Chemical manufacturers and distributors
From WolfWikis
A common research need is to find manufacturers, distributors, or pricing of chemicals. A number of resources can help you with this task, listed below.
Contents |
Sources of information on the chemical industry
| Source | Available online? | Pricing information? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Important source of chemical industry data and analysis. | |
| Yes | --- | Search by chemical to find suppliers. Important for large-scale buying ("I need a tanker truck of a chemical"). Online access only available on campus. | |
| Yes | --- | Search by chemical to find suppliers. See detailed instructions below | |
| Yes | --- | Search by chemical to find suppliers. Online through ICIS product search or in print. | |
|
ICIS static price list | Yes (see note) | Yes | Look for a chemical to find its price ca.2006. Site provides only static price list from 2006, presented as sample information. Use them for a class project, not for a business decision! |
| Yes | Yes (see note) | Find property information for chemicals. Pricing available for small quantities. | |
| --- | --- | Print only. Find information on specialty chemicals. Often provides a manufacturer as well. Has a unique index for looking up chemicals by function & application. | |
| --- | --- | Look up a chemical to find manufacturers. Print only. | |
| Yes | Possibly | Chemical industry information. Company and industry profiles and articles. | |
| Yes (see note) | --- | Chemical industry trade journal. May have relevant articles. |
Note on pricing information
Why isn't pricing information more readily available? A few reasons.
- Exact pricing can be valuable business information. This means it's neither free nor published widely.
- Prices and markets change constantly, and the price may be different depending on whether you want a small research quantity or a bulk industrial quantity.
- Sources for this information tend to be businesses that want you to contact them for a price quote. They want to know about potential clients!
Notes on using SciFinder
SciFinder can help you locate commercial sources for purchase.
From start, click Explore Substances
- Select Substance Identifier
- Enter search terms
- CAS number is most concise and uniquely identifies a substance
- Common names or other identifiers usually work
- The icons in Figure 1 will appear if there is available information.
- Click the beaker icon to get a list of commercial sources. No beaker means no listed commercial sources.
Other sources with different focus
It might be useful to search for sources that focus on a particular type of chemical, rather than the more general sources above. For example:
- Handbook of water treatment chemicals : an international guide to more than 3400 products by trade name, chemical, function, and manufacturer
- TD433 .A84 1996, DH Hill stacks
- International resources guide to hazardous chemicals : manufacturers, agencies, organizations, and useful sources of information
- T55.3 .H3 G743 2003, and online through NCSU Libraries
Many more examples like this in the catalog. Search for "chemical manufacturers" or "chemical industry" and the focus you're interested in (e.g., in the examples above, water or hazardous chemicals).
More sources of information
- Browse print resources around call numbers HD9650 (chemical business) or TP12 through TP200 (industrial chemistry, chemical engineering)
- Knovel online handbooks. Search by chemical name or other identifier.
- A list of other ideas (not all available to NCSU) here.
Getting help
Contact the chemistry librarian for extra assistance.