Renewal of the NIMS Materials Database

MatNavi Is Now Even Easier to Use

2010.07.12

National Institute for Materials Science

The Materials Database Station of the NIMS recently carried out a renewal of the NIMS Materials Database (common name: MatNavi), which was opened on the internet (http://mits.nims.go.jp/index_en.html) in April 2003, in which the database system was reconstructed and integrated to enable easier use of the database.

Abstract

  1. The Materials Database Station (Station Leader: Masayoshi Yamazaki) of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS; President: Sukekatsu Ushioda) recently carried out a renewal of the NIMS Materials Database (common name: MatNavi), which was opened on the internet (http://mits.nims.go.jp/index_en.html) in April 2003, in which the database system was reconstructed and integrated to enable easier use of the database.
  2. MatNavi comprises 13 types of databases, covering polymers, basic crystal structures, superconducting materials, and structural materials, among others. It is the largest materials database in the world in terms of both the number of registered users and the number of data in the database. However, 7 years have already passed since the database was opened. In responding to the aging of the server equipment, the servers were renovated and the system was reconstructed (Linux, PostgreSQL, Open SSO, Java, and other open software). Following this renewal, the new database, in which the systems have been integrated to make the MatNavi even easier for users to access, while also reducing maintenance and management costs, was opened on July 1, 2010.
  3. Among other changes, the name of the former Basic Database for Crystal Structures (Pauling File) has been changed to the Inorganic Materials Database (AtomWork), and together with reconstruction of the system, the database was expanded to include multi-element crystal structures, phase diagram data, etc. Several existing databases were also integrated to form a new Metallic Material Database (Kinzoku). These include the Pressure Vessel Materials Database and Basic Nuclear Power Materials Database in the Engineering Materials Database and the Creep Rupture Database and Fatigue Database in the Structural Materials Data Sheet Numerical Database, among others.
  4. At present, applications for copyright registrations for all of these databases have been filed with the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. In the future, NIMS plans to supply the various types of materials data which are now available through MatNavi to private companies under license agreements.