^lodactt fe and 'Pi&ce4àe4> For further information on any item m e n t i o n e d here, fill o u t c o u p o n o n p . 3 1 5 2 .
Aluminum
Welding
A welding process which readily joins a l u m i n u m plates V» to 3 inches or more m thickness has been developed by the Air Reduction Sales Co. in research conducted at its laboratories and at Battelle Institute. N o solid fluxes are required, there are no slags to be cleaned from weld joints, a n d t h e welder's work is not interrupted to change electrodes. The process, termed Aircomatic, u t i lizes a pistol-shaped welding tool, through which bare or processed filler m e t a l in wire form is fed at controllable rates of epeed. T h e filler metal carries t h e welding current and an arc is maintained between the end of the wire and the work A sheath of argon or helium gas surrounds t h e arc and prevents air from coming into contact with the molten metal. Power may he supplied from a s t a n d a r d welding generator. T h e equipment includes both semiautomatic gun and fully automatic equipment. A major problem in all fornix of an· welding has been how to keep air away from the molten metal. Air combine?· with many molten metals forming harmful oxides and nitrides. Resulting chemical and physical actions often produce porosity in t h e weld and reduce its strength and ductility. In common artwelding, the effects of air are combat ted b y the use of coated welding electrodes. Under the intense heat of the arc. the coatings form gases which keep air away from molten metal. Also, slag is formed from t h e melted coating, which cover.the molten weld metal and helps prevent contact with t h e air. T h e surface slags are cleaned from the weld after it has been finished. Although coated electrodes work well with m a n y metals. t h e y have their limitations and obvious •disadvantages, such as the interruption of work when changing electrodes and the problem of slag removal. T h e successful development of the Aircomatic process stems from work cond u c t e d b y Battelle Memorial I n s t i t u t e and Air Reduction Sales C o . engineers for several years on the fundamentals of coated electrodes. I» j
Eastone Brown 2R Tennessee E a s t m a n C o r p . has announced t h e immediate commercial availability of a straight, direct a c e t a t e
3150
brown, East one Brown 2R, in the line of E a s t m a n acetate dyestuffs produced by that concern. T h i s dyestuff dyes acetate fibers a reddish brown and n y l o n a slightly duller shade. Unique shade and fastness properties a t t r i b u t e d to E a s t o n e Brown 2 R are said to make it a valuable color for shading and for producing deep tertiary' shades on a v a r i e t y of fabrics which must meet certain fastness requirements. I t is recommended by the manufacturer as the base color, in conjunction with t h e gas-resistant azo blues, in formulating lining shades, ρ 2
Round Copper Shot American Wheelabrator and E q u i p ment Corp. has developed a process for making round copper shot for use in blast cleaning a n d shot peening opera tions. T h i s material is now available in commercial quantities a n d m a y b e suit able for use in t h e chemical process in dustries either a s a catalyst or in t h e formation of filter b e d s or in other applications. T h e copper shot is available in screen sizes ranging from 0.0017 to 0.0661 inch. M a d e from electrolytic copper with small a m o u n t s of phosphorus added as a deoxidizcr, the particles are uniformly spherical down t o the smallest size. ρ 3
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Chemical Specialties
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Plant-scale production of Amberlite Irc-50, a carboxylic acid type cation ex change resin of extraordinary selectivity, lias been announced b y t h e resinous products division of R o h m & H a a s Co. This exchanger has been proved effective in the recovery of antibiotics. Buffered, it adsorbs selectively such amphoteric -iibstances as a m i n o acids, growth fac tors, a n d peptides. I n medical t h e r a p y , its white, beaded form makes it espe cially interesting as a modifier of internal salt balances a n d as a carrier of a n t i spasmodics. Also, Irc-50 will a d s o r b cat ionic fungicides, deodorants, dyes, inks, a n d a m i n e - t y p e age-resistors. I t has been used in t h e recovery of metals from process wastes and mining o p e r a tions. I t is said also t o possess extremely high capacity in alkaline m e d i a . This fact, plus its efficiency in regeneration, makes the exchanger a d a p t a b l e t o the new technique of reverse deashing of
CHEMICAL
acid-sensitive systems such as sugars a n d proteins. I n w a t e r conditioning, these same properties a r e being exploited in direct dealkalization. I n deionization, Amberlite Irc-50 is being used in series with Ir-120, t o provide greater capacity and more efficient use of régénérant, p 4
S y n t h a n e Corp., manufacturer of l a m inated phenolic plastics for industry, has announced production of a new material with high impact fatigue values and good machinability. These properties, which are obtained w i t h o u t sacrifice in electrical or chemical values, s t e m from t h e use of a cotton m a t filler whose fibers lie in r a n d o m distribution w i t h i n t h e laminations. E v e n distribution of t h e m a t t e d , unwoven cotton fibers give t h e new G r a d e L - R F a m o r e uniform strength and superior resistance t o repeated impact. T h e new m a t material is m a d e from a filler having long-fiber virgin cotton and should n o t b e confused with mat materials m a d e from linters. Tests conducted b y S y n t h a n e C o r p . consisting of d r o p p i n g a 1-lb. weight from a height of one foot a t a r a t e of 40 blows per min. on a notched impact specimen, showed that G r a d e L - R F resisted 5,000 blows. Another o u t s t a n d i n g characteristic of Grade L - R F is its ability to be machined to finish to a very smooth surface. G r a d e L - R F is currently being produced in s t a n d a r d sheets 36 b y 36 inches. in thicknesses ranging from Vs2 inch u p to 2 inches. It is furnished in rod form in standard lengths of 36 inches a n d in diameters ranging from 3 / 3 2 inch t o a maximum of 1.5 inch. ρ 5
K a n o Kroil, a chemical for loosening stuck-together parts, has recently been announced to loosen a frozen nut, bolt, or bearing. Manufacturers claim t h e Kroil gets into millionth-inch spaces t o dissolve dried oils, rust, a n d corrosion and t o supply t h e necessary lubrication without h a r m i n g t h e m e t a l . T h e chemi cal and its dispenser are produced b y the K a n o Laboratories. ρ 6
T w o new flexible adhesives for poly ethylene-coated surfaces h a v e b e e n a n nounced b y N a u g a t u c k chemical divi sion of U . S. R u b b e r Co. T h e y are aqueous dispersions suitable for b r u s h ing, spraying, or roller coating said t o h a v e a ply strength of 10 lb. per linear inch when separated a t a r a t e of 2 inches per m i n u t e . P r o p e r t i e s claimed a r e ability t o b o n d t o s m o o t h surfaces, flexibility, water resistance, and freedom from fire hazard during handling. Modifications of these c o m p o u n d s , D i s persite 1789 and 1822-A, are also avail able for special uses. ρ 7
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ENGINEERING
NEWS
