Information A " * s i s Also i n t h e field O R R a d i o and Reeves Soundcraft is resuming production this fall i n a brand-new, "hospital c l e a n " plant now being completed. A 0.35-mil coating of synthetic iron oxide crystals—acicular F e 2 0 3 particles averaging 1.0 micron in length and 0.1 micron thick—is laid down on the film from a solvent mixture containing resinous binders and adhesives. Before the coating dries, the crystals are magnetically aligned in the direction of head travel. Unlike audio tape where alignment is parallel to tape travel, video tape has its magnetic particles arrayed crossways, to coincide with the transverse sweep of the heads. This makes for better quality of reproduction because it gives greater signal amplitude. T h e tape itself, of course, looks the same before a n d after recording. And splicing from the sound track— as with audio tape—is not exact e n o u g h for the high scanning speeds of the video portion. So, w h e n the approximate area for editing is located, the film is "developed" a t that spot for close visual attention. This developing is similar to the high-school physics experiment o n magnetism where iron filings sprinkled on a sheet of p a p e r laid atop a m a g n e t bring out the magnetic pattern. But in the case of video tape a suspension of iron carbonyl in a volatile h y d r o c a r b o n takes the place of the iron filings. About 5 % (bulk volume) of the finest ( S F ) grade of commercial carbonyl is shaken u p in a liquid such as heptane, which w o n ' t affect either the M y l a r base o r t h e resin-bonded coating. T h e carbonyl particles align themselves in accordance with the magnetic p a t t e r n impressed on the t a p e by the recording head. T h e edit pulses are visible when t h e liquid quickly evaporates, and splices are m a d e so t h a t proper pulse marks coincide. T h e dry carbonyl powder is then simply brushed off. Color Possible, Too
All present live-TV tricks—splitscreen t r e a t m e n t , fadeouts, e t c . — can be taped, since whatever signals
I n t e
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are produced by c a m e r a electronics can b e caught o n video tape. Color is n o exception. A n additional electronics rack will convert black-and-white e q u i p m e n t t o r e cord and transmit color programs. Most startling advantage of video tape is in spot news coverage, where immediate playback is so valuable. This has helped vitally to build u p viewer ratings, says Los Angeles independent station K T T V . This broadcaster has also p u t video tape to use in its sales presentations. I t tapes visual material very economically, and arranges closed-circuit playback t h r o u g h local-station facilities a t meeting locations. Present estimates for video tape market during 1958 range all the way from $500,000 t o $1 million. Steady growth is foreseen as equipm e n t is produced by local stations. K e y network stations a r e pretty well set u p now, a n d expect color COURTESY THE WOOL B U R E A U . INC. conversion to add only about 1 0 % to the cost of their t a p e facilities. This young l a d y may not be able t o pronounce ammonium thioglycollate, D.G.W. but she won't care i f it keeps the pleats in her wool skirt sharp
Look Sharp! Feel Sharp! Be Sharp! Home-perm chemical that keeps curls in coiffures also puts durable creases and pleats in woolens M UGGY summer weather is hard on clothes. S h a r p creases i n the morning soon evaporate a n d b y night are replaced b y masses of wrinkles. Chemists i n Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and I n dustrial Research Organisation find that a neutral salt of thioglycollic acid (mercaptoacetic acid) keeps wool clothing looking neat t h r o u g h the hottest, stickiest day. D o w n U n d e r they have been trying to solve this problem for years.
