LABORATORY OF THE MONTH
DeSoto Research Center, DesPlaines, 111.
Dan Netzel (left), research chemist—spectroscopy, employs a spectrophotometer to study dyes and sensitizers used in electrophotography. Carlos Gaudin (right), technician—chemical analysis, employs c a r b o n hydrogen analyzer t o assist in the characterization of polymers synthesized by the Resin Research department. All electrical wiring and compressed gas lines in t h i s i n s t r u m e n t a l analysis laboratory are contained in recessed, covered t r o u g h s in the benches
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Up-to-date analytical instruments and techniques are required in modern day materials development and testing. The DeSoto, Inc., Research Center supports the company's efforts in paints, wall and floor coverings, and consumer products for the home
N APRIL 21, 1967, the new
O Center
Research
of DeSoto, Inc., was dedicated in DesPlaines, 111. The new R e search and Administrative Center complex consists of 135,000 square feet of work area and is located on a 26-acre site. The latest architectural and laboratory innovations are included in this building. DeSoto, Inc., is comprised of five o p erating divisions consisting of sixteen plants located throughout the United States and Canada. The Chemical Coatings division enables DeSoto to enjoy a position among the country's ten largest paint companies. While the majority of this division's output is consumer paints sold by Sears Roebuck and Co., products are also supplied for a variety of industrial and military applications. The Chemical Products division manufactures a complete line of industrial and household detergents, waxes, cleaning compounds, and maintenance items and developed the first nationally distributed biodegradable detergent. The Sonneborn Building Products division manufactures a wide variety of
products for the construction industry. These include compounds for curing, hardening, coloring, and dust-proofing concrete, Colorcoat for waterproofing and decorating masonry, and Sonolastic sealants. Seamless flooring, heavy duty, decorative resilient flooring is ona of the newer products from this division. T h e Wallcoverings division m a r k e t ing through the United Wallpaper Company is one of the country's largest producers of roll-type wallcoverings. This division was a pioneer in luxurious flocked wallcoverings with their Flocks Unlimited prestige collection. DeSoto's Royal division is a major manufacturer of consumer products for use in and around the home. These include residential lighting fixtures, fireplace furnishings, gas space heating units, and outdoor cooking equipment. Included in the outdoor cooking equipment line are the popular Royal Chef Stagecoach and the famous " C h a t t a nooga Choo-Choo." DeSoto's new Research Center p r o vides basic research and research support for each of these five divisions.
Mike Jao (left), research chemist—chemical analysis, is shown operating the m i c r o Dumas nitrogen analysis e q u i p m e n t . Andy Widzisz ( r i g h t ) technician—chemical analysis, effects a pigment—vehicle separation w i t h the high speed centrifuge. More t h a n 3 4 0 0 linear feet of glass p l u m b i n g were used in these laboratories. This picture also shows the office areas provided for the chemists
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LABORATORY
OF THE
MONTH
There are more t h a n 125 technical employees located in the Research Center, the majority are chemists. These technical personnel are employed in five departments—Trade Sales Laboratories, Chemical Coatings Laboratories, Chemical Products, Resin Research, and Research Services. The Research Services d e p a r t m e n t headed by Leonard C. Afremow, m a n ager, is responsible for all aspects of analytical chemistry, physical testing, and the DeSoto Information Center. This d e p a r t m e n t provides support not only for the other four departments of the Research Center but also for the 16 plants of the five operating divisions. The analytical chemistry section is physically divided into three separate laboratories—spectroscopy, instrumental analysis, and chemical analysis. Among the more notable work with infrared spectrophotometry is a study of 150 inorganic pigments in the midinfrared region between 1500 and 200 cm- 1 . This work showed the feasibilit y of determining crystal structure differences in individual pigments and for quantitating the various structural forms. Previously these had to be done using x-ray spectroscopy. T h e spectroscopy group was the first to publish on quantitative infrared analysis in the region beyond 450 c m - 1 . The spectroscopy group also frequently uses n u clear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the solution of complex analytical problems. I n addition to standard qualitative and quantitative analysis, N M R spectroscopy has been used to perform isomerization studies, kinetic studies, and to study polymer tacticity. This work was previously done under a consulting arrangement with the University of Illinois. A fully equipped J a p a n Electron Optics Laboratories J N M - C 6 0 H spectrometer is now on order. This instrument will be equipped to study b o t h hydrogen and fluorine nuclei. Some of the pioneering work utilizing capillary gas chromatography in the coatings industry was performed a t D e Soto. As a consequence of this work, an outstanding line of polyester stationary phases was developed. I n addition to s t a n d a r d analyses, gas chromatographs are used to characterize a variety of polymers using pyrolysis techniques. A gel permeation chromatograph has been used b y the instrumental analysis group for two years. During this time, this instrument has been used routinely to determine number average and weight average molecular weights, heterogeneity indices, molecular weight distribution, and to quality control polymer systems. This technique has also 128 A
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ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Sam Chechakli, technician—instrumental analysis, adjusts a gas c h r o m a t o g r a p h while he starts the electronic area integrator. Some of the pioneering work in the coatings industry using capillary gas c h r o m a t o g r a p h y was performed on this equipment
AI Brandau ( r i g h t ) , and John Holyk (left), technicians—physical t e s t i n g , are responsible for d e t e r m i n i n g the physical properties of materials. AI is shown using a universal testing i n s t r u m e n t t o obtain tensile and elongation data while John uses a vapor pressure o s m o m e t e r to determine number average molecular weights
Dom Tessari (left), group leader, injects a sample into a gel permeation chromatograph. This instrument plays an important role in the separation of complex polymer mixtures for subsequent characterization. Dennis Anderson (right), chemist—instrumental analysis, is calculating the angstrom chain length of a high molecular weight polymer
been used for a n u m b e r of special applications including the determination of unreacted monomer in polymer systems, differentiation between polymer blends and true copolymers, fractionation of materials for subsequent characterization, and controlling polymer distribution b y blending. "With gel permeation chromatography, studies have also been performed on the retention of solvents by polymer films. Previously, this type of information could be determined reliably only b y using radioactive tracer equipment. A completely equipped polarizing microscope with overhead illumination is used to study chemical systems on various substrates. Some of these studies involve the depth of penetration of various coatings into wood substrates, the compatibility of coatings with papers used in electrophotography and the resulting effect on printing quality, and the effect of fiber structure on the performance of flocks used on wallcoverings. Providing support for all phases of instrumental analysis is the chemical analysis group. T h i s group is equipped a n d staffed to perform all of the required classical analytical techniques. I t performs all elemental analyses, spot tests, thin layer, column, and ion exchange chromatography, derivative preparation, a n d chemical degradation of polymers for subsequent characterization. One of the more notable ac-
complishments of the group was the improvement of the classical Zeisel technique. This method can now be used to determine the presence of hydroxy and 2-ethylhexyl containing monomers in acrylic polymer systems. Another major section of the R e search Services d e p a r t m e n t is the Physical Testing Laboratory. This wellequipped section is responsible for determining the physical properties of materials such as particle size, number average molecular weight, heat distortion temperature, impact, compressive and tensile strength, elongation, tensile modulus, energy of r u p t u r e , and coefficient of friction. One of the more outstanding projects undertaken b y this group is the prediction of long range coating durability from accelerated physical testing data. This project requires the use of an IBM-360 computer for correlation studies and data reduction. The goals of the Research Services department and the ambitions of the employees therein have their b i r t h in the corporate philosophy of the R e search Center of DeSoto, Inc.—"To explore the u n m a p p e d areas of science . . . to recognize n o barriers to fulfillment of a need . . . to search endlessly t h a t we m a y find . . . this is the corporate philosophy within these walls. This is the restless ambition of the individuals who comprise our organization."
Ken Ellis, chemist—trade sales, is shown leaving one of four environmental rooms after completing a study on the performance characteristics of consumer coatings. These environmental rooms are used to study DeSoto products under controlled temperature and humidity conditions VOL. 39, NO. 11, SEPTEMBER 1967
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