Your supervisor has required you to write specifications for the new 4K cryostat used to test potential substrate material. Reading through the documentation you have become concerned that though youre willing to do some research and learn more about it, you lack the knowledgeable to understand how to properly replace the current system standards. After talking to your best friend about your concerns you learn that his uncle is a distributer who works for a cryo equipment manufacturer. Your friend offer to ask his uncle for a binder he has seen him with that contains the specifications for all of the cryostats that the uncles company distributes. Would accepting the binder set you up for a conflict of interest?

No, studying products from a distributor is perfectly acceptable and can be a good way to gain a better understanding of cryo equipment on the market.

Yes, accepting the binder does set you up for a conflict of interest.