with sulfuric acid or with chlorine and the further treatment of the intermediate product with caustic soda. T h e reaction mixtures in both steps are corrosive in nature and the second step requires high temperature. Both of these factors tend toward high plant costs and high depreciation rates. Were a way found t o use the oxygen of the air and combine it directly with the benzene, probably by means of an as y e t undiscovered catalyst, we would not only have no need for the plants to produce the inorganic chemical»—caustic soda and chlorine or sulfuric acid—but the synthesis plant would b e simpler and cheaper than those of the present technology. It is easily conceivable that such technological advance would reduce the capital costs per ton of resin to around the $300 figure required per ton of steel and make the same amount of capital, production-wise, go about three times as far as at present. It would have a further effect that the simplicity of the process would reduce labor substantially in the production of phenol and eliminate entirely the labor, utilities, overheads, and raw products of the mines used in the materials now used to add an atom of oxygen. A very substantial reduction in the costs of phenol itself above the capital saving would inevitably result and, of course, this would be reflected in the selling price of resin. Such reduction would undoubtedly be a great stimulus to further uses and would result in a growth
of the phenol resins at a substantially greater rate than has as yet existed. The possibility of such improvements is not academic. All our phthalic anhydride, another resin material, is produced by a process where oxygen from the air is reacted with naphthalene, using a catalyst which lasts without replacement for 10 or more years. Had phthalic anhydride depended on the old prior process using sulfuric acid to carry the oxygen, the large alkyd resin production we have today would never have come into existence. There are, of course, limits to the extent to which technological advance can continue to reduce capital and operating costs. Old established products such as sulfuric acid and soda ash have developed over the years to a point where further improvements are of necessity minor in nature and not likely to cause the obsolescence of the methods and equipment now in use. T h e same static condition may be eventually expected for most large tonnage chemicals with major changes depending on t h e variability in basic raw material costs. Quite a few of the raw materials required b y the synthetic resiD and plastic industry are approaching thi^ condition and further improvements depend on devices to save labor which, in itself, will require substantial further capital expenditures. In any case, regardless of the technological progress which is reasonably to be expected, it seems that the major
retardant effect on the chemical industry is the scarcity of equity capital. Of course chemical industry is not alone in this respect since need of further capital exists to a greater or lesser degree in all industry. The chemical industry, however, is peculiar in that at all times a substantial part of the operations is in the position of a brand new industry with the high rate of obsolescence which such a position entails. Therefore, plants must be charged off at a considerably higher rate than allowable for tax purposes, if industry is to keep itself in a financial position to take advantage of the improvements which research and development invariably bring into existence. If the factor of unrecognized obsolescence is combined with a heavy factor of debt, a very serious situation could develop in any extended period of recession in business activity. If equity capital can not be obtained, a slower growth would be a healthier condition for the long pull. Our tax laws should be made to recognize this factor of obsolescence in the same general way ae was used in amortization of essential wartime facilities.' This would greatly encourage the construction of new plants. Equity capital, in the chemical industry especially, must be encouraged in every way reasonably possible. Otherwise the advantages which accrue from a changing, ever-progressing, and increasing industry will not be available for the general good of the Ampriean public
Record Number of Papers to Be Heard at Atlantic City Meeting A. NEW high in number of papers, presented will be reached at the 116th ACS Meeting in Atlantic City, Sept. 18 t o 23, when 1,064 scientific offerings will be laid before the N convention. T h e trend toward specialized groupings and s y m posia on specific topics continues t o increase with 43 programs being directed along specified lines. T h e High Polymer Forum, as usual, is the symposium drawing the cooperation of the greatest number of divisions. A large program of 33 papers is being offered pertaining t o high polymers this year through the combined efforts of the Divisions of Cellulose ; Colloid ; Organic ; Petroleum; Physical and Inorganic; Rubber; and Paint, Varnish, and Plastics Chemistry. Paul O. Powers, of the last group, is the chairman this year. T h e papers cover a wide range of topics in the polymer field. Particular attention is given to descriptions of new polymers, including vinyl polymers of long-chain fatty acids, polyvinyl sulfonates, and the V O L U M E
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NO.
