• New · B o o k s · and · B o o k l e t s · Its Constitution and Uses. C^oal. À William A. Bone and Godfrey W. Himus. 631 pp. Longmans, Green and Co., 114 Fifth Ave., New York, 1936. Price, $7.50. T H E authors, on the staff of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, have presented, largely from the British standpoint, an excellent summary of the new knowledge of coal and its uses, with "the prime object of setting forth the scientific principles of the subject in clear language, free from mystifying terminology," but including also the economics and industrial technology of the subject. It is a sequel to the senior author's wellknown "Coal and Its Scientific Uses," 1918. An outstanding feature of the method of treatment is the weaving in, throughout the chapters descriptive of technology, of conclusions on the economic and business aspects of each subject being treated. Some attention is given to industrial practices and economics of countries other than the British, but the bulk of the treatment is from the British angle, and naturally so. To Americans the discussion of the economics of coal's future, its relation to oil, its processing to yield gas and oil, the domestic utilization of gas vs. electricity for heating purposes, the probable importance, not far distant, of utilizing powdered coal in engines of the Diesel type, coal hydrogénation and its costs, will appear of great interest and value, despite their being pictured, in the main, through the British color screen. The American reader, however, will wish that, in a few instances, more representative data had been chosen to depict practices: and conditions over here. Our "public supply" of manufactured gas, for example, is said to be "predominantly water g a s / ' which would be true only if the large percentage of coke-oven gas in the public supply (42 per cent in 1934) were neglected. It is disturbing also to see "typical Pennsylvania anthracite" put down as having 1.3 per cent volatiles, and typical Illinois coal with 0.9 per cent sulfur. But these are very small items, rare indeed among the abundance of valuable and dependable data. Much attention is given to combustion and power-plant practice, and somewhat less to carbonization, tne latter more largely as applied in gasworks. Only one type of coke oven, the Becker, is described. Low-temperature carbonization is given very moderate space, and very little encouragement economically, even for Britain. About one-third of the book is devoted to the scientific phases relating to < >rigin and constitution of coal. We miss two things that we would expect from Professor Bone, preeminent as fie is in this field—a scientific analysis of the mechanism of combustion of coal particles suspended in air (as in explosions ι ir in boiler furnaces), and a treatment of the important subject of coal plasticity and swelling during coking. HORACE C. PORTER r
p h e Story of Science. David Dietz. 1 4th éd. 3SS pages. Dodd, Mead & Co., Inc., 443 Fourth Ave., New York, 1937. Price, 83.o().
IT I S a tribute to this book that its acceptance by the public has made possible this fourth* edition, in which the author has had an opportunity to bring the
important factors in his four main subjects up to date. It may be recalled that, whereas other writers of science for the nontechnical public have generally confined themselves to one of the sciences, Mr. Dietz presents interesting facts and fundamental principles relating to a group of sciences. He titles the four parts of the book "The Story of the Universe" (astronomy); "The Story of the Earth" (geology); "The Story of the Atom" (physics and chemistry); and "The Story of Life" (biology). Even with the assistance which of course he has had from a number of scientists, he was nevertheless left with a difficult writing task. This he has discharged with credit to himself and with profit to those who have a desire to become better acquainted with established facts and theories in these several great divisions of our knowledge. The book contains some history but only enough to be interesting and informative. It is well illustrated, has been well received, and is certain to be very useful. r
p h e British Plastics Year Book, 1937. JL The Handbook and Guide to the Plastics Industry. 602 pages. Published by Plastics Press Ltd., 19-23 Ludgate Hill, Ix>ndon, E. C. 4, England, 1937. Price, 15 s., net. T H E seventh volume of this book, which deals with plastic materials and their products, follows the arrangement of previous editions, with a new section, No. 8, a "Who's Who" of persons actively engaged in the industry. The editorial section as usual is new, with discussions of recent developments in the plastics industry, both in Great Britain and in the United States. A brief survev of British patent literature is also included, and a considerable number of illustrations show new applications for plastic materials. Section 2 gives names and addresses of producers, a list of world plastics journals, the names of a considerable number of associations and societies, chemists and research specialists, British trade inquiry offices and commissioners, and commercial diplomatic officers throughout the world. This is followed by a section devoted to proprietary and general names, another giving a list of raw materials with name of producer, and still another indicating manufacturers of plant equipment. Section 6 deals with manufactured products and gives the names of those who use plastic materials in various ways. A brief description of trade associations of the industry, the new "Who's Who," and the tables of useful data form the concluding sections of this volume, which will interest those connected with the several phases of the plastics industry. Chemicals and Their Manufacturers. 466 pages. Published by Btheritish Association of British Chemical Manufacturers, Inc., 166 Piccadilly, London, W. 1, England, 1937. THIB official directorv of the Associât ion of British Chemical Manufacturers, Inc., last issued in 193f>, is published to give purchasers in all parts of the world information regarding products manufactured by its members. Printed in six languages —English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish -the hook includes a 181
