he National Institute of Standards and Technology was established by an act of Congress on March 3,

1901. The Institute's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. To this end, the Institute conducts research to assure international competitiveness and leadership of U.S. industry, science and technology. NIST work involves development and transfer of measurements, standards and related science and technology, in support of continually improving U.S. productivity, product quality and reliability, innovation and underlying science and engineering. The Institute's technical work is performed by the National Measurement Laboratory, the National Engineering Laboratory, the National Computer Systems Laboratory, and the Institute for Materials Science and Engineering. The National Measurement Laboratory Provides the national system of physical and chemical measurement;

• Basic Standards coordinates the system with measurement systems of other nations

• Radiation Research and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and uniform

• Chemical Physics
and chemical measurement throughout the Nation's scientific

Analytical Chemistry
nity, industry, and commerce; provides advisory and research
to other Government agencies; conducts physical and chemical
; develops, produces, and distributes Standard Reference
is; provides calibration services; and manages the National

Reference Data System. The Laboratory consists of the
g centers:
ational Engineering Laboratory
es technology and technical services to the public and private

Computing and Applied sectors to address national needs and to solve national problems;

Mathematics conducts research in engineering and applied science in support of these

• Electronics and Electrical efforts; builds and maintains competence in the necessary disciplines

Engineering? required to carry out this research and technical service; develops engi- • Manufacturing Engineering neering data and measurement capabilities; provides engineering measure- • Building Technology ment traceability services; develops test methods and proposes engi

• Fire Research neering standards and code changes; develops and proposes new

• Chemical Engineering? engineering practices; and develops and improves mechanisms to transfer results of its research to the ultimate user. The Laboratory consists of the following centers: The National Computer Systems Laboratory Conducts research and provides scientific and technical services to aid

• Information Systems Federal agencies in the selection, acquisition, application, and use of

Engineering computer technology to improve effectiveness and economy in Govern

• Systems and Software ment operations in accordance with Public Law 89-306 (40 U.S.C. 759),

Technology relevant Executive Orders, and other directives; carries out this mission

• Computer Security by managing the Federal Information Processing Standards Program,

• Systems and Network developing Federal ADP standards guidelines, and managing Federal

Architecture participation in ADP voluntary standardization activities; provides scien

• Advanced Systems tific and technological advisory services and assistance to Federal agencies; and provides the technical foundation for computer-related policies of the Federal Government. The Laboratory consists of the following divisions: The Institute for Materials Science and Engineering Conducts research and provides measurements, data, standards, refer

• Ceramics ence materials, quantitative understanding and other technical informa

• Fracture and Deformation tion fundamental to the processing, structure, properties and perfor

• Polymers mance of materials; addresses the scientific basis for new advanced

• Metallurgy materials technologies; plans research around cross-cutting scientific

• Reactor Radiation themes such as nondestructive evaluation and phase diagram development; oversees Institute-wide technical programs in nuclear reactor radiation research and nondestructive evaluation; and broadly disseminates generic technical information resulting from its programs. The Institute consists of the following divisions: Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, MD, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Gaithersburg, MD 20899. ?Some divisions within the center are located at Boulder, CO 80303. Located at Boulder, CO, with some elements at Gaithersburg, MD.

NIST Special Publication 772

Intelligent Processing
for Primary Metals

Report of Workshop: August 29–30, 1989
Gaithersburg, MD 20899