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»
ester lactones. Several papers are offered on t h e correlation of physical properties with the structure of plastic materials and considerable interest is shown in copolymerization studies and the related depolymerization process. Studies reported on the mechanical and electrical properties of plasticized polymers will show that the over-all length of the molecules determines the properties in compatible systems. It will be shown that in polystyrene the number average molecular weight measures many of the properties quite well and the distribution of molecular weight is not critical. In polyethylene it is found that the molecular weight determines the strain energy above —20° and the torsional and tensile values agree well. Vinyl esters of long chain saturated fatty acids are shown to polymerize readily while the unsaturated esters polymerize less readily and form lower polymers. Other subjects in the high polymer group include multilinked polyamides.
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whose behavior is compared with vulcanized rubber; it is shown that the size of the networks determines the physical properties as it does in synthetic rubber. Turbidimetric methods will be shown to orSr promise in showing the distribution of polymer bands in plastic materials. A new polymer containing free aldehyde groups will be described as a water-soluble film-forming material which can be insolubilized by heating. A description of nonradical mechanisms will offer evidence of carbonium and carbanion mechanisms. An extensive range of other topics promises a polymer forum of exceptional interest this year. Paint9 Varnish, Plastics Twelve papers will be offered by the Paint and Varnisk group dealing with protective coatings. Four of these deal with polystyrene: copolymerized with butadiene in flat paints, reacting with drying oil fatty acids and dehydrated castor oil, and in alkyds compared with 8549
those of ordinary type. Light will be thrown on the influence of structure and reaction conditions on the behavior of various phenolformaldehyde resins in in sulating varnishes. Improved flame re sistance in alkyds through the use of tetrachlorophthalic anhydride will be dis cussed. The mechanism of ionization, ionic radii, heats of dissociation, and solvation energies involved in the ioniza tion of metal naphthenates will be des cribed on the basis of conductivity methods studies. An amine additive which prevents the loss of drying power will be reported. Drying oils will be dealt with on Wednesday. The morning session will deal with phenomena related to oxi dation and drying, covering more recent work done on the mechanism of autoxidation of pure fatty acids, constituents of drying oils, action of dryers, effect of temperature variations in blowing linseed oil, and frosting and checking of conjugated oils. The afternoon session will be concerned with chemical and thermal polymerization of drying oils. It will cover kinetics of polymerization of linoleic esters, reaction of resins with drying oils, methods of preparation and properties of copolymer oils prepared by copolymerization of drying oils with monomers such as styrene and dicyclopentad iene. The plastics group will lu-ar a dis cussion of statistical methods for esti mating the useful life of plastics at elevated temperatures and in outdoor weathering. There will be papers on the reaction of phenol with formaldehyde, plasticization and heat stabilization of vinyl chloride copolymer compositions, and the properties of polyethylene com pounded with fillers. Data on the effect of chemicals on polychlorotrifluoroethylene will be presented and an application of this plastic as a filtration medium will be described. Physical and Inorganic The Division of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry leads all divisions in number of papers with a schedule of 157 spread over 10 general sessions and 10 special programs, some of which are shared with other divisions. The Symposium on Critical Phenom ena offers concentrated talent which should produce interesting discussion and conclusions. It will be concerned pri marily with the refinement of theory, various phases of which have been in rather weak condition until now. I t is expected to be of particular interest to those concerned not only with critical phenomena in pure gases, but in mix tures of gases and in solutions as well. Superoxides and suboxides will be dealt with in another symposium offering ma terial with which many chemists are not particularly familiar. The superoxide phase deals with compounds containing 2544
the Ο à ion, of which only the alkali metal compounds have been made in any appreciable state of purity. During the war, potassium superoxide was used as a source of oxygen in rebreathing apparatus. General papers in this division are divided into groups concerned with electrochemistry, inorganic preparations and structure, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and various phase studies. Under kinetics a large number of papers is concerned with radiation chemistry and the use and study of radioisotopes. Other symposia include concentrated electrolytes and fused salts, acid-base reactions in organic chemistry, and the structure of hydrous oxides (jointly with the Division of Colloid Chemistry). The Division of Colloid Chemistry will have many more papers than it has usually presented during recent years. On Monday there will be papers on fibers, which will amount to a continuation of a Symposium on the Structure and Properties of Natural Fibers, held at the San Francisco meeting. Other papers deal with organo-colloid systems, inorganic colloidal materials, preparation and properties of sols and gels of interest in both pure and applied chemistry, adsorption, contact angles, and permeability measurements. Wednesday will offer discussions of the application of colloid chemistry to foaming problems, organo-gels, structure of soap, and detergency. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry A surge in interest in titanium has been conspicuous in recent years. The I&EC Division is offering a symposium on the subject this year to include sessions on the metal as well as compounds of the element. Results of the experiences of the Bureau of Mines, which pioneered the work on ductile titanium metal will be presented in one paper, while another will deal with the metallurgy, showing that the commercially available product exhibits, currently, two or more phases. Three papers will be devoted to descriptions of alloys, including equipment for their preparation. Among the papers devoted to titanium compounds there will be reports on the use of barium titanate for electrochemical purposes, utilization of titanium dioxide in porcelain enamels, photochemistry of titanium compounds, and tetraalkyl orthotitanate as a waterproofing compound. The Symposium on Flameproofing of Fabrics will present the scientific principles underlying the behavior of fabrics at flaming temperatures and methods of evaluating of flame resistant fabrics. Commercial application of flame resistant finishes will be discussed broadly, with a report on a new specific method for durably flaming retarding cellulosic mateCHEMICAL
rials. Statutory requirements and suggestions for future action will be included, A special program on packaging and transportation, a subject not previously given such specific attention before an ACS meeting, is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Sponsored by the marketing group of I&EC, it will deal with the extensive regulatory situation which shippers of chemicals must face in distributing their products to the public. A majority of chemical products may be considered regulatory or "dangerous" in the eyes of the Interstate Commerce Commission, U. S. Coast Guard, and certain state agencies, and stringent requirements have been stipulated, with backing by federal statutes, with reference to packaging, labeling, and transporation. The fluorine symposium will deal with addition reactions of fluoro-olefins, electrochemical fluorination of acids, relative reactivities of fluorine compounds, fluorine sensitized chlorinations and oxidations, and reactions and properties of compounds. Physical aspects treated will include spectra, cleavage by H F , reaction heats, surface chemistry, and evaluations of uses. A Symposium on Security Clearance and the Scientist has been organized to contribute to the elimination, if possible, of some of the misunderstandings and confusion in the minds of many workers concerning the precautions taken by the Atomic Energy Commission and other agencies. Chemical Education The Division of Chemical Education has four symposia to offer. The everpresent problem of the purchase of materials for chemical laboratories will be considered. Half the papers will deal with the views and methods of the manufacturers and sales departments for the three larger divisions of stock: apparatus, chemicals, and glass. The other half will be presented by college and university representatives on the operation of storerooms and the purchase of instrument apparatus. Because of the desire on the part of a number of universities to begin formal training in the use of isotopes and other phases of nuclear chemistry and physics, a symposium on teaching in this field has been arranged. It will consist mostly of reports of the experiences of university people who have been doing this kind of teaching with descriptions of systems and apparatus used. A Symposium on the Place of Inorganic Chemistry in the Undergraduate Curriculum will discuss the problem of the proper place to teach the subject matter of inorganic chemistry to chemistry and chemical engineering majors. This has been brought to a point of attention by the position of many schools which are graduating "chemists" AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
with a poor knowledge of inorganic chemistry. Most of the discussion will be based on experiences and solutions of men active in meeting the problem. T h e newest division—Chemical Litera ture—will also present several special groups of papers. Microdocumentation will be considered as a relief t o the serious space problems of technical li braries. Three systems will be discussed : microfilm; microcards, o n which there are produced photographically 40 to 100 textbook pages on a 3 by 5 inch space; and microprinting. A fourth paper will deal with the effect on library procedure of the use of these systems. A n approach to the sorting and selecting of chemical information will be found in the papers on electronic equipment for chemical information work. Language instruc tion for chemists will be viewed from several points, including texts, teaching methods, and translation problems. Agricultural
and
Food
Chemistry
One of the high lights of the Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry will be the Borden Award address by G. R. Greenbank, who will discuss "The Oxi dation of Dairy Products and Its Effect on Their Flavor." T h e Symposium on Flavor in Dairy Products is directed at better under standing and definition of the various flavors arising in such products. Preser vation is of high importance here and the essence of the problem lies in the preser vation of flavor. Better understanding of this may lead t o concrete improve ments and such is the aim of the program, The Symposium on Economic Poisons is directed particularly at finding out more specifically the characteristics of some of the newer insecticides from the standpoint of their efficiency and their relative toxicities when carried over in small quantities as residuals in foods. A program on B12 and related factors will deal with factors relating to Bu determination and with the relation of this vitamin t o the growth and repro duction of various species of animals and relations of this factor to other necessary nutrients. In the fermentation group papers will deal with submerged fermentation, factors in penicillin and streptomycin production, pilot plant studies, and related subjects. Other antibiotics considered will b e chloroamphenicol and circulin. Three papers will be devoted to the subject of oxygen transfer and the production of biologically sterile air on an industrial scale. Zerban
Honored
The Division of Sugar Chemistry and Technology will honor F . W. Zerban, head of the N e w York Sugar Trade Laboratory, and co-author, with C. A. Browne, of the book "Physical and
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Chemical Methods of Sugar Analysis." T h e dinner will be held Wednesday e v e ning. T h e program of the division con sists of a group of general papers. How ever, a Symposium on Carbohydrate Metabolism will be sponsored jointly by this group and the Division of Biological Chemistry. The high light of this sym posium will be the Paul-Lewis Labora tory Award address by Henry A. Lardy, who will speak on "Variations on a T h e m e by Embden and Meyerhof." Among new results reported here will be an explanation of the inhibition of glycolysis by L-glyceraldehyde through its condensation to sorbose-1-phosphate, which interferes with the enzymatic phosphorylation of glucose. Another symposium under the Division of Biological Chemistry is that on mam malian protein and amino acid require ments. The purpose of this session is to clarify the practical significance and implications of available measurements which are nearly always secured with experimental diets and conditions seldom encountered by the mammals in normal life. A special feature connected with this group of papers will be the Garvan Medal address, by Agnes Fay Morgan, who will talk on "The Effect of Certain Vitamin Deficiencies upon Adrenal Cor tical Function." What is intended to be the first of a series of symposia on clinical chemistry will be sponsored by the Division of Biological Chemistry, with subjects in cluding analytical clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, insulin action, and mineral metabolism. Irving M . Klotz will deliver the Eli Lilly Award address, on "Some Specific Interactions of Ions with Proteins," be fore the Biological Division's Symposium on Protein Interactions. Other symposia will be held on the physical chemistry of proteins, on amino acids, and enzymes. Medicinal
Chemistry
A reawakening of interest in drugs for noninfectious diseases and a continued interest in antibiotics will be found in the program of the Division of Medicinal Chemistry. Muscle-relaxing compounds and antihistaminics will be discussed. A review of the action of methadon and some of its derivatives point in the direction of better use of analgesics. A new antibiotic active against fowl coccidiosis will be reported. Statistical evaluation of clinical data and the patent situation in the drug field are also sched uled for examination. Richard T. Arnold will deliver the ACS Pure Chemistry Award address before the Division of Organic Chemis try. