New database software finds alternative resins.

IDES, Laramie, Wyo., has come up with a new version of its Prospector online materials database search engine that makes it easier to find alternative materials that satisfy the same application needs as current materials while potentially offering lower cost or other advantages. Its new Prospector Pro allows the user to merely type in the grade of material currently used. Then Prospector Pro automatically searches the database of nearly 53,000 materials and identifies matches. Alternatives are ranked according to the closeness of the match to the starting material's properties and are arranged in order from the highest rank to lowest. One can compare properties and features of potential matches in a spreadsheet view. It is possible to narrow the search by identifying critical properties that require an exact or very close match.

With previous versions of IDES Prospector, it is possible to identify key properties and search for materials that match those requirements. But the new software module automatically searches based on the overall property profile of a starting resin or based on any key properties identified by the user. Tel: [phone] * www.ides.com