Information sources in polymers and plastics /

Adkins and 17 collaborators have created a volume sorely needed for plastics information. The work brings together not only information on various areas within the plastics industry, but also deals with the international scope of plastics--there are chapters that address the contributions to and special characteristics of various countries or regions in polymer and plastics technology. The book is divided into three parts: type of literature, literature of special use of plastics, and special information peculiar to region or country in the plastics field. The chapter on online services is particularly informative, and it includes a useful chart of pertinent databases. Each information source is described with respect to its utility in plastics and polymer technology, and all information source descriptions appear to be up to date. Business information needed by commercial users and manufacturers of plastics is described in a separate chapter. Industry health and environmental hazards common to polymer and plastics manufacture and research are acknowledged by mention of a database containing such information. All in all, a very useful and welcome addition to the "guide to the literature" family of books. Recommended heartily to college, university, and industrial libraries everywhere. -J. Douville, Choice