THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK scope June 15-27. Write to Benjamin M. Siegel, Department of Engineering Physics, Rockefeller Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, Ν . Υ. Research workers in the fields of minerology, petroleum, petrology, paleontology, and geology are invited to apply for ad mittance to a auto? diography course given by Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, June 15—25. information may he obtained from Special Training Division, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
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Fluid C a t a l y t i c Cracking Unit H a s Ease of O p e r a t i o n a t Low Cost T h e system of catalyst circulation is one of the design features said to give Standard Oil Development C o / s Model IV fluid catalytic cracking unit a capacity equal to that of earlier models standing at least 4 0 feet higher. A serious pressure differential be tween reactor and regenerator causes the fluidized catalyst to defluidize, forming a temporary seal. When pressures are again in balance, the catalyst refluidizes, restoring normal circulation. The first unit is at Imperial Oil's Edmonton, Alta., refinery States Department of Agriculture's East ern Regional Research Laboratory in Phila delphia, is part of the USDA's program for finding uses for large surpluses of these fats (7O0 million pounds in 1 9 5 2 ) . With more than 150 million pounds of plasticizers required each year for chlorine-contaioing plastics, there is a large potential market for the products. Three industrial companies have been licensed under US DA patents to use the process. The pla-sticizers are available in tank-car lots. Information on animal fats is contained in bulletin AIC-346, "A Survey on Re search Possibilities for Animal Fats," which m a y be obtained from USDA Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry» Washington 25, D . C.
EDUCATION C I T Plans Atomic A g e Convocation Leading American scientists will join Canadian and United States officials, prominent industrialists, and other public leaders in a two day convocation, April J 0 t h and l l t h , to discuss "The Atomic Age-Cliallenge to Free Men." Convoca tion topic w a s provided by a declaration in President Eisenhower's inaugural address that "Science seems ready to confer upon us, as a. final gift, the power to erase hu m a n life from this planet." Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the U. S., will b e honorary chairman of the gatherings and Charles M. White, president of Republic Steel Corp., is the general chairman. The convocation, which is under the aus
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pices of Case Institute of Technology, will meet in six sessions; four panel discussions at Severance Hall, Cleveland, and two eve ning assemblies in the Cleveland Public Music Hall. Among the many speakers at these sessions will be Farrington Daniels, president of the American Chemical So ciety; E. V. Murphree of the Standard Oil Development Co.; H. A. Winne, operat ing vice president of General Electric Co.; Gwilym Price, president of Westinghouse Electric Corp.; and Ka/1 T. Compton, chairman of the board of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. CIT is issuing 25,000 invitations to the convocation, and portions of the events will b e broadcast and also televised. For further information write to Department of Public Relations, Case Institute of Tech nology, Cleveland 6, Ohio.
U of Conn Installs Super Refrigerator An A D L Collins Helium Cryostat, which liquefies helium enabling scientists to reach 456 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, is nearly ready for operation in the physics department, Beach Hall, Univer sity of Connecticut. The helium liquéfier will first be put to use in exploring the properties of helium at the extremely low temperatures. The instrument was designed and manufactured by Arthur D . Little, Inc., and was developed by S. C. Collins of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Cornell University will give its annual summer laboratory course in techniques and applications of the electron micro-
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T h e college of engineering, State versity of Iowa, will conduct its teenth summer management course, 15-27. Address inquiries to Wayne gan, 113 Engineering Building, State versity of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
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T h e 13th short course for sewage plant operators will be held at the University of Wisconsin, April 20—23. Address inquiries to Gerard A. Rohlich, Hydraulics and Sani tary Engineering Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, Madison 6, Wis.
UESEAKCII ΝαναΙ Ordnance Lab Conquers Unworkable Alloy A soft magnetic alloy of aluminum and iron, now' known as 16-Alfenol, may be a good substitute for the nickel-cobalt alloys that are widely used for magnetic purposes, according to Carroll W . Lufcy, U. S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory. A few years ago, Japanese scientists no ticed that a 16% aluminum—84% iron combination showed excellent magnetic properties but they were baffled by the metal's extreme brittleness and unworkability. Recently, the magnetic division, U. S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory learned how to make aluminum atoms slip into place among iron atoms to turn the metal into a very thin ribbon with soft magnetic properties. I t is reported that 16-Alfenol, may find possible application in giant electronic brains, transformer cores, and for heads in home tape recorder.
Oxide Film Research Aided by Fund With a view to growing protective films on metals, Stevens Institute of Technology is studying the structure of oxide film using an electron microscope and electron dif fraction simultaneously. Some metals, notably the iron group, are not protected by their oxides and continue to corrode indefinitely. According, to Robert B. Green, associate professor of physics, SIT, if oxidation could be arrested near the sur face in iron and steel, much waste in in dustry due to corrosion could be averted. The research work is being subsidized by a $5000 grant from the Research Corp.
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