Knovel K-News Archive

Electrochemical Methods

Scenario: An organic chemist at a chemical manufacturer has been asked to develop new electrochemical methods to solve problems relating to biologically active molecules for the company's line of agricultural chemicals and biocides. Having been out of college for a few years, the chemist would like a quick refresher on electrochemical methods. Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel Library home page enter the search phrase electrochemical methods. The query phrase entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the words electrochemical and methods are both present somewhere on the same page or in the same row of data and are close to each other." Click the Search button.
   
   
   
2. Knovel's Search Results page shows 80 titles with hits that match our query. The first listed, with 100% relevancy, is Magnesium Technology - Metallurgy, Design Data, Applications, this issue's featured title. Click on the title name to open it.
   
   
   
3. The first result "Electrochemical Methods" looks like it may be just the ticket. Click on the Text (1) link next to it.
   
   
   
4. A new window opens, launching the Adobe Reader and opening the section for "Electrochemical Methods". The keywords we searched for are highlighted and Knovel jumps directly to the page and location where first instances of the keywords are found. This entry is an overview of electrochemical methods, providing our organic chemist with an excellent primer and refresher on the topic.
   
   

Tutorial: Titanium Piping in Salt Water Environment

Scenario: A small, independent oil company has discovered oil/gas in a remote part of the North Sea and early indications show that this would develop into a small to medium size field. The anticipated high price of energy coming from the field appeared to make it reasonably profitable venture over the life of the project. In developing the piping for the extraction and transportation of the oil/gas, the chief engineer and the design team carefully considered the optimum materials of construction for the transportation in the salt water environment. Titanium was strongly considered as a candidate material given the harsh environment and remoteness of the location. Concern was expressed about possible galvanic corrosion resulting from dissimilar metals/alloys/composites found in pumps, clamps, sleeve bolts, flare stacks, nozzles and other pieces of equipment in the salt water which would come in contact with a titanium piping system. Other considerations expressed by the design team were crevice corrosion and microbiologically influenced corrosion. The Chief Engineer turned to Knovel for background information and an overview of the issue.

1. In the Search Box on the Knovel Library home page enter the search phrase titanium and galvanic corrosion. The query entered means, “find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms titanium and galvanic corrosion are present somewhere on the same page or in the same row of data.” Click the search button.
   
   
   
   
2. Knovel's Search Results page shows 44 titles with hits that match our query but the first title, with 100% relevancy, is Advances in Corrosion Control and Materials in Oil and Gas Production: (EFC 26), this issue's featured title. Click on the title.
   
   
   
   
3. The second Search Results page shows every section where there is a hit from our query in this title. Starting at the beginning of Chapter 38. Galvanic Corrosion - Principles and Practice for Use of Titanium, click on Text (1).
   
   
   
   
4. By navigating through the pages using the Acrobat Reader tool, all the information needed to make a decision is there for the team.
   
   

Tutorial: Low-Foaming Rug Shampoo

Scenario: Spotless in Seattle, a manufacturer of industrial cleaners, floor waxes and disinfectants, has been requested by one of their largest customers to provide a low-foaming rug shampoo. Due to the urgency of the request, their chief chemist needs fast, reliable access to a good starting formulation for this type of product. Knovel's Advanced Cleaning Products Formulations Database can help!

1. In the Search Box on the Knovel Library home page enter the search phrase low foam rug shampoo. The query entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms low, foam, rug, and shampoo are all present somewhere on the same page or in the same row of data." Click the Search button.
    
   
    
   
   
2. Knovel's Search Results page shows one title with hits that match our query. By clicking on the second entry "Rug, Floor, Carpet, Upholstery Shampoos and Cleaners" -- Table (2) -- the chief chemist uncovered two formulations:
    
   
   
    
   
   
3. By clicking on the "view ingredients" link for the PPG Industries Inc formulation, the chief chemist was able to find the information she needed.
    
   
    
   
   
4. From the information supplied, she had enough information to have the purchasing department pursue price quotes for the raw materials. Using toxicological information available on the Knovel website, she could also ensure that the MSDS sheet could be generated quickly and accurately.
    
   

Tutorial: Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Alloy 5052

 Scenario: An aeronautical engineer working for a major airline is investigating a heat transfer issue on a turbine component. The part in question is made from aluminum alloy 5052 and the engineer needs to find the thermal conductivity of the material to complete the study. Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel home page, enter the Boolean search phrase "thermal conductivity" AND aluminum 5052. Notice the quotes around "thermal conductivity." This indicates that the words thermal and conductivity must be immediately next to each other. The Boolean operator AND is inserted, which indicates the words following it must also be present somewhere on the page or in the data record. Now click the Search button.
    