With wool so vital to the Australian economy, considerable effort h a s been exerted in this direction to help increase world consumption. Thioglycollates have proved satisfactory for retaining curl in h u m a n hair— this is the key to m a n y of the " h o m e p e r m a n e n t " formulations. And because wool is chemically similar t o hair (both a r e keratin protein fibers), a logical step was to see what effect this chemical might have on wool. Development over the last few years has shown that creases in woolen trousers a n d pleats in woolen skirts stay sharp and trim when the material is treated with a neutral solution of a m m o n i u m thioglycoll a t e : H S C H 2 C O O N H 4 . Some other thiol reducing agents will work, too, but this one seems best, considering the economics of the situation as well as the chemistry. CSIRO recommends a water-based spray containing 2 to 5 % of the compound to be applied as a final manufacturing operation. VOL. 50, NO. 9
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Apparel is finished a n d pressed normally, to assure properly placed creases. T h e n the Si-Ro-Set process comes into the picture. T h e diluted solution is sprayed—with commercially available e q u i p m e n t having glass or plastic or a l u m i n u m parts in contact with the solution—onto the surface of the garments so that they feel d a m p , b u t not wet. T h e proper a m o u n t is 30 to 4 0 % of the weight of fabric in the area being treated. A conventional (40 p.s.i.) steam pressing before the material dries sets the crease by chemical reaction with the wool fibers. This gives durable creases a n d pleats not dissipated by exposure to rain, high humidity, or even dry cleaning, according to T h e Wool Bureau, Inc. Si-Ro-Set Concentrate is now being produced by three U . S. firms familiar with the chemical through their work in the h o m e - p e r m a n e n t field. General formulation for the aqueous concentrate is: Thioglycollic acid (as NH« salt) Wetting agent (nonionic polyethylene oxide condensation product) Sequestering agent [sodium salt of EDTA, (ethylenedlnitrilo)tetraacctic acid, a solvent for protein]
A E C thinks the idea is good enough, it will enter into a contract agreem e n t with the c o m p a n y and subsidize work leading to the development of the method or instrument. Already there are proposals from a n u m b e r of companies extended preliminary invitations by the A E C . W h e n the brochure goes out, " w e m a y be s w a m p e d , " as one A E C m a n p u t it. From M e a t to A S T M M a n u a l s
T h e potential applications for radioisotopes are practically unlimited. T h e only limiting factor a p pears to be one's imagination. O n e research t e a m is looking into the possibility of controlling the lean
meat to fat meat ratio in sausage by mixing short half-life isotopes in with the meat. Variations in density of the lean a n d fat m e a t affect the a m o u n t of radiation passing from the radiation source t h r o u g h the meat into the recording instrument of the gage. This information can then be fed back through a servomechanism a n d the meat feed can be adjusted automatically. This same idea can be used in any n u m ber of mixing operations c o m m o n to the chemical industry. Another c o m p a n y is looking into the possibility of controlling phosphate salt scale in boiler feed water by tagging the phosphate ion a n d then hooking u p a counter to the system. I t
H O W AEC'S NEW OFFICE OF INDUSTRIAL IS SET UP t
DEVELOPMENT
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44-46% 1.5%
Isotope Production and Radiation Branch
1%
Accelerates industry's use of high level radiation
D.G.W.
Wanted:
Ideas SHOUT LIVED RADIOISOTOPE ADDED AT END , O f ONE CRUDE,
AEC is sparking hunt for ideas from industry on new uses for radioisotopes
SECTION NO. I OF REFINERY
CRUDE A
CRUDE A
I U T on your thinking bonnet and send your ideas on how your c o m p a n y might be able to use radioisotopes to the Atomic Energy Commission. T h a t , in a nutshell, is the general idea behind the A E C ' s formation of the new Office of Industrial Development (see box insert). At the time of writing of this report, a brochure outlining the commission's p r o g r a m was being printed a n d distribution is expected to follow shortly. T h e brochure, in effect, will ask industry for proposals on the use of radioisotopes. If the 34 A
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
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SECTION NO. 2 OF REFINERY
Isotope Applications Branch Works with industry to develop new uses for radioisotopes
Isotope Technology Branch Helps set up training schools and resources for industrial personnel in necessary technology. Ultimate plans are for four training schools to be established to provide 4 - to 6-week courses. Lab instruction will also be provided
