Wws
INDUSTRIAL and ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
VOLUME 16
Vol. 30, C o n s e c u t i v e N o . 42 Published
EDITION
ARLY in October, the Secretary of Agriculture issued α memorandum wherein it was explained t h a t " t o bring t h e full range of the Department's resources t o bear on each of the major public problems with which we are directed to d e a l " certain changes in organization were to be made to meet new responsibili ties. T h e several bureaus of t h e department have been regrouped into some five main divisions with a view to eliminating un necessary duplication and bringing activi ties of a similar character under one ad ministrative head and into close cooperation with those best qualified to achieve the program of service adopted. Of these groups the one of greatest inter est t o t h e chemist is t h a t of which Henry G. Knight, well known as chief of t h e Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, will be t h e responsible head. Under t h e new ar rangement, t h a t p a r t of what has been t h e Bureau of Chemistry and Soils which deals with t h e latter subject will be associated with t h e Bureau of Plant Industry, and most of t h e activities of t h e Bureau of Agricultural Engineering will be integrated with t h e Bureau of Chemistry. As it will be constituted, t h e reorganized bureau will be particularly concerned with discovering new uses for agricultural products a n d by-products, while a t t h e same time furthering its fundamental research so necessary as a foundation for any satisfactory industrial develop ment. T h e new regional laboratories will be one of Dr. Knight's responsibilities, and as previously announced in our pages N E W S EDITION, 16.461 (August 20,1938) J, Assistant Chief Horace T . Herrick will b e in immediate charge of this very large pro gram. T h e projects t o be undertaken, a s well as t h e location of these laboratories, are still a matter for decision, b u t all in all Dr. Knight and his confreres will have t h e considerable responsibility of spending on t h e order of $6,000,000 annually for t h e benefit of the Nation through activi ties of this greatly augmented bureau of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Agriculture. A change in organization and to a cer tain extent in major objectives seems t o call for a new name, but it is somewhat difficult t o select one t h a t will cover in a short phrase all t h a t the bureau intends t o do. Several have been suggested, such as Bureau of Chemical Technology and Agricultural Engineering. Bureau of Agricultural Technology a n d Engineer ing (each of which is repetitious in its terms and too narrow in describing t h e new work), a n d F a r m Chemurgy (to which o b jection can be raised on t h e ground t h a t t h e word " c h e m u r g y " is not yet understood or accepted, does not properly cover all of t h e bureau's projects, and has even been criti cized with respect t o its etymology). Several generations ago Shakespeare propounded t h e question " W h a t ' s in a
the
HARRISON E . HOWE,
NOVEMBER 10,1938
name? T h a t which we call a rose b y any other name would smell a s sweet." His statement is not questioned, b u t there is ample evidence t h a t in our time a name may be invaluable as a trade-mark, that it often serves as a n unquestioned recom mendation, and even possesses a kind of magic. For more t h a n 75 years the name "chemistry" has been associated with some of t h e most outstanding work per formed for the public by t h e Department of Agriculture. As the work has increased in volume and multiplied in diversity, chemistry has been used as a tool by what ever bureau needed it in t h e solution of a problem. Pure and applied chemistry ave been the basis of the most engrossing activities centered in t h e Bureau of Chem istry and Soils, and just a s other bureaus have used chemistry, so this bureau has used and must continue t o use whatever tools it needs. On previous occasions t h e organization has been changed and some of t h e work has been transferred t o other bureaus. T h e name for t h e new bureau is really important and will mean much in securing additional support, in furthering coopera tion, and attracting interest in its pro gram. W e all want the bureau t o carry on its splendid tradition and indicate in its name not only something of its work but t h e solid foundation upon which this continues to rest. "Soils" has been trans ferred elsewhere and "Engineering" has been acquired. A suitable name, there fore, would surely be found in Bureau of Chemistry and Engineering.
Editor N U M B E R 21
Departmental Reorganization
E
by
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. Formed H E Owens-Illinois Glass Co. and Corn T ing Glass Works announced, a t an exhibit held at the Waldorf Astoria, New York, on November 1, t h e formation of a new corporation—< hvens-Corning Fiber glas Corp. T h e new corporation will manufacture industrial products made from fiber glass, thereby utilizing the research carried on cooperatively by the parent companies. Although it is an independent corporation, no stock will be offered to t h e public, t h e financing being subscribed by the joint owners. Harold Boeschenstein resigned as vice resident and general manager of Owensllinois t o become president of t h e new firm, and Amory Houghton, president and director of Corning Glass Works, will be chairman of the board. Other officers are Games Slay ter, vice president; W . P . Zimmerman, vice president in charge of manufacturing; G. E . Gregory, general sales manager; A. C. Freligh, secretary; and H. K. Winkle, comptroller. T h e exhibit portrayed t h e m a n y in dustrial applications of fiber glass. * T w o 10-horsefMiwrr motors were shown, with and without fiber glass insulation. T h e glass insulation made |M>ssible a reduction of motor weight from 4S0 t o 280 pounds. Glass insulation is not destroyed b y acid fumes or heat due t o overloading, and personnel of the company stated that
?
