LibGuides: Chemical Engineering: Technical Resources

Finding Information

SciFinder
The Chemical Abstracts family of databases, including Chemical Abstracts (1907- ), Registry, CASREACT, and CHEMCATS, a chemical suppliers database. SciFinder covers the technical literature of chemical and process technologies and related areas more comprehensively than any other tool, and is by far the most complete indexing source for chemical patents. Personal registration is required.

Compendex
This broad index of engineering-related literature offers excellent coverage of chemical technology and process industries, covering journals and conferences. Also known as Engineering Index.
Web of Science
Covers more than 10,000 journals across all STEM subject areas, and enables searching by cited reference.
PubMed
The most important path for searching the literature of biomedicine, encompassing many areas of the biological sciences and applied health technologies. You may prefer the Medline interface (see the Library Databases).
Google Scholar
Search engine indexes full text and citations of millions of digital journal articles, patents, reports, and other scholarly materials. Better for quick lookups than in-depth literature searching.
OSTI.GOV
Bibliographic and full text access to the Department of Energy (DOE) articles and tech reports in physics, chemistry, materials, biology, environmental sciences, energy technologies, engineering, renewable energy, and other topics.

ChemRxiv
Chemistry preprint archive.
engrXiv
Preprint server for fields in engineering.
All Databases A-Z

ASM (American Society for Metals) Alloy Center

Unlimited users.
Updated regularly. Includes ASM property data, performance charts, and processing guidelines for specific metals and alloys.
Part of ASM Materials Information which includes the ASM Handbooks Online and the ASM Phase Diagrams.
ASM (American Society for Metals) Phase Diagrams

Unlimited users.
Updated regularly. Includes more than 11,000 binary and ternary phase diagrams and associated phase data for more than 2400 systems.
Part of ASM Materials Information which includes the ASM Alloy Center Online and the ASM Handbooks Online.

CINDAS Thermophysical Properties
Critically evaluated physical and transport property data for inorganic and metallic materials.

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
The standard handbook of chemistry, with hundreds of tables of reliable chemical and physical data.

DIPPR Thermodynamic Data
Critical thermodynamic and temperature-dependent property data for 1800+ pure compounds. (AIChE)

NIST Chemistry WebBook

Unlimited users.
Updated regularly. Provides users with easy access to reliable chemical and physical property data (thermochemical, thermophysical, and ion energetics) for chemical species. The data provided in the site are from collections maintained by the NIST Standard Reference Data Program and outside contributors. Data in the WebBook system are organized by chemical species.

NIST-TRC Thermo Tables
Critical thermodynamic property data for pure organic compounds and hydrocarbons. On campus access only.

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https://wtt-pro.nist.gov/wtt-pro/
ThermoDex
A meta-index of printed handbooks containing a wealth of thermodynamic and physical data on chemicals of all types.
Unit Converters

AccessEngineering
Updated regularly. Provides access to hundreds of McGraw Hill handbooks, textbooks and monographs across all engineering fields, a materials properties visualization tool, downloadable spreadsheets, and instructional videos.

Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook
Publication Date: 2019

Compendium of data tables and textual information on virtually every aspect of chemical engineering, including mathematics and physical/chemical data.
Albright's Chemical Engineering Handbook
Publication Date: 2008

Guide to methods and calculations in chemical engineering applications. Also available in print.
Chemical and Process Design Handbook
Publication Date: 2002

Part 1 lists important chemical reactions and processes and related equipment. Part 2 presents brief summaries of the reactions and processes used to manufacture individual chemicals, with flow charts. Also available in print.
Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations
Publication Date: 4th ed., 2012

Techniques for solving everyday chemical engineering problems.
Handbook of Industrial Chemistry and Biotechnology
Publication Date: 12th ed., 2012

Chapters describing the chemistry and engineering principles underlying the chemical process industry. Known as Kent & Riegel.
Process Engineering Equipment Handbook
Publication Date: 2002

Information on engineering, operation, and troubleshooting of process machinery: pumps, turbines, fans, motors, filters, dryers, etc.
Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers
Publication Date: 6th ed., 2018

Handy collection of shortcuts, calculations, graphs, and tables intended for "quick accurate solutions to everyday process engineering problems."

Course textbooks are not routinely purchased. Check the library catalog for individual titles.

Open Textbooks for Engineering
This site lists freely available texts and instructional materials in engineering fields.
Open Textbook Library - Engineering
Open access "Engineering & Technology Textbooks."

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
Excellent information source presents a wealth of information on preparation, manufacturing processes, uses of materials, properties of chemical substances, and chemistry fundamentals.

No access for topics published after 2022.

Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
Publication Date: 7th ed., 2011

Comprehensive coverage of industrial chemistry topics, with a more European focus. Complements Kirk-Othmer.
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology
Publication Date: 4th ed., 2014

Covers all aspects of polymer sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) and engineering. Articles contain equations, graphic and tabular data, and extensive bibliographical information.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing
Publication Date: 2006

Articles on processing technologies and materials are arranged alphabetically, with an index in vol.5.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design
Publication Date: 1976-2002 (69 vol.)

Lengthy articles on chemical processes, economics, products, equipment, and applications. Brief index in final volume. Mostly outdated now, but still useful for processes that have not changed much.
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Named Processes in Chemical Technology
Publication Date: 4th ed., 2014

Concise descriptions of processes in chemical technology that are known by special names, such as inventors, companies, acronyms, and other non-intuitive terms. Many entries include literature references to point to further information.

For resources on chemical hazards, health and safety, and regulatory information in industrial and laboratory settings, see:

Chemistry Guide: Safety, Hazards, Environment

For information about finding patents, see:

Chemical Patents (Chemistry Guide)

Using Patent Databases and Finding Patents
by Larayne Dallas Last Updated Aug 28, 2025 676 views this year

For information on finding government and private technical reports, see our other guides:

For information on finding industry standards, see:

Standards, Codes, & Specifications
by Larayne Dallas Last Updated Sep 4, 2025 4204 views this year

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