   
    
   
2. Knovel's new Search Results page shows five titles with hits that match our query. The first book in the list is Military Handbook - MIL-HDBK-5H: Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures (Knovel Interactive Edition) -- one of this issue's featured titles. Click on the title.
    
   
    
   
3. The second Search Results page shows every section where there is a hit from our query in this title. Notice the third listed section called Interactive Graphs for 3.5.1 5052 Alloy. Click on the Table (1) link to the right.
    
   
    
   
4. Upon clicking the link, a Knovel Interactive Table is launched with a link to one of Knovel's Productivity Tools -- the Graph Digitizer. The aerospace engineer can quickly use the Graph Digitizer to calculate thermal conductivity at various temperatures for aluminum 5052.
    
   

Tutorial: Graffiti Resitant Pain

Scenario: A paint manufacturer has been contacted by the public works department from a nearby city to ask about graffiti resistant paint finishes for buildings, bridges, signs and other public property. The paint manufacturer's formulation chemist knows from previous experience that a polyether modified dimethylpolysiloxane-copolymer, like BYK 301, is an excellent additive to resist graffiti. The chemist wants to know what formulations are readily available that use BYK 301 as an ingredient. Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel Library home page enter the search phrase BYK 301. The query entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms BYK and 301 are both present somewhere on the same page or in the same row of data." (Note: Knovel searches are not case sensitive. Using all capital letters, all lower case letters, or a mix of both yields the same result.) Click the Search button.
    
    
2. Knovel's search results page shows eight titles retrieved. The first title in the list is Paint & Ink Formulations Database, this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name to view the search results found within this particular title.
    
    
3. Sections from this title where the search terms appear are displayed. Click on the Table (137) link for the section named All Products.
    
    
4. A Knovel Interactive Table opens displaying all entries found in the entire database for the keywords BYK 301. The formulation chemist can scroll down the list, locate a product of interest, and view the formulation by clicking view ingredients (which shows a simple list of the ingredients), view properties (which not only lists the ingredients, but also displays characteristics and properties like density, viscosity, and pigment concentration), or view text (which displays a PDF page from the original source book). The chemist now has an extensive list of formulations containing the ingredient BYK 301.
    
   

TUTORIAL: Tests for Color Fastness

Scenario: A chemical engineer (CE) at a manufacturer that supplies custom seat coverings to the automotive industry has been asked to work on the launch of a new product. The fabric for the new product is synthetic and requires a particular coloring to be applied. The color must not fade or wear under normal usage. The CE is experienced but does not have training as a textile engineer. Specifically, the CE wants a quick primer dealing with testing of materials for color fastness (the property of a dye or pigment to retain its color when exposed to given conditions). The CE needs descriptions for how such testing works. Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel home page enter the phrase "color fastness" and test. The query entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms color fastness and test are both present and near each other on the same page or in the same row of data." Click the Search button.
    
    
2. The search results page shows 16 titles that match the "search" query. The second title, Physical Testing of Textiles, is this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name.
    
    
3. The Table of Contents appears. Only chapters or sections where there are hits from the "search" query will show by default. The very first section looks interesting: "9.2.2 Colour Fastness to Other Agents". Click on the Text (4) link next to it.
    
    
4. A new window appears launching the Adobe Reader and displaying a section devoted to a discussion of color fastness testing. In fact, Chapter 9 is devoted to color fastness testing. The CE now has an excellent primer and the information necessary to move forward with the project.
    
   

TUTORIAL: Calculating the Zeeman Effect

Scenario: A graduate physics student is writing a research paper on the relationship of sunspots and magnetic fields. As part of the paper, the student wants to explore the important role of the Zeeman Effect, how it's calculated and how it's used to measure the strength of magnetic fields (by splitting spectral lines). Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel Library home page enter the phrase zeeman effect. The query entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms zeeman and effect are both present and near each other on the same page or in the same row of data." Click the Search button.
    
    
2. The search results page shows two titles that match the "search" query. The first title, Microwave Molecular Spectra (3rd Ed.), is this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name.
    
    
3. The Table of Contents appears. Only chapters or sections where there are hits from the "search" query will show by default. The very first section looks interesting: "11.1 Zeeman Effect in Molecules Without Nuclear Coupling". Click on the Text (9) link next to it.
    
    
4. A new window appears launching the Adobe Reader and displaying a section devoted to a discussion of the Zeeman Effect. In fact, most of Chapter 11 is devoted to the Zeeman Effect and its calculations with regard to magnetic fields. The grad student now has a wealth of information to use in writing the research paper.
    
