NIST is opening a center this month with the goal of expediting materials characterization. The Combinatorial Methods Center will offer research tools, data libraries, and methods for storing and retrieving information on materials. NIST is set to host the inaugural meeting at the center opening on January 23. Scientists will explain the center's capabilities and discuss topics such as polymers, biomaterials, and inorganic materials.

Instead of testing properties one at a time, researchers can use combinatorial methods to explore combinations of characteristics and formulations on a miniaturized scale, NIST says. Using these methods, researchers are able to evaluate how variables such as thickness and process temperature affect a material's performance. The center will focus on methods for examining chemical and physical properties, structural features, and processing requirements for the rapid development of new materials. Information: www.nist. gov/combi.