THE NBS STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS PROGRAM: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS IS TO DEVELOP, PRODUCE, AND DISTRIBUTE STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS WHICH PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE COMPARISON OF MEASUREMENTS ON MATERIALS, AND AID IN THE CONTROL OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES IN INDUSTRY. TO HELP CARRY OUT THIS FUNCTION NBS EVALUATES THE REQUIREMENTS OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY FOR CAREFULLY CHARACTERIZED REFERENCE MATERIALS, AND DIRECTS THEIR PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION. THESE REFERENCE MATERIALS PERMIT CALIBRATION IN THE USER'S LABORATORY OF A VARIETY OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS TO A CENTRAL CERTIFYING LABORATORY FOR CALIBRATION. AT PRESENT, ABOUT 600 DIFFERENT ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM NBD - AND LAST YEAR ABOUT 70,000 STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS (SRM) WERE DISTRIBUTED IN SUCH DIVERSE MEASUREMENT AREAS AS VISCOSITY, COLOR, COMPOSITION, RADIOACTIVITY, ACIDITY, RUBBER COMPOUNDING, TEMPERATURE, CALORIMETRY, MOLECULAR WEIGHT, THICKNESS, THERMAL EMITTANCE, ETC. IN ITS BEGINNING, 60 YEARS AGO, THE PROGRAM WAS ORIENTED PRIMARILY TOWARD THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY BUT WITH ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY THE DEMANDS FOR REFERENCE MATERIALS IN THE NUCLEAR, AEROSPACE, OCEANOGRAPHIC, AND HEALTH FIELDS AS WELL AS IN WATER AND AIR POLLUTION, HAVE CREATED AN EVER INCREASING, EXPANDING LIST OF URGENTLY REQUIRED STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS. IT IS THE PHILOSOPHY AT NBS TO EXPAND INTO THESE NEW AREAS, WHILE MAINTAINING, AS BEST WE CAN WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, SERVICE TO THE MORE TRADITIONAL AREAS OF SRM. NBS STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS ARE CURRENTLY PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN THE SOLUTION OF MANY INDUSTRIAL AND SCIENTIFIC PROBLEMS. FUTURE NEEDS DEMAND INCREASED COMPETENCE AND SOPHISTICATION TO SATISFY THE BURGEONING MEASUREMENT REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATION. /MTRSA/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 9, No 10, PP 15-18, 2 TAB, 5 PHOT
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Authors:
- Meinke, W W
- Publication Date: 1969-10
Media Info
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Serial:
- Materials Research and Standards
- Publisher: American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Calibration; Industries; Measurement; Measuring instruments; Scientists
- Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00216934
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 4 1970 12:00AM