I/EC
N e w Books
Concise Guide to Plastics HERBERT
R.
SIMONDS.
xi
+
318
pages. Reinhold Publishing Corp., 430 Park Ave., New York 22, Ν. Υ. 1957. $6.95. Reviewed by KARL F. PLITT, Plastics Section, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.
The growing use of plastics in a great variety of applications has caused widespread interest in these materials. This growth has been so rapid in recent years that public ac ceptance of these attractive materials has far outstripped public knowledge. T o d a y the consumer frequently iden tifies such widely different materials as polystyrene and nylon by the general term "plastics". "Concise Guide to Plastics" was written to present a survey of plas tics and the plastics industry to those approaching the subject for the first time. T h e volume contains in formation on the industry, its ma terials, the materials producers, the processes of manufacture, and the end products. This is presented in a clear, logical m a n n e r that should aid the manufacturer, designer, ar chitect, engineer, or chemist in ac quiring a general knowledge of the field of plastics. T h e author begins by describing the types of plastics and explaining how they differ. Definitions of m a n y of the c o m m o n plastics terms are presented. T h e activities of the companies engaged in plastics m a n u facturing of all types are indicated and these activities described. T h i r t y of the best known plastics are described in detail. Emphasis is placed on end use as well as the physical properties of each type. Tables summarize the more impor tant properties in a way that facili tates comparison. T h e fabrication properties of each plastic are de scribed sufficiently to assist in the selection of a material for producing any desired item. Reference to well established plastic products is fre
quently used to emphasize the perti nent properties of each plastic. A table of trade names supplements this information. Since the usefulness of a plastic depends, to a large extent, on the form in which it is used, a chapter on this subject is included. These forms range from extremely fine fi bers to ponderous moldings and rein forced structures. I n general, each type of plastic has certain limitations as to the forms in which it can be produced. T h u s , a plastic that can be d r a w n into a fine fiber m a y be unsuited for use as an adhesive. Some of the forms described are adhesives, coatings, extrusions, fibers, films, foams, laminates, liquids, mold ings, molding powders, pastes, a n d sheets. Numerous examples are cited to illustrate each type. A chapter that describes most of the processes required to fashion plastics into useful products comple ments the information on properties and plastics. Brief descriptions of such processes as calendering, cast ing, coating, extruding, laminating, machining, molding, potting, seal ing, and forming make u p this chap ter. Nearly all process descriptions are illustrated with suitable draw ings. F u t u r e trends a n d probable de velopments in plastics are discussed briefly. T h r o u g h o u t the text constant reference is m a d e to plastics materi als and products by trade n a m e . At tention is directed to manufacturers that produce specific materials a n d items or that use particular processes. These references, together with a table of plastics prices, might be ex pected to cause the book to rapidly become dated. O n e chapter is com posed of descriptions of 42 plastics manufacturers. E a c h description includes the names of the top exec utives, a company history, a list of principal products, a n d a statement of sales and profits for the last 5 years. While these facts m a y be interesting they are probably of doubtful value to someone approaching the subject for the first time.
Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials N. IRVING SAX. Assisted by LEON ARD J. GOLDWATER, WILLIAM B. HARRIS, JOHN H. HARLEY, JOSEPH J. FITZGERALD, and MILTON S. DUNN.
ν + 1467 pages. Reinhold Publish ing Corp., 430 Park Ave., New York 22, Ν. Υ. 1957. $22.50. Reviewed by the editors of I/EC. JL his volume represents a com pletely rewritten and substantially expanded version of the author's " H a n d b o o k of Dangerous Materi als," which originally filled the great need for a convenient reference work on hazardous properties of chemical compounds. I n increasing the n u m ber of entries from 5500 in the pre vious work to nearly 9000 in the present, considerably detailed sec tions on the hazards of nuclear tech nology and allergic diseases have been added in addition to supple menting the other sections. Physicians and industrial hygiéniste will welcome the fairly complete discussion of toxicology, while safety engineers should be well satisfied with the wide range of information on such subjects as: control of industrial hazards, personnel protection, air pollution, fire and explosion hazards, a n d the storing a n d h a n dling of dangerous materials. I n response to the impact of nuclear technology, the authors have provided an unusually thorough treatment of radiation hazards, i n cluding a clear discussion on the nature of various forms of radiation and how they are absorbed. A n u m b e r of charts are reproduced from official sources to show the relative hazard from absorption of radioisotopes as well as recommended decontamination methods. I n addition, an entirely new section on reactor safeguards has been added. T h e authors have done a creditable j o b of presenting a large a m o u n t of information in a well organized, detailed but not repetitive form which the safety engineer a n d industrial hygienist should find to be dependable and easy to use. V O L . 50, NO. 1 • JANUARY 1958
139 A
