lends itself to liquid fertilizers which are steadily gaining in popularity in t h e Midwestern States. In t h e Southwest urea consumption has m a d e some strong gains during t h e p a s t few months, b u t this h a s been more as t h e result of sales pressure rather t h a n farm demand. As t h e result of severe selling competition urea prices h a v e b e e n brought down t o favorable levels. • Anhydrous Ammonia. T h e industry still h a s a sizable surplus of a m monia and opinion in t h e Northeast is that it m a y h a n g around for anojther five years. Some believe t h e surplus could be corrected if producers would level off ammonia production to 7 0 % of plant capacity. T h e market for direct ammonia application i n t h e soil also has n o t been fully exploited. This u s e is still growing b u t a t a somewhat slower rate. Anhydrous for direct application in t h e Midwest h a s taken t h e worst beating thus far. T h e sharpest drop h a s taken place in t h e North Central States, a n d t h e market in Minnesota h a s been in serious trouble i n this connection. O n t h e other h a n d , nitrogen solutions
( 4 0 . 6 % a n d 4 0 . 8 % ) are moving into territories formerly held by anhydrous. T h e West Coast describes competition i n nitrogen as "rough," a n d basic ammonia producers i n that area have been moved b y shrinking profit margins to assist dealers a n d distributors b y erecting storage capacity, extending a i d in credit problems, a n d similar measures. • Promising Outlook. I n all areas one finds a tendency t o view the future for fertilizers with unmistakable o p timism. For t h e near-term the South looks for the t r e n d toward high-analysis goods to continue, even if t h e pace may slacken. Diammonium phosphate has a definitely promising outlook, i t is held, a n d it should find a major outlet in mixed fertilizer preparation. I n the same area an increased farmer d e m a n d is expected for fertilizer-pesticide combinations. T h e r e is growing interest in phosp h a t e fertihzation in t h e West, a n d its effect on sales of phosphate materials there should become evident over t h e next f e w years. I t is d u e to soil depletion.
Aerosols Up Again
May 2 0 - 2 2 . Pressurized food packages a r e not included. Insecticides a n d mothproofers comprised t h e top category, accounting for 23.3%, with hair n e t sprays close b e hind a t 22.4%. Room deodorants took a big 8 6 . 7 % j u m p to 32.1 million units. Majority of aerosol containers were metal, b u t 10.4 million units were packed in glass. • Propel I ants. T h e energetic heart of the aerosol package is t h e propellant. Propellant expense constitutes 25 to 4 0 % of total factory cost of typical surface a n d space sprays, a n d is sometimes t h e largest single factory cost
CLEVELAND, OHIO Nov. 27-30, 1956 I
national
Ï
chemical i
exposition
This is your opportunity: as an exhibitor—to reach a large and vital segment of the chemical industry; to meet your old customers a n d new prospects. as a visitor—to see the latest in chemicals a n d equipment; to pick u p newideas; t o talk to the experts about your problems.
I S
national chemical!
I
CSMA r e p o r t shows 3 0 % increase in number o f aerosol units packed in 1 9 5 5 CHICAGO.—The aerosol packaging industry is still expanding rapidly. Numb e r of units p a c k e d j u m p e d 3 0 % in 1955 t o hit almost 2 4 0 million ( T a b l e I). Retail value: $250 million—up 3 2 % according t o Chemical Specialties Manufacturer's Association report m a d e at its 42nd .mid-year meeting here
exposition
T h e Exposition is sponsored by the Cleveland a n d Chicago Sections of the American Chemical Society. There will be technical meetings and other special events. T h e Chemical Trail Blazers will let you show t h e results of your o w n research. An expanded photographic exhibit (both prints a n d slides) and the 4th International Art Exhibit will again b e open to all ACS members. A technical book exhibit and special display of the Chemical Corps will add to the interest of the show. All i n addition t o the big booths of the leaders in the chemical industry. PLAN T O PARTICIPATE! National Chemical Exposition 86 E. Randolph St., Chicago 1, 111. Fill in the coupon or clip to your letterhead mail to the Chicago office.
N A T I O N A L CHEMICAL
and
EXPOSITION
8 6 E. Randolph St. Chicago 1 , III. Please send information on I
I Commercial booth space.
I
I Chemical Trail Blazers
I
I Photographic Exhibit
Approximately
Π
s q . ft. r e q u i r e d
Art Exhibit
Name Firm Name Street City
JUNE
Zone
II.
1956 C & E N
State
.
2901
MARKETS item, according to Walter A. Reed, aerosol consultant of Bridgeport, Conn. A 60-unit-per-minute filling line with 12-ounce containers may require nearly 10 tons of propellant per day at a cost of nearly $5000. Except for pressurized food products, the propellant is usually composed of low boiling fluorochlorohydrocarbons—Fréons, Genetrons, and t h e coming Isotrons. These are used singly, in blends, and sometimes with methyl or methylene chloride.
Table I.
