Feb 21, 2023 Materials Collection Moves to ProtoSpace!

By Luke Leither

Visitors to the Knowledge Commons in the last two months may have noticed a large vacancy on the North side. The Materials Collection, which occupied that space with eye-catching colors and textures is no longer there. Fortunately, there is no cause to be alarmed! The Materials Collection has found a new home in ProtoSpace and it looks great there!

The materials in the library’s collection have been selected from a firm in New York called Material ConneXion and represent recent innovations in material science. The Marriott’s collection specifically focuses on sustainable practices in art, design, and architecture. The collection boasts 1500 unique materials that add color, depth, and dynamism to ProtoSpace.

The synergy between ProtoSpace services and the materials sample collection make this relocation a great fit. Rapid prototyping, design, and project development will benefit greatly, and the Creativity and Innovation team look forward to seeing the projects that emerge.

In addition, the physical collection is not the only way to discover information about materials and their properties. For those interested in materials research, there are plenty of options to explore in the library or at home:

• Material ConneXion Database: This database provides photographs, data, and specific use cases for the over 8000 materials in the MCX library. You can search by keyword or by criteria like feel, sound absorbency, and reflectivity.
• ASM Handbook: This database provides access to the ASM Handbook reference series on metals and materials. The ASM Handbooks provide information and data about the selection, processing, performance, and analysis of structural materials. Until 1992, the series title was Metals Handbook. Under the new title, ASM Handbook, the coverage has been broadened to include coverage of nonmetallic structural materials including plastics, ceramics, and composites.
• ARCAT: Here you can find building product information that is commonly used by architects and specification writers. Also included are CAD files and BIM objects for some products.
• MatWeb: MatWeb’s searchable database of material properties includes data sheets of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers such as ABS, nylon, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene; metals such as aluminum, cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, nickel, steel, superalloys, titanium and zinc alloys; ceramics; plus semiconductors, fibers, and other engineering materials.

For a more comprehensive list of resources and information, please refer to the Materials Research section of my architecture subject guide here: https://bit.ly/2RpwPYa.

Luke Leither | Art & Art History Librarian
Creativity & Innovation Services / Fine Arts & Architecture Library
luke.leither@utah.edu