Standardization for advanced materials: experience and strategies for the future

Materials technology has been identified by most industrialized nations as a key enabling technology which will provide major economic and competitive advantages to industry. Numerous market forecasts show a strong growth potential in advanced materials applications in diverse industrial sectors. This paper discusses the need for standards and standardized methods for material specification and how this can stimulate the market by providing increased confidence in the design and performance of products. Only a limited number of standards exist for advanced materials, but recently there has been an upsurge of interest worldwide and some countries are very active in developing standards. This is illustrated for some key materials sectors such as advanced ceramics and polymer-matrix composites. Standardization of test and evaluation methods for advanced materials is seen by many countries as a priority area. Methods used for conventional materials can be modified but in some cases new methods have to be developed, both of which approaches require underpinning research. Trade in materials is international in nature and therefore it is very important to harmonize national standards and develop truly international standards which will help remove technical barriers to trade. This requires effort at a national level in order to collaborate in the international fora and negotiate from a position of strength. Both producers and users of materials need to become involved in standards-related activities. In underpinning prestandards research VAMAS, the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials, plays an important role and is developing an internationally recognized technical infrastructure from which standards can be developed. This paper discusses the need and scope for international collaboration in standards-related activities. This paper was presented at the National Workshop on Standardization for Advanced Materials, Strategic Issues, a collaborative effort of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), National Materials Policy Project (TIFAC/DST) and Confederation of Engineering Industry (CEI).