   

TUTORIAL: Water Vapor Transmission Rate

Scenario: An engineer at an injection molding manufacturer needs to identify a suitable resin for injection molding of a screw cap vial. To meet the design specification, the resin used must have a water vapor transmission rate lower than .17 g mm/m2/day. Knovel can help.

1. On the Knovel home page click on the "Advanced Search" button at the top right of the screen. For the first search criteria select permeability in the "Category" drop down list. When you select it, the value vapor transmission rate automatically appears in "Field Name," and g mm/(m^2 day) automatically appears in "Units," keep those default selections. In the Operator drop down box, select less than or equal to (<=). In the Numeric Value box enter a value of .17. For the second search criteria leave "Category" as keyword (default), and in the "Keyword(s)" box enter the word water. Click the "Search" button at the bottom of the screen.
    
    
2. The search results page shows one title that matches the "search" query, Permeability and Other Film Properties of Plastics and Elastomers, which is this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name.
    
    
3. The Table of Contents appears. Only chapters or sections where there are hits from the "search" query will show by default. The very first section looks interesting: "Permeability Properties - Thermoplastic, Polyethylene, HDPE." Click on the Table (5) link next to it.
    
    
4. A new window opens launching a Knovel Interactive Table and displaying five rows of the table. It looks like the material "Thermoplastic, Polyethylene, HDPE," which goes by various trade names, will do nicely for the injection molding application. Each row of the table shows the material subjected to water vapor at different temperatures. In each case, the water vapor transmission rate stays below the required .17 g mm/m2/day.
    
   

TUTORIAL: Microcapsules Delivery System

Scenario: A cosmetics manufacturer is working on a new formulation for a hand cream that disinfects while it moistens and repairs skin. The research chemist is investigating microcapsules as the method to time-release several different chemical compounds into the skin so they will not react with each other. Will a microcapsules delivery system work for this type of formulation? Knovel can help.

1. In the Search box on the Knovel Library home page enter the phrase microcapsules delivery system. The query entered means, "find any page of text or row of data from an interactive table where the terms microcapsules and delivery and system are all present and near each other on the same page or in the same row of data." Click the Search button.
    
    
2. The search results page shows two titles that match the "search" query. The first title (Delivery System Handbook for Personal Care and Cosmetic Products - Technology, Applications and Formulations) is this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name.
    
    
3. The Table of Contents appears. Only chapters or sections where there are hits from the "search" query will show by default. The very first section looks interesting: "9. Microcapsules as a Delivery System". Click on the Text (1) link next to it.
    
    
4. A new window appears launching the Adobe Reader and displaying an entire section devoted to a discussion of microcapsules as a delivery system. Scanning this section with its detailed discussions, examples, and formulations, the research chemist will understand whether or not microcapsules will be the appropriate delivery system for the new hand cream formulation.
    
   

TUTORIAL: Searching the Air Force Dictionary

Scenario: A technical writer at an aerospace manufacturer is working on documentation for a new airplane part. The manufacturer, like many others in the industry, limits the use of technical words in their publications to those found in the United States Air Force Dictionary. By doing so, they ensure the documentation will be easily read and understood by anyone who can read at an eighth-grade English level. Although the tech writer has an old dog-eared copy of the Dictionary kicking around in some pile, the hard copy is no longer required! Knovel can provide online access quickly and easily.

1. Locating specific titles on Knovel is easy. Users may either browse by clicking on Subject Area links, or use "search." For this tutorial, we use "search" to quickly locate and use this title. In the "search" box on the Knovel Library home page, enter the phrase air force dictionary. In the "Search in" drop-down box, select Title. The query entered means, "find any title with the words air and force and dictionary in it." Click the "Search" button.
    
    
2. The search results page shows one title that matches the "search" query. The title (United States Air Force Dictionary) is this issue's Featured Title. Click on the name.
    
    
3. The Table of Contents appears. The tech writer can navigate by clicking on a given Text link to begin viewing terms that start with those letters. When clicking a Text link, a new window appears launching the Adobe Reader displaying the selected section.
    
    
4. In addition to navigating by section, the tech writer can also search the entire title for a given term or phrase. For example, the tech writer wants to know if the term "Frise aileron" appears in the Dictionary. Instead of clicking on "F" and scrolling, enter the term Frise aileron in the "search" box at the top of the page. Select the radio button This Title Only to limit the search to this title, and then click the Search button.
    
   
5. Two sections that contain the phrase "Frise aileron" are listed. Click the second one titled "Flight Nurse to FZG-76." A new window opens launching the Adobe Reader and displaying the terms found (in highlights). The tech writer now knows that the term "Frise aileron" is acceptable to use in documentation.