Formulacer loads materials -raw materials and frits- data from Excel files with a specified format which we call Materials Tables. These tables contain the oxides analysis, production costs and properties values. You can have more than one materials table and choose which one to work with at any time.
Formulacer uses user-created materials tables to perform recipe-to-oxides conversion, calculate Loss On Ignition, production cost and approximate recipe properties values. A materials table also defines which oxides we are working with in the reformulation tool.
You can have several tables. On start, the application will ask which one to work with or will load one selected table automatically if specified. Formula-files can also specify the table they work with.
Formulacer will identify which type -raw material or frit- a material is according to a customized encoding for materials names or a label in the materials table.
Frits names can also use an encoding that indicates what type a frit is according to composition, melting point, gloss or any other feature. This encoding can be customized. It is also used in the reformulation tool when selecting the frits that will be allowed in the calculated recipe.