list of meml>ers with their addresses, data on affiliated associations, a classified list of British chemicals, lists of proprietary and trade names as well as proprietary anil trade marks, and concludes with an alphabetical index or key to the classified list for the non-English languages. As before, the directory is available without charge to buyers of chemicals, upon direct application to the association, 166 Piccadillv, London, W. 1, England. e s Applications Industrielles du rH, TJMaurice le Potentiel d'Oxydo-Reduction. Déribéré. 96 pages. Dunod, 92, Rue Bonaparte, Paris (VI), 1937. Price, 76 francs. T H E serious-minded reader will do well to skip the theoretical part which contains a number of astonishing logical bulls. There is, for instance, on page 1, the statement that all substances, elements, or compounds may be classified as either oxidizing or reducing agents, but on page 3 indifferent substances "that is to say, neither oxidizing nor reducing" are discussed. On page 24 we are told that a hydrogen electrode should be made from a "perfectly unattackable" metal: on page 25 that it is absolutely essential that this metal be in equilibrium with its ions; but further down on the same page we find that practically it does not matter whether there are any metal ions present in the solution or not. Figure 2, page 17, shows oxidation-reduction curves with finite intercepts on the potential axis at zero oxidation. Equations on pages 40 and 82 fail to balance. Chapter IV gives a table of visual oxidation-reduction indicators overlapping to cover an extended range. Subsequent chapters discuss the significance of the oxidation-reduction potential in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, brewing, vinification, milk products, baking, paper-making, tanning, photography, metallurgy, and agriculture. The volume closes with a classified bibliography of over 200 references, mostly to practical applications.
EDWARD S. (ÎILFILLAN*, JR.
r
p h e Alloys of Iron and Carbon. Volume Ι Π. Properties. Frank T. Sisco. Al loys of Iron Research Monograph Series. 777 pages. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York and Tendon, 1937. Price, $8.00.
T H I S book, the eighth of the series of monographs on the alloys of iron sponsored by Engineering Foundation, is the com panion volume to "The Alloys of Iron and Carbon, Volume I, Constitution," by Samuel Kpstein. Although the two are necessary, of course, for a complete dis cussion ôf the role and effects of carbon in steel, the practical usefulness of neither volume is predicated upon a knowledge of the other. Kueh is a complete treatise in itself. The high standard of excellence established by the earlier members of this series has been well maintained, as might be assumed as a matter of course since it is under the authorship of Mr. Sisco, editor of the Alloys of Iron Research Monograph Series. The opening sentence of the book serves to indicate both the importance of the work and the formidable difficulties to be overcome in its execution: "Steel is civilization's most important material and
182
I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY
owes its importance idmuist wholly to car bon." T h e primary object of each mono graph is t o provide a critical summary of the world's research in the field covered. As t h e author states i n the preface, the number of printed articles on carbon steels is enormous. The inclusion of all of these in the bibliography and mention of them in t h e text has been impossible and the problem of what could b e omitted has been an acute one. Even after rejection of duplications, condensations, and abstracts, the number was in excesss of 2000. Eight hundred and twenty-two of these are listed in the bibliography and form the basis of the argument presented. To say that the author h a s admirably accomplished his purpose i s to put it mildly. In brief, the purpose has been to establish a base line indicating clearly the engineering and other properties of commercial carbon steels and cast irons with which alloy steels may be compared. After a preliminary chapter dealing with classification of iron allovs, together with a very useful discussion o f the principles un derlying the testing of metallic materials, the mechanical properties of cast steels and variables affecting such properties are dis cussed in two chapters. Three chapters deal with properties of wrought steels in general, hot-worked, cold-worked, and heat-treated, together with a chapter on variables such as effect o>f cross section and grain size. The subject of cost iron is cov ered in three chapters. The remainder of the book, approximately one-half, is de voted to special properties not included in the earlier chapters, such JUS fatigue, corrosion resistance, effect of temperature on properties, elastic properties, and a chapter o n important practical properties, such as wear resistance, ranch inability, weldability, and deep-drawing. In keep ing with the practice followed in earlier monographs, each chapter ends in an "author's summary"—one of the most helpful features of the book. To those already fiimiliar with the Alloys of Iron Research Monograph Series nothing further need b e said concerning the new monograph. It is really indis pensable in the series. To engineers and general users of steel, this book can be rec ommended as one of in.ten.se practical in terest and value.
umulative Index. Journal of the Cumes Optical Society of America. Vol 1 to 25, 1917-1935. 130 pages.
