Isostatic pressing technology

first edition was published in 1971 as a guide to students, entrants to the rubber manufacturing industries and users of rubber products. To cover the wide range of interests and technologies required a team of authors, which has been augmented to bring their work up to date. To the twelve chapters of this second edition there are fifty-one contributors from whom the editors have succeeded in obtaining a highly consistent level of style and presentation. Much of the book is chiefly of interest to the rubber specialist, to whom it can be highly recommended, but the (assumed) typical reader of this journal and all who are concerned with the selection, specification and evaluation of elastomers will find it a useful reference volume. The large number of polymers now available and the infinite variations in properties which can be obtained by the addition of compounding ingredients make it desirable for rubber users to have a better understanding of their materials than is commonly the case. However, the book does not deal with the engineering design of rubber products. References to the literature since 1971 account for about 20% of the total. There are extensive subject and name indices and a useful bibliography of books related to each chapter. G.R. Sothern

MATERIALS FOR THE PROCESS INDUSTRIES Mechanical Engineering Publications U.K., 1982, 117 pages, £24.00 (UK) £31.50 (Elsewhere) ISBN: 0 85298 494 4 This publication contains the papers which were to have been presented at a conference in 1982, reviewing developments in materials for the process industries. The conference, organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, was cancelled but the subject was considered to be of sufficient importance to warrant publication. This was a wise decision because the collection of papers contains up-todate information on a wide variety of materials, highlighting the many improvements which have been made in the last 20 or 30 years as well as providing valuable basic information on

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the various classes of materials. The 118 page volume contains papers dealing with ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics, glass, ceramics and cement and concrete. Being a collection of papers, there is no index. This is normally a hindrance for those who require a reference book but, in this instance, the titles of the individual papers are self-explanatory and the papers themselves are sufficiently concise and specialised to allow rapid location of points of interest. At £24 the publication is not cheap but the papers are of very high standard and the collection serves both as a reference work, containing many useful references, and is interesting reading for those concerned with materials section. It is a shame that the conference was cancelled because the contributions would have provided an entertaining and instructive event. However the publication of the papers provides a very worthwhile addition to the subject of materials selection and is good value for money to anyone with interests in this important field. R.J. Davies

ISOSTATIC PRESSING TECHNOLOGY P J . James (Editor) Applied Science Publishers

London and New York 1983, 259pp £26, ISBN: 0 85334 192 3 This book is a collection of contributions from well-known names in the field of isostatic pressing. It comprises ten chapters, most of which contain useful references and, as such, should serve as a good introduction to those wishing to acquaint themselves with what is a growing materials fabrication technology. The opening chapter, where Peter James introduces the subject, is followed by one concerning safety aspects. This will be of interes.t to those considering the installation of isostatic plant. Three chapters are devoted to cold isostatic pressing equipment and applications, one to general aspects of high pressure equipment design and a further contribution covers hot isostatic pressing equipment. Chapters 8 and 9 illustrate the value of isostatic pressing as part of the

manufacturing processes for certain tool steels, high value castings and cemented carbide where the optimisation of material properties is at a premium. The concluding chapter projects the growth of the industry in the future. In his book Peter James has attempted to draw together under one heading the two technologies of hot and cold isostatic pressing. Although the application of isostatic pressure to materials is the common theme, the respective industries have, to a great extent, developed separately and thus some parts of the book will be o f only passing interest to certain readers. However, publications in the field of hot isostatic pressing are few and far between and so this should be a worthwhile addition to the material technologist's library. W.G. Hopkins

REVERSE ACRONYMS, INITIALISMS & ABBREVIATIONS DICTIONARY 8TH EDITION Edited by Ellen T. Crowley U,S.A., 1982, 1,684 pp in 2 parts Price $120.00, ISBN: 0270 4390 If you decide that there are not enough Acronyms and/or wish to abbreviate the specialised terms you intend to use, then you should consult this work where it is more than likely that you will find at least one, if not more, similar acronyms in existence. This two-volume work, which lists acronyms and abbreviations under the full word or phrase and is the companion to Acronyms. Initialisms and Abbreviations Dictionary published by the same company, and where the list is given in alphabetical order of acronyms and intials. The fact that these two volumes amount to 1684 pages with approximately 250 entries on each page is an indication of the amount of abbreviations to be found ha common usage and how incomprehensible they can make the language used by an expert in one field to one in another field or to a layman. This work should act as a brake to the increasing proliferation of new abbreviations. It is very well produced and its price of $120 is reasonable for a reference work of this size. R.F. Flint

MATERIALS & DESIGN, VoL 4 DECEMBER/JANUARY 1984