NIST Recommended Practice Guides -- The "How To Measure" Book Series

Targeted toward specific industrial challenges, these pratical, user-friendly guides show

how to measure properly
what to measure
which techique to use
how to interpret results

Based on the extensive experience of NIST researchers, NIST Recommended Practice Guides provide a common source of world-class expertise, enabling you to achieve agreement on measurement issues within your organization and throughout your supply chain.

Free copies available

Download individual practice guides directly as .pdf files from the list below or order a single paper copy from inquiries@nist.gov or call 301-975-NIST (6478). (You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader FREE to read the .pdf files).

Molecular Mass Distribution Measurement by Mass Spectrometry by William E. Wallace and Charles M. Guttman (SP 960-21)
Measurement Issues in Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Stephen Freiman, Stephanie Hooker, Kalman Migler, Sivaram Arepalli (SP 960-19)
Computing Uncertainty for Charpy Impact Machine Test Results by Joelen D. Splett, H.K. Lyer, C.-M. Wang, C.N. McCowan (SP 960-18)
Porosity and Specific Surface Area Measurements for Solid Materials by Peter Klobes and Klaus Meyer, BAM and Ronald Munro, NIST (SP 960-17)
Fractography of Ceramics and Glasses by George D. Quinn, NIST (SP 960-16)
DTA and Heat-flux DSC Measurements and Alloy Melting and Freezing by William Boettinger, Ursula Kattner and Kil-Won Moon, NIST (SP 960-15)
WWVB Radio Controlled Clocks: Recommended Practices for Manufacturers and Consumers(SP 960-14)
Pore Characterization in Low-k Dielectric Films Using X-ray Reflectivity: X-ray Porosimetry by Christopher L. Soles, Hae-Jeong Lee, Eric K. Lin, and Wen-li Wu (SP 960-13)
Stopwatch and Timer Calibrations by Jeff C. Gust, Robert M. Graham, Michael A. Lombardi (SP 960-12)
Data Evaluation Theory and Practice for Materials Properties by Ronald G. Munro (SP 960-11) Data evaluation is the process by which collections of data are assessed with respect to reliability, completeness, and consistency. Based on more than a decade of experience, the Ceramics Division has developed a NIST Recommended Practice Guide, Data Evaluation Theory and Practice for Materials Properties, SP 960-11, to address the growing need for the evaluation of materials property data.
X-Ray Topography by David R. Black and Gabrielle G. Long (SP 960-10). The basic principles and practical aspects of topography are discussed and demonstrated through examples to help illustrate the diverse applications of this technique.
Surface Engineering Measurement Standards for Inorganic Materials by Stanley J. Dapkunas (SP 960-9). The intent of this Guide is to give the materials community a resource for identifying standard methods which are used to measure surface properties and to characterize surface engineered materials.
Test Procedures for Developing Solder Data by Thomas A. Siewert and Carol A. Handwerker (SP 960-8)
Capacitance Cell Measurement of the Out-of-Plane Expansion of Thin Films by Chad Snyder and Frederick Mopsik (SP-960-7). Provides guidance for construction and use of a capacitance-based technique for determining the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of films with thicknesses ranging from 2 micrometers up to 1 centimeter.
Surges Happen by Francois Martzloff (SP 960-6). To aid in reducing the number of cases and severity of equipment damage caused by unavoidable surges that occur in electrical systems.
Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials by Sam Low (SP 960-5). Explains the causes of variability in Rockwell Hardness test results and supplements information given in test methods with good practice recommendations.
Installing, Maintaining, and Verifying Your Charpy Impact Machine by Dan Vigliotti, Tom Siewert, and Chris McCowan (SP 960-4). Provides practical advice on how to correct problems discovered during the testing of Standard Reference Materials 2092, 2096, and 2098 on Charpy impact machines.
The Use of Nomenclature in Dispersion Science and Technology by Vincent Hackley and Chiara F. Ferraris (SP 960-3). Provides guidelines for the use of technical and specific nomenclature related to ceramic dispersions.
The Fundamentals of Neutron Powder Diffraction by John Copley (SP 960-2). Provides basic theory, definitions, appropriate applications for neutron diffraction, with comparisons of different instrumentation.
Particle Size Characterization by Ajit Jillavenkatesa, Lin-Sien H. Lum and Stanley Dapkunas (SP 960-1). Addresses the practical issues and concerns to consider when attempting particle size characterization.