The Editor Looks u t . . .
I/EC AUGUST 1959
Glyc01~ and ethanolamines in Canada. Since 1950, Canada’s petrochemical industry has been a growth industry. Dow Chemical of Canada, Ltd., has reflected this growth. This month’s Staff-Industry Report describes Dow Canada’s process for these ethylene oxide derivatives.
Monwoven fabrics. This industry represents a ripe and profitable field for expanded effort in the chemical and engineering professions. Development of synthetic resins has blurred the dividing line between paper and textile manufacturing. Some of the problems, theory, and manufacturing and treatment methods are discussed, beginning on page 901.
A way to make better platinum-alumina catalysts.
By USing a competitive adsorbate, chloroplatinic acid can be made to penetrate further into the alumina. The result is a catalyst with platinum more evenly distributed. Results so far show that hydrochloric acid is an effective competitive adsorbate (page 913).
A method for the recovery of uranium hexafluoride.
Vent gases from UF6 manufacture are passed through a fluidized bed of impure UFd, where essentially all the UFe and part of the fluorine react to form uranium fluoride intermediates. As much as 0.38 pound of UFs is absorbed per pound of UFs.
Preparation O f urethane polymers. Making the reaction mixture acidic favors the formation of more linear products. Branching of the linear prepolymer can be obtained by heating above 100’ C. for varying times (page 929).
Pinned tubes in heat exchangers. One way of increasing the outside heat transfer coefficient of heat exchanger tubes is to increase the outside surface. For data helpful in closer design of industrial equipment, see page 941.
Problems in sealing high pressure vessels. A method has been worked out for calculating sealing pressures. Factors taken into account : internal vessel pressure, bolt load, and gasket reaction. If pressure varies, the calculation is especially important.
VOL. 51, NO. 8
AUGUST 1959
893
