standards. During FY65 the project has been in the spectra collection stage; evaluation will begin in FY66.

Quality Standards for Infrared Spectra (Coblentz Society).-The Coblentz Society, whose membership includes many of the leading academic and applied infrared spectroscopists in the United States, has agreed to assume responsibility for defining standards of quality for infrared spectra. This project is important not only for its specific function, but also it may serve to test the feasibility of specifying quality standards in many other fields.

Energy Level Transitions in Gas Lasers (Yale University).—This project is of particular interest because of the rapid growth of the laser field and its many applications. The literature survey is well under way and data tabulations are expected in FY66.

Solid State Data

The NBS-OSRD Advisory Panel on Solid State Data identified approximately eighty properties as important for eventual inclusion in a data compilation program. About one-third of these were designated as high priority. Coverage by existing projects includes only six of these properties.

The status of the projects under OSRD cognizance is described briefly below.

Crystal Data (Johns Hopkins).—During FY65, work continued on the revision of the compilation entitled "Crystal Data" under the general supervision of Professor Jose Donnay of Johns Hopkins University. This work is being used as a pilot project by OSRD to develop techniques of data processing for ultimate publication by the photocomposition equipment of the Government Printing Office. The project will give information on equipment needs, personnel skills, costs, etc.

Properties of Superconductors (General Electric Company).—This project will revise and update an existing compilation of the properties of superconductors (transition temperatures, crystal structure, critical fields, penetration depth, and coherence lengths).

Properties of Materials under High Pressure (Brigham Young University). The high pressure research group at Brigham Young University (under the supervision of Professor H. T. Hall, the first man to make synthetic diamonds) has undertaken the task to develop a data center in this field. The program is in the literature survey stage at present and the first data compilations are expected to appear in FY66. The properties to be covered include phase relationships, crystal structures, densities, melting points, Curie points, Neel points, and others.

Thermodynamics and Transport Data

In March 1963, prior to the establishment of the NSRDS, a "Conference on Critical Tables of Thermodynamic Data" was held under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council to survey

the present status of activities and to assess the need for additional work. It recommended that "support for the existing centers producing critical tables of thermodynamic data be doubled or tripled; that an approximately equal number of new centers be established, with adequate support

In May 1965 a similar conference with many of the same participants was again held under the auspices of NAS-NRC to give detailed advice to the NBS-OSRD on needs for increased compilation activities. The specific recommendations of this panel are too numerous to quote here. Because of the existing tradition of organized compilation projects in the field of thermodynamics, this area is better organized than many others. Hence, the thermodynamics advisory panel was better able than other panels to designate existing projects for expansion and assignment of new respon. sibilities and to name numerous specific individuals who are both competent and willing to undertake compilation projects.

The status of the projects with which OSRD has established a working relationship is described briefly below.

Selected Values of Chemical Thermodynamic Properties (NBS).-This project has been a continuing responsibility of NBS for more than 30 years. The data issued are regarded as definitive in their field and serve as the basis for innumerable computations in research and industrial technology. During FY65 a revised and updated selection of values for elements of atomic numbers 1 through 23 went to press. Other sections will appear during FY66 with a complete version, including descriptive and explanatory material, to be readied in FY67.

Low Temperature Heat Capacity Data (NBS).-This is a continuing project concentrating on heat capacities of inorganic compounds at low temperatures. During FY65 this project was in the literature survey stage with data evaluation scheduled to begin in FY66.

Thermal Behavior of Inorganic Carbonates (NBS).—This project concentrates on decomposition pressures and phase relationships in inorganic carbonate compounds. Data evaluation was brought up to date in FY65 and a data tabulation is being prepared for publication.

Standard Heats of Formation of Selected Organic Compounds (NBS).— The work of this project is similar to that of the first listed work in this category, but is, however, concerned with organic compounds exclusively. It operates on a much smaller scale, covering only a fraction of the data available in the literature. It is one component of a large program on thermodynamic properties of organic compounds that OSRD is endeavoring to coordinate and promote.

Thermodynamic and Physical Properties of Selected Organic Compounds (Texas A&M).—This is a joint project with the Manufacturing Chemists Association for the compilation and evaluation of data on a series of organic compounds. The program has been in existence for several years but is able to cover only a portion of the data available for evaluation. This

project is also one of the components of the overall program on organic compounds that OSRD is developing.

Cryogenic Data Center (NBS-Boulder).—This data center is a permanent activity of the cryogenic laboratory at NBS-Boulder. Its scope includes thermal functions, vapor pressures, PVT data, heat capacities, thermalconductivities, viscosities and related properties of all cryogenic fluids and other substances at cryogenic temperatures. The product consists of data sheets, charts, and topical reports. During FY65 the Cryogenic Data Center maintained its current literature survey and issued a variety of reports.

PVT Properties of Polar Gases (NBS).—The objective of this project is to prepare detailed and accurate data compilations on the PVT (Pressure, Volume, Temperature) relationships of gases comprised of polar molecules. During FY65 the properties of air over a wide temperature range were compiled. In FY66 the program will include ammonia and hydrogen fluoride.

Thermodynamic and Electrochemical Properties of Solutions (NBS).— The scope of this project includes standard emf's, activities, activity coefficients, heats of solution, and related properties, with primary emphasis on aqueous solutions of electrolytes.

Phase Diagrams of Binary Oxide Systems (NBS).—This project was established in FY65 to help speed the compilation of equilibrium data on phase relationships in binary oxide systems. In FY65 the project was in the literature survey stage; this survey has been brought nearly up to date. In FY66 data evaluation will begin.

Phase Diagrams of Ceramic Interest (NBS).-This project is conducted in cooperation with the American Ceramic Society which has published a series of volumes on the subject in the past. This group, however, found their resources unable to maintain currency with the accumulation of literature. By merging efforts, it is hoped that the output of evaluated phase information can be made current.

Equilibrium Phase Relationships between Metals and Metal Oxides (MIT).—This project was established in FY65 because of its great importance to the metallurgical industry. It is still in the early stages of development but it is anticipated that data evaluation will begin in FY66.

Thermophysical Properties Research Center (Purdue University).-The activities of this data center are concerned primarily with transport behavior, including thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, viscosity, diffusion, permeability, Prandtl number, and other related properties. Within its scope, this Center has covered the world's technical literature comprehensively and has begun the task of extracting and evaluating the quantitative data found therein. The TPRC is supported by several agencies in addiiton to the NBS-OSRD. During FY65 its task for OSRD consisted of a critical evaluation of thermal conductivity of a number of substances of potential

interest as thermal conductivity standards. A compilation has been prepared and will be published during FY66.

Diffusion Coefficients in Metals and Alloys (NBS). This project is one of a group stimulated and coordinated by OSRD with the objective of providing comprehensive coverage of diffusion behavior in many types of substances. The other projects in this group are concerned with diffusion in semiconducting materials, in ionic crystals, in liquids and gases, and in oxides, sulfides, and carbides. Of the four projects in the group, only the NBS activity is funded through the Office of Standard Reference Data.

In addition to the projects listed above, there are several others in this technical area under the sponsorship of governmental and non-governmental agencies which should be considered as falling under the concept of the National Standard Reference Data System. They were mostly initiated by mission-oriented agencies (e.g., AEC, ARPA, NASA, Bureau of Mines) in response to an urgent need. They are not included in the present list because NBS played no role in their establishment.

Chemical Kinetics

The National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Committee on Chemical Kinetics, which has served as the NSRDS Advisory Panel in this area, recommended that before any major systematic data compilation be started, a critical review of the state of quantitative knowledge in the area under consideration be carried out. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the data are really of lasting value and worthy of general dissemination. In accordance with this recommendation, the program of OSRD has consisted of two major activities: (1) the development of a literature survey resource that can be used to expedite the task of the critical reviewers, and (2) the commissioning of a series of critical reviews in selected fields. Some of the reviewers would use the central NBS literature resource while others would not. In the development of the program, NBS has worked extensively with ARPA and AEC, undertaking jointly supported projects with each.

The status of the various projects in this area is described briefly below. Chemical Kinetics Information Center (NBS).—This Center is designed to serve as a major resource for reviewers and compilers. During FY65, literature review and acquisition has continued and an agreement was made with ARPA to incorporate the survey produced by Dr. Adolf Hochstim of Institute for Defense Analysis into the NBS holdings.

Unimolecular Decomposition and Association Reactions (Stanford Research Institute).-This project was began late in FY65 and a critical review is expected to be completed in FY66. Some of the data available in this field will probably have permanent value.

Isotope Effects in Chemical Reactions (Brookhaven National Laboratory).—This joint AEC-NBS project has as its objective a critical evalua

tion of the literature data describing the effects of varying isotopic mass on chemical reactions. The literature review was well under way in FY65, and the final product is expected in FY66.

Solvent Effects in Solution Kinetics (G. C. Akerlof).—During FY65 the literature survey for this review showed that the number of papers to be evaluated was about four times greater than was originally estimated. When completed, this review will contain a complete summary of all the useful literature describing the influence of organic solvents on the rates and mechanisms of chemical reactions.

Radiation Chemistry Data Center (Notre Dame University).-This joint NBS-AEC project was established in FY65 as a permanent addition to the program of the radiation chemistry group at Notre Dame University. Plans call for this center to maintain complete documentary coverage in its field, and at intervals produce critical reviews and data compilations.

Colloid and Surface Properties

The National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council Committee on Colloid and Surface Chemistry had initiated planning of a systematic program of data compilations prior to the establishment of the NSRDS. Joining forces with this committee, the NBS-OSRD has supported the following projects which resulted from committee action.

1. Light Scattering Data Center (Clarkson College)

2. Data Center on Critical Micelle Concentrations (University of Southern California)

3. Surface Tensions of Solutions of Association Colloids (Naval Research Laboratory)

4. Surface Tensions of Fused Salts (Renssalear Polytechnic Institute) 5. Electrical Properties of Interfaces (Agricultural University, Wageningen, Netherlands)

Information Services

During FY65, as in FY64, the program of OSRD emphasized initiation and expansion of data evaluation and compilation projects, leaving to the future the development of specific information services utilizing the collections of compiled data. Nevertheless, groundwork for its services was laid. During FY65 therefore the following actions were taken:

Development of basic outline plan of service and methods of operation.Possible services and methods of operation were examined and basic policy decisions were sketched. These decisions have been submitted to various specialists in scientific and information processing fields for their review. Comments and suggestions will be taken into consideration in formulating policy. Prior to such decisions, however, a number of user studies will be made to determine how to tailor the services to best fit user needs and preferences.