Fiberglas wool· o n e of t h e n o w g l a s s t e x t i l e s t o bo m a n u f a c t u r e d b y t h e O w e n s C o r n i n g Fiberglas Corp. T h e p i l e of F i b e r g l a s w o o l i n t h e c e n t e r w e i g h s o n l y 22 o u n c e s · t h e s a m e w e i g h t mm t h e m i l k b o t t l e s h o w n o n t o p of t h e p i l e . 577
578
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
motors have been run a t a red heat and a t temperatures of 1000° F . Other products shown were a mulching wool, used to protect plants in winter; turbine blankets; fiber glass insulating cement; bats and blankets for sound insulation of trains, airplanes, ships, e t c ; neon wire insulation; air filters; fiber glass separator plates for batteries; and glass fibers and fabrics. Color, for identification purposes, has been successfully applied to the fibers, but it is not as yet totally wash-fast. An exhibit of products partially developed was included, and contained glassinsulated expansion joints; steam pipe insulation which, by using two-thirds of the usual covering, is expected to give an insulation equal to that of asbestos; and automobile tire cords. The tire cord is expected to add greatly to the life of tires for, being an inorganic material, it is not affected by heat or oxidation. Principal offices of the company will be in Toledo, with the New York offices at 718 Fifth Ave. Other sales offices will be located in Boston, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and San Francisco.
Badger in G e r m a n y
W
L. BADGER, manager of the Con-
• suiting Engineering Division of the Dow Chemical Co. and chairman of the Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry of the AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY, returned a few weeks ago from a most interesting experience in Germany. The trip was undertaken as a guest of the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure and was for the purpose of delivering lectures to the technical staffs of the I. G. plants at Leverkusen, Ludwigshafen, Hôchst, Merseburg, and Bitterfeld, also to give lectures at the Technische Hoc lise hule at Karlsruhe, Munchen, and Braunschweig. lie also appeared before the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure at Frankfort and a t Berlin and conferred with numerous committees and smaller groups. In Frankfort a reception was held for Mr. Badger in the Hall of the Emperors in the Humer. The primary purpose of these appearances was to give these several audiences a greater understanding of what chemical engineering is in the L nited States, how it is taught, and how it is practiced in the various manufacturing plants in the United States. Most of the lectures had to do with the education of chemical engineers, and Mr. Badger presented data concerning his own research by way of illustrating the kind of problems upon which chemical engineers work and ways in which they may attack their problems. The Verein Deutscher Ingenieure has a Division of Process Engineering, a term used to describe what is called chemical engineering in the United States. This division has a committee which is sponsoring such work in the schools and endeavoring to have courses installed in several institutions. The Committee on Process Engineering stated that Mr. Badger's lectures were of great help in clarifying the German ideas, both in industry and the Hochschule, as to what chemical engineering is; and, in particular, in establishing the fact that the chemical engineer does not replace the chemist but cooperates with him.
Hildebrand Awarded Nichols Medal
VOL. 16, NO. 21
Abstracts of A· C. S. M e e t i n g Papers
HE Nichols Medal Jury of Award has ECAUSE some libraries are interested T elected Joel H. Hildebrand, Depart- B in completing their files of abstracts ment of Chemistry, University of Cali- of papers presented at meetings of the fornia, Berkeley, Calif., for the 1939 award, specifically "for his study of the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic roperties of liquid and solid solutions, a eld in which he is preeminent." The award will be made a t a meeting of the
S
New York Section of the AMERICAN CHEMI-
CAL SOCIETY on March 10, 1939, when Dr. Hildebrand will speak on "The Solubility of Noneiectrolytes."
AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SOCIETY,
we
re
port here what is now available. Copies may be had at one dollar each (except for Milwaukee meeting abstracts, which are $1.25 each) from the A. C. S. News Serv ice, Mills Bldg., Washington, D. C , if cash is sent with order. Chapel Hill Rochester Dallas Milwaukee
4 100 100 35
copies copies copies copies
Dorr Receives C h e m i c a l
Industry Medal V. N. DORR, president of the Dorr Co., • Inc.. New York, Ν. Υ., received the Chemical Industry Medal of the Society of Chemical Industry at a joint meeting of the American Section of the Society of Chemical Industry and the New York
J
Section of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SO
CIETY on November 4. This medal was awarded to Dr. Dorr in recognition of his inventions and subsequent world-wide introduction of apparatus and processes in many chemical, metallurgical, and sanitat ional operat ions which have made pos sible low-cost production on a large scale. The medal was presented by Victor G. Bart ram, president of the Society of Chemical industry. In accepting the medal Dr. Dorr discussed "The Influence of the Laws Relating to Research and In vention on Human Progress" and H. C. Parmelee spoke on the life and accomplish ments of the medalist. The meeting was presided over by Wallace P. Cohoe and was held at the Chemists' Club, 52 East 41st St., New York, Ν. Υ., having been preceded by a dinner in honor of Dr. Dorr.
J e w e t t Awarded J o h n Fritz Gold Medal RANK BALDWIN JEWETT, vice president of the American Telephone and Tele F graph Co. and president of the Bell Tele
phone Laboratories, has been awarded the 1939 John Fritz Gold Medal, highest of American engineering honors, for "vision and leadership in science, and for notable achievement in the further ance of industrial research and develop ment in communication." The award is made annually for notable scientific or industrial achievement, by a board composed of representatives of the four national engineering societies of civil, mining and metallurgical, mechani cal, and electrical engineers. C h r i s t e n s e n Awarded
R e m i n g t o n Medal
Paint a n d Varnish C l u b Award r
p H E Federation of Paint and Varnish J. Production Clubs is offering two prizes of $150 each for the best papers on paint and varnish subjects, one tor graduate and the other for undergraduate students. Papers should be on some subject of inter est or importance to the paint and varnish industry and may be on either practical or research problems. They must be in the hands of the Scholarship Committee, Kenneth J. Howe, Chairman, 5-48 46th Road, Long Island City, Ν. Υ., by June 1, 1939. Awards will be made a t the federation's annual convention in October, 1939.
Latin America a n I m p o r t a n t Market for American Médicinale
LATIN AMERICA, which is an
outstand-
i ing market area for American medicinals and pharmaceuticals, increased its purchases of such products approximately 30 per cent last year and accounted for 20 per cent of the total shipped from the United States to all foreign countries during the period, according to t h e Commerce Department's Chemical Division. A total of $3,628,000 worth of medicinal products was exported to these countries in 1937, against $2,770,400 during t h e preceding year. CHARLES H. HUGHES, for many years
research engineer and designer of equipment for the Semet-Solvay Engineering Corp., has resigned to establish a consulting engineering service a t 270 Broadway, New York, Ν. Υ.
January 10 a n d 20, 1938, News Editions W a n t e d HE supply of the January 10 and T 20,1938, NEWS EDITION has been entirely exhausted, and it is there
C. CHRISTENSEN, secret ary of the
fore impossible to send new sub scribers a complete set of back is sues. If members do not plan t o bind the
Remington Honor Medal from the Ameri can Pharmaceutical Association, in recog nition of his contributions to the pro fession of pharmacy. The medal will be presented at a dinner in t he Hotel Pennsyl vania, New York, Ν. Υ., on November 30.
use for these issues, it would be ap preciated if they would forward their copies to the Secretary of the SOCIETY, Charles L. Parsons, 728 Mills Building, Washington, D . C.
• National Association of Boards of H Pharmacy, Chicago, 111., is to receive the
NEWS EDITION and have no further
The AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIBTY assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors to its publications. Published by the AMEBIC AN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Publication Office, 20th Ac Northampton Sts.· Easton. Pa. Editorial Office. Room 706, Mills Building, Washington, D . C ; Telephone National 0848; Cable, Jieohem (Washington). Advertising Department. 332 West 42nd St.. New York, Ν. Υ . ; Tele phone. Bryant 9-4430. Entered a s second-class matter a t the Post Office at Easton, Pa., under t h e Act off March 3, 1879. as 48 times a year. Industrial Edition monthly on the first; Analytical Edition monthly on the 15th; News Edition on the 10th and 20th. Acceptance for mailing a t special rate of postage provided for in section 1103. Act of October 3 , 1917, authorised July 13, 1918. SUBSCRIPTION to nonmembers. INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY complete· $6.00 per year; foreign postage $2.40, except to countries accept ing mail a t American domestic rates; Canada, 80 cents. Analytical Edition alone. $2.50 per year; foreign postage, 0 0 cents; Canada, 20 cents. News Edi tion alone, $1.50 per year (single copies, 10 cents); foreign postage. 60 cents; Canada. 20 cents. Subscriptions, changes of address, and claims for lost copies should be sent to Charles L. Parsons. Secretary, 728 Mills Building, Washington. D. C.
