SEPTEMBER,1952
0
ADHESION AND ADHESNES
Edited by N.A. deBruyne, Aero Research Ltd., Duxford, England, and R. Houwink, Rubber-Stichting, Delft, Netherlands. The Elsevier Press, Inc., Houston, 1951. xv X 517 pp. 205 figs. 65 tables. 16.5 X 24.5 cm. $10. THISbook is a substantial contribution to the literature on the rmbject. Although many books on adhesives have been written, the subject matter treated has been so empirical in nature that it bas been difficult to treat i t comprehensively and scientifically. I n this latest effort by two well-known authors i t has been attempted "to deal with the subject in terms of basic ~cientifieooncepts. While we appreciated that existing knowledge was too incomplete for such a n attempt to he wholly successful, we thought that it might nevertheless still be a significant contribution to knowledge." I n line with this laudable objective, the bwk has been divided into a theoretical part and a technological seation. The theoretical aspects were written up first and circulated nmong the authors of the second section so that they might align their thinking and discussions with it. While the result has fallen short of the editors' hopes, i t hss made s good beginning in a difficult subject. The theoretical section has beeu divided into four main parts, uis., s discussion on the general conditions for wetting and for adhesion by Houwink; s, very acceptable survey of molecular forces by A. J. Stiverman; that inexhaustible subjeot, rbeology of adhesives, by Hoekstra and Fritzius; and a good oontrihution on theoretical and experimental studies of stresses in joints hy Mylonas and deBruyne. Part Two, Technological Aspects, has beeu subdivided into two main sections, organic and inorganic adhesives. The organimtion of t h i ~section has been disturbed a little by treating ruhhery adhesives and soldered joints as neither inorganic nor organic. This defect is purely formal, however, and has not reduced thevalue of the book.
This book could well he used as supplementary reading for courses in colloid chemistry and in fact should be found on the shelves of every university library. S. S. KISTLER N o a ~ o xCOMPANY WOBCEBTER. MAMAC~~~ETTB
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FLUORINE AND ITS COMPOUNDS
R. N. Hoseeldine, Assistant in Research in Organic Chemistry, University of Cambridge, and A. G. Sharpe, Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and University Demonskator in ChemMethuen and Co., Ltd., London; John Wiley 8 Sons, Inc., New Ymk, 1951. 153 pp. 11 X D cm. $1.75. istry.
THIS little volume, which is of handy pocket size, aims to present in compact form a fairly complete review of the modern inorganic and organic chemistry of fluorine, with emphasis upon the influence of molecular structure on properties in the inorganic field, and on the effectsof fluorine upon the physical and chemical characteristics of organic compounds. The book is divided into four unequal chapters entitled Fluorine (17 pages), Hydrogen Fluoride (8 pages), Inorganic, and Organic Fluorine Compounds (37 and 84 pages). The first of these deals with the history, preparation, physical and chemical properties of fluorine, together with analytioal considerations and a considerable discussion of atomic and ionio structures and sizes, bond distances, melting and bailing points, crystel lattices solubilities and the like, as involved in the various types of inorganic simple and complex salts containing fluorine. The second brief section covers the preparation, physical and chemical properties of hydrogen fluoride, together with its uses as solvent and catalyst for dkylations, acylations, polymerizstion, and numerous other changes. I t also lists many applications of boron trifluoride as a versatile catalyst in organic reactions. The third portion deals in general with inorganic fluorine com-