Aerosol Units Packed in 1955
38,927,301 Space insecticides 8,304,830 Residual insecticides 8,743,351 Modiproofers 32,110,180 Room deodorants Pigmented and metallic 7,723,351 paints 1,524,142 Clear plastic sprays 1,971,639 Fire extinguishers Other household products (waxes, cleaners, etc.) 6,204,103 Shaving lather 45,387,375 Hair lacquers 53,790,285 Other personal products (shampoos, lotions, etc.) 14,220,783 Medicinals and pharmaceuticals 1,455,179 Artificial snow 6,818,717 Miscellaneous 9,601,767 Total 236,783,520 Physical and chemical characteristics of a propellant gready influence what can or cannot b e made successfully into an aerosol product. Development of new aerosol propellants has been aimed at cost reduction, improved solubility for certain applications, and satisfactory extenders or replacements for fluorinated compounds during periods of shortage. Work in this direction has led to a new blend—Propellant A. It is unique among hydrocarbon blends, according to Reed, in t h a t when used by itself or in the suitable standard type formulations it normally fractionates so as to retain its nonflammable character in both liquid and vapor phases. "Propellant A" covers a varied range of mixtures of isobutane with 50-50 weight percentage mixtures of dichlo rodifluoromethane and monochlorotrifluoromethane. Amount of isobutane can be varied over a wide range in a 35-pound-per-square-inch mixture without appreciable change in pressure. Cost savings of over $400 per 30,000 pounds of lead are possible. I t has been in production use for some time, according to Reed. 2902
C&EN
JUNE
II,
1956
Unique Solubility of "ELVALAN" Suggests Many Uses in Coatings " E l v a l a n " , D u Pout's u n u s u a l vinyl a c e t a t e c o p o l y m e r offers a n e x cellent m e a n s for obtaining clear, glossy coatings t h a t c a n be either water-resistant or water-soluble, dep e n d i n g on t h e t y p e s of solutions from w h i c h they a r e a p p l i e d . T h i s polymer i s soluble i n t h e c o m m o n a q u e o u s alkalies a n d i n m a n y of t h e low-cost organic solvents, b u t is insoluble in n e u t r a l or acidic aqueous solutions.
F i l m s of " E l v a l a n " p r o d u c e d from a m m o n i a solutions o r other volatile alkalies are i n s o l u b l e in water, while those cast from solutions of i t s sodium salt C i.e-, w h e n i t is dissolved in s o d i u m carbonate or sodiu m h y d r o x i d e s o l u t i o n s ) a r e soluble i n water. Films p r o d u c e d from organic solvents s u c h as m e t h y l e t h y l ketone, m e t h a n o l , benzene, a n d e t h y l a c e t a t e a r e water-resistant. T h e s e a n d o t h e r properties of " E l v a l a n " m a k e it useful in textile sizing a n d finisfcdng, adhesives, a n d p a p e r coatings. In t h e l a t t e r field, aqueous solutions a p p l i e d b y conventional equipment give clear c o a t i n g s with, e x c e l l e n t g l o s s , grease-proofness a n d abrasion resistance. I f " E l v a l a n " is a p p l i e d as t h e ammonium, salt, t h e coatings a r e also water-resistant a n d s h o u l d b e p a r t i c u l a r l y suitable for overp r i n t or flexographic varnishes. Since " E l v a l a n " i s alkali-soluble, b r o k e recovery is n o problem.
Silverware can be given protect i v e , t a r n i s h p r o o f c o a t i n g s of " E l v a l a n " w h i c h c a n be easily removed b y washing w i t h detergent or soap solutions. F o r m o r e details o n how to u s e t h i s versatile material, send t h e coupon below.
Production of Carboxylic Acids Aided by Hydrogen Peroxide A n u m b e r of u s e f u l c a r b o x y l i c acids can b e produced through t h e reaction of u n s a t u r a t e d materials w i t h ozone. H y d r o l y s i s of the interm e d i a t e ozonides, however, often results in h i g h yields of undesired aldehydes. T h i s difficulty can be overcome q u i t e s i m p l y : T h e interm e d i a t e ozonide is allowed to d r i p i n t o a solution of either formic or acetic acid a n d hydrogen peroxide, u p o n w h i c h it is hydrolyzed completely to carboxylic acids.
^°\
R-CV
X - R ' + H 2 0 2 —- RC00H ·¥ R'COOH
0 J 0 S o m e of t h e practical applications of ozonization a n d ozonolysis suggested by t h e l i t e r a t u r e include t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of a d i p i c acid from cyclohexene a n d hexanoic acid derivatives from substituted heptene. T h e former is a n i n t e r m e d i a t e for nylon.
Formaldehyde—The Chemical Button F o r m a l d e h y d e is o n e of the m o s t reactive o r g a n i c chemicals. I t r e a c t s with a wide variety of o r g a n i c a n d inorganic compounds to m a k e m a n y interesting a n d useful derivatives. I t takes p a r t in m a n y r e d u c tion, addition, condensation, a n d polymerization reactions. Its m e t h -
