THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK also presented. Coryell postulated that this phenomenon would indicate a stable configuration with a half-filled nuclear shell. Such a theory would explain the absence of naturally occurring prometheum and radioactive isomers of samarium. The equations presented would also provide a corrective factor which could be applied to existing theory for the prediction of isotope stability which would make it conform more closely to experimental evidence. HyperHne Structure Simon Freed of Brookhaven and M. H. L. Pry ce of Oxford University offered further evidence of the nature of nuclear hyperfine structure. T h e first speaker used absorbtion spectra to investigate these phenomena. His most spectacular data was that obtained from salt solutions at extremely low temperatures where spectra comparable to those obtained from crystals could be obtained. These data augmented by other results indicated convincingly that the energy configurations of metal ions is altered by their environment both in crystals and in solution. Pryce reported some exploratory work on paramagnetic resonance of single crystals in microwave fields. This data also indicated that energy levels were influenced intensively by spin-orbit coupling and the field of the crystal itself. Further interpretations of these results yield additional insight into t h e nuclear structure according to t h e author. By the time the meeting was over the chemists in the group were about ready to agree with one of t h e physicists present who said, "It's about time the chemists were disabused of their oversimplified notions of valance. They've been lucky so far in getting by with it but pretty soon they will have to face the complex facts of t h e real situation/*
C & E N REPORTS: Plant M a i n t e n a n c e Show and C o n f e r e n c e
Production V i e w e d as Key To Ulfimate Victory Improvement and cost of chemical plant maintenance comes in for particular attention C L E V E L A N D . — T h e production capacity of the country's factories is more important for ultimate victory than t h e number of men in the armed forces, Herman W. Steinkrans, Bridgeport Brass Co., told engineers attending the banquet held in conjunction with the annual plant maintenance show and conference here Jan. 15 to 18. Americans will have to li\e for a good many years with a major defense program as a part of their annual effort, the former president of the· I'. S. Chamber of Commerce warned. "All of the strategic- materials that may be needed, and all of the money required, will only help us to become strong if they are intelligent ly used to operate equipment properly installed, properly operated, and properly maintained," he said. Steinkraus pointed out that equipment now being operated at over-capacity rates to fill defense orders will depreciate rapidly and that it would be a grievous mistake to fail to provide an adequate maintenance program designed to make facilities last as long as possible.
Maintenance in chemical plants received particular attention in the conferences held as a part of the show's program. R. A. Bell, American Viscose Corp., described a planned maintenance program incorporating inspection, scheduling of regular work, and the problem of emergency work. With proper inspection and performance of t h e scheduled oiling and cleaning, a reduction in t h e number of emergency jobs should be noted artcr a period of time, h e said. Bell emphasized the importance of cost considerations a n d suggested the establishment of controls for proper evaluation of current work. " T h e cost of maintenance must be continually reduced, and yet at the same time t h e quality of the work must be maintained or improved," he said. A m e t h o d of b u d g e t i n g maintenance utilizing a correlation b e t w e e n maintenance costs and total electric power consumption was presented by D . E. Pierce, General Aniline and Film Corp. Pierce showed h o w a fairly constant labor index,
Class H silicone insulation proves its water resistance in the cut-away motor running half submerged in water. L . A. Gibson, Keystone Lubricating C o . , listens to explanation by D . M . Francisco, Dow-Corning
Butane-Propane Group Discusses Mobilization Activities T h e manner in which members of the National Butane-Propane Association may best cooperate with the Government in its mobilization activities was the principal subject of discussion at a two-day meeting held in Washington, D. C. D u e to the urgency of this subject, the regular quarterly meeting was called off and only the members of t h e association's national affairs committee were present. T h e discussion of the committee members and officials of government agencies interested in t h e production, distribution, and use of p r o p a n e and butane were largely exploratory a n d designed to get a clearer understanding of mutual problems. T w o resolutions were adopted. One favors t h e taxing of cooperatives and the other relates to a code of safe practices for t h e industry. T h e next regular meeting of the entire association membership will b e held at Fort Worth, Tex., on June 12.
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man-hours p e r 1,000 kilowatt hours, could be d e r i v e d from previous records; his charts indicated less than 10% deviation From his inc xx, calculated from 13 year's operation of one of the General Aniline plants. A similar material index, dollars p r r 1,000 kilowatt hours, was also calculated, and use of the two indices gave a sur prisingly accurate method of maintenance cost estimation, Pierce said. A correlation b e t w e e n m a i n t e n a n c e costs and oth-er utilities such as steam a n d water con sumption can also b e found, he said, but these correlations must b e made on an a n n u a l basis—shorter periods introduce errors due to seasonal variations. T h e organizational set-up and opera tion of t h e work order procedure at the Lewistown, Pa., p l a n t of American Viscose Corp. was described by J. A. C u s h m a n . Jr., chief plant engineer. He pointed out that a well planned maintenance pro gram not only kept the plant in good operating condition but also was a big factor in developing better personnel rela tions. Papers presented before the conference ou lubrication t o u c h e d on many of the problems faced by maintenance engineers in chemical plants. "Lubrication in the chemical industry requires that t h e lubri cation engineer h a v e a broad knowledge of t h e m a n u f a c t u r i n g process and e q u i p m e n t together with a detailed understand ing of t h e lubricants he uses and how to apply t h e m effectively," D . F. Hollingsworth, D u Pont Co., told t h e group.
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