VOL. 15. NO. 8
Activities o f t h e Explosives Division, U. S. Bureau o f Mines N ITS annual report for the fiscal year Published b y the American Institute of 1936, just issued as Report of InvestiPhysics, Inc., 175 Fifth Ave., New York, N. V., for and under the editorial super gations No. 3337, the Explosives Division of the Bureau of Mines describes its labovision of The Optical Societv of America. ratory and field studies of explosions, exPrice, $2.00. plosives, ignition, and combustion, t o T H I S index, both author and subject, gether with related problems, such as covers the Journal of the Optical Society of cause and prevention of fires and certain America from 1917 t o 1935, inclusive, and fundamental scientific questions bearing the section on Scientific Instruments pub upon the determination of the chemical lished as part of the journal from 1920 to and physical mechanisms underlying some 1930, inclusive. of the important phenomena encountered. It is bound in yellow cover stock simi The work on explosives is concerned lar t o that used for the journal, and the chiefly with determining their safety and pages are the regular journal size. Those permissibility for use in coal mines, and, interested in this particular subject will to a lesser extent, in metal mines, tunnels, find the index invaluable. Its publication quarries, and other engineering operations. lias l>een made possible by a special con Testing methods are now undergoing extribution to the Optical Society by the haustive scrutiny. Hansen and Lomb Optical Co. Knowledge of the pro|>erties of explosive gaseous mixtures is extremely important, particularly the conditions under which A c h e m a VIII such mixtures may lie rendered nonexplosive. One unit of t he division is engaged r ρ HOSE interested may obtain without in determining the limits of inflammaI charge an illustrated prospectus and bility of mixtures of combustible gases or invitation to attend the Achema VIII, vapors with air. They also are studying which is the chemical engineering expo mine fires and conditions in conduits that sition to be held July 2 to 11, 1937, in may lead to explosions. Another unit is Frankfort-am-Main. This is concurrent carrying out significant studies of the kiwith the National Congress of Cîerman netics and mechanism of gaseous explosions. Chemists, the semicentennial general The attack is along three lines—spontameeting of the Verein deutscher Chemi- neous inflammation, flame propagation, ker, and also other meetings of scientific and the state of the burned gas. Copies and technical societies. The prospectus of the report can be obtained from the describes the purpose of the exhibit, IT. S. Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. the type of displays assigned to each of tlie several halls, and gives a list of those concerns which already have contracted ( l l i e m i c a l O b j e c t i v e s for 1937 for space. Α τ THE 250th Broadcast of the North~t\. eastern Section of the AMERICAN Proceedings o f Highway CHEMICAL SOCIETY, a paper by George Research Board Shannon Forbes, professor of chemistry r at Harvard University, was given, en P H E Proceedings of the Sixteenth Annual titled "Some Chemical Objectives for JL Meeting of the Highway Research 1937." This paper attracted considerable Board will be available for distribution about April 15, 1937. Copies may be ob- attention, and was published in full in the Xucleus. Copies of this particular tained at $1.75 each ($2.25 in cloth bindbroadcast may be had by addressing ing) from the Highway Research Board, John Seaverns, chairman, Broadcast Com National Research Council, 2101 Constitumittee, 99 Broad St., Boston, Mass., and tion Ave., Washington, D . C. On orders enclosing 10 cents to cover postage and mailed before April 15 a discount of 25 cost. H. S. RAWOON cents per copy will be allowed. The articles contained in the volume have to do with finance, highway transPanorama of Lubrication portation economics, design, materials Review of Aluminum Industry r and construction. Maintenance, traffic | ^ H i s is» the title of a series of handsome and safety, soils investigations, and road J. booklets, the first three of which have ANY of our readers know the soil stabilization. been published bv the Shell Petroleum Monthly Review oj Industrial Prog Corp., Shell Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. These ress which is published by The Times booklets are informative and are not (London) under the title Trade & Engi Deuterium Bibliography flavored with advertising appeal. They neering. This publication for March, 1937, take up in some detail the facts of lubrica in addition to dealing with the topics cus T WILL be recalled that the librarian of tion under many conditions and discuss tomarily found in it, lias a 60-page section the School of Chemistry and Physics. the various points involved in any lubri having to do with the aluminum industry Pennsylvania State College, has made cating problem. They are well illustrated throughout the world. available from time to time a bibliography in color and the text is straightforward and This is believed to b e the first internaon deuterium, as announced in former informative. tional number ever published in connec N E W S EDITIONS. T h e supplement for tion with the aluminum industry, and The various sales offices and representa 1936, which has been compiled by Margadeals with all aspects o f it. Thefirstar ret tives of the company have copies available Zerbey, is now ready for distributicle is b y A. V. Davis, chairman of the tion E.and to distribute to industrial, transportation, copies are available at the Liboard of the Aluminum Co. of America, and utility firms and t o students. Ar brary, Pennsylvania State College, State and i s a history of the rise of a new indusrangements can also be made to have College, Pa., for 50 cents each. The try—the coming of aluminum. There names placed on the permanent mailing present supplement is one of 29 letteris a considerable number of articles dis list. Inquiry should be addressed t o the sized pages. cussing all phases of the industry from raw Shell Petroleum Corp., St. Louis, Mo. materials to finished products and their multitude of applications. Part of the Wheat Germ material is devoted to developments within WALTER J. BAEZA, president of the In certain nations, while other papers have HEAT GERM*' is the title of a pamdustrial Research Co. of New York,
