing.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
www.coshh-essentials.org.uk/
COSHH Essentials provides advice on controlling the use of chemicals for a range of common tasks, eg mixing or drying. A list of safety data sheets for a range of materials and chemicals.
Safety Policy Directorate (SPD)
www.hse.gov.uk/spd/spdhods.htm
SPD develops health and safety regulation and guidance which is acceptable to industry, Parliament, other government departments and the appropriate European and international bodies. The Directorate negotiates and implements European Directives, reforms domestic health and safety legislation (and simplifies existing laws) and produces Approved Codes of Practice (ACoPs) and guidance.
The Food Standards Agency
www.foodstandards.gov.uk
Provides information, available free of charge, covering legislation on materials in contact with food.
Granta Design Limited
www.grantadesign.com
A leading materials information technology (IT) provider, supplying the world's first and only comprehensive materials IT system.
Inventables
www.inventables.com
A company which deals with new materials and technologies. Every three months it publishes a DesignAid which contains the 20 most interesting and applicable new developments in materials-led technology. As with most companies in this field, it is subscription-based.
Mode Information
www.modeinfo.de
A forecasting company with information on new materials, colours and finishes.
Corus
www.corusgroup.com
Formerly British Steel, in 1998 the company merged with Koninklijke Hoogovens to form Corus. A must if you are interested in metal.
Ceram Research Ltd
www.ceram.com
Internationally renowned centre of technical excellence for the ceramics and other materials-based industries.
email: enquiries@ceram.com
British Ceramic Confederation
www.ceramfed.co.uk
Has a list of members within the British ceramic industry. A good starting point if you want to find out more about ceramics.
DuPont
www.dupont.com
One of the world's leading manufacturers of plastic. It created Nylon and Teflon plus a whole range of plastics for a variety of industries.
Rapra Technology Limited
www.rapra.com
A leading independent research, technology and information provider specialising in rubber and plastics.
British Plastics Federation
www.bpf.co.uk
The website is excellent for finding out about plastics both historically, and in terms of their physical properties and manufacturing.
The British Glass Manufacturers' Confederation
www.britglass.org.uk
The body representing the UK's glass industry
Schott
www.schott.com
One of the world's leading producers of glass and glass products. Extremely helpful, with some high-tech literature as well as information presented in a 'magazine' style.
The National Glass Centre
www.nationalglasscentre.com
A unique venue based in a spectacular contemporary glass and steel building which houses galleries, artists studios and production facilities.