XIX. THE CHEMIST I N THE GLASS INDUSTRY S.
R. SCHOLES
The writer of this article is well qualified by training and f e l h of the Ceramic Society. H e is the author of a numexperience to discuss the work of the chemist in the glass ber of publications. industry. Dr. S . R. Scholes was granted the A.B. degree by Ripon College and the Ph.D. degree by Yale. He In this discussion of the work canied out by the was the Loomis Fellow i n Yalefor one year and a fellow i n the University of Pittsburgh for two years after he had re- chemist, we are assuming that he is the only technical man employed by a plant of moderate size, that is, he is ceived his P h B . H e has been connected with the H . C. Fry Glass Com- responsible for whatever work of a scientific nature pany, the Utility Glass Company, The Federal Glass being done. He analyzes the raw materials, as often as that may Company, The Fostoria Glass Company, and since 1932 has been Glass Technologist at the New York State College be netessary, to insure that the glassmaker has a definite of Ceramics. H e was Assistant Director of Mellon Insti- knowledge of these materials as to composition and especially as to impurities. He analyzes the glasses, which tnte for three years. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and a are the product of the plant, often enough to check the
performance of the mixing department and to insure that the composition of the finished glasses is kept within the desired limits. He may also analyze other glasses for the purpose of keeping in touch with what other factories are producing or for the frank purpose of duplicating glasses made elsewhere that may seem more suitable for his plant than the formulas already a t hand. A number of accessory materials used about the plant must also occasionally be tested, qualitatively and quantitatively. Some of these are materials used in the decorating of glassware; for example, colorants and acids for etching. The boiler water may require careful checking to make sure that the water softener is hehaving properly. Various commercial cleaners used in different parts of the plant may need analysis and, finally, there is the important matter of fuels and flue gases. By making periodical analyses, the chemist is able to check the behavior of the furnaces and to estimate their heat-balance and fuel economy. A number of tests of the product, not of analytical nature, must he occasionally carried out, and these, whether physical or chemical, are commonly performed by the chemist. One of these is resistance to thermal shock, which is especially desirable in a bottle or tableware factory. A number of pieces of glass are tested by alternate immersion in hot and cold water and the difference of temperature which they will sustain without breaking is a measure of their thermal endurance. The solubility or durability of the glass, although this cannot in general be predicted from the composition, must often be rechecked in order to satisfy the requirements of some new customer or to make possible a sort of umpire's decision in the event of complaints. The general physical properties of the glass are tested, especially, with a view to their improvement by alterations in the chemical composition. One of these physical properties, the density or specific gravity, is a convenient laboratory determination that serves to give assurance that the composition of the glass is remaining constant. Another, the determination of soften in^ temperature by an empirical method, performs a sim; lar function. In a few establishments. the ontical oronerties of the glass become important and, nearly everywhere, the control of color, whether in ware which is actually colored, or in crystal. It is the particular duty of the chemist to take a complete set of samples of ware daily and to inspect these for regularity of color. He then specifies what slight changes must be made in the colorants or decolorizers employed to maintain proper standards. The synthetic work of the chemist involves, priucipally, the compounding of glasses whenever new types are desired, or when improvements must be made to better the physical properties of glasses already in use. He may also be required, occasionally, to develop a color not hitherto made in the factory. In work of this sort, he proceeds first from a theoretical point of view to plan from published data, supplemented by his own experience, suitable compositions. He then makes experimental meltings, especially in color work, to test his A
estimates on a small scale. These meltings may he in crucibles of a pound or two, or he may ask for the loan of a single pot in the main furnace and boldly experiment with a half-ton or more. The chemist is also required to act in an advisory capacity to other members of the factory staff. From his general knowledge of chemicals and of the nature of materials of one sort and another, and also from his acquaintance with technical firms and their advertising, he is in a good position to be of assistance to the purchasing agent of the company on many occasions. When new materials are required, or when salesmen call and present competitive products, it is often the chemist who must be called in to help decide on purchases. He is often consulted when new developments are projected or when calculations must be made for new furnaces, new equipment of various sorts, annual budgets of materials, and the like. He can also be of great assistance to the cost accounting department because of his familiarity with the quantities of raw materials used, especially in the actual glass. He can also estimate the various losses and shrinkages and thus enable the cost accountant to arrive a t more accurate figures for the cost of the melted glass as delivered to the workmen or the machines. Thus far, these duties of the chemist, as outlined, have pictured him as a member of the staff rather than as one of the line organization; that is to say, his general duties are of an advisory, controlling character rather than of a routine sort, concerned directly with the daily production. In general, he becomes well acquainted with all of the operating departments and, while he is without direct authority, perhaps in any of these, he is very useful in suggesting to superintendents and managers changes and improvements which will increase or better the production. It will be understood that the picture we have drawn here is of a man who must occupy a position of rather broad, scientific responsibilities. In a somewhat larger plant, he will have assistants and each of these will specialize in only a few of the above duties. In still larger organizations, the scientific work may be subdivided still further into organized departments under a general director of development and research, under whom will be laboratories of chemistry, physics, and engineering. But this last condition exists only in a very few establishments. For the most part, the chemist is practically alone in his work when he is a member of the staff of a glass company of the average size. [Dr. Scholes's rating and discussion of the personal characteristics are interesting and helpful.] "Those personal characteristics which are most desirable in a chemist who is to become successfnl in industrial work must necessarily be matters of opinion. But I would rate them somewhat in the following order: (1) honesty, (2) industry, (3) ability to cooperate, (4) judgment, (5) scientific attitude, (6) adaptability, and (7) skill, or dexterity. To analyze some of these briefly we may say first that unless a chemist is completely honest, he will end by deceiving not only others, but himself; his results will he entirely without value, and
he can hope for no advancement whatever. He must he willing to work hard and to find suitable tasks. Very often, no one else in the establishment can tell him what to do, but he must possess the initiative, which we are here placing as one of the attributes of industry, to put himself to work. If he cannot cooperate with other people, or if he feels that his education makes him somewhat superior to the run-of-the-mill men, he will not be able to get cooperation and, therefore, will fail to get results. He must work hard at all times to develop in himself judgment, to be able to estimate comparative
values, especially of scientific data. By the scientific mind we mean the mind which tries to find out the facts, rather than merely those facts which will support a previously formed judgment. The chemist must be sufficiently adaptable so that he does not regard himself as a narrow specialist who can work only with burner and crucible and balance, hut who can apply his scientific training anywhere in the plant. Finally, the more neatness, precision, dexterity, and manual skill he develops in all lines, the more thoroughly useful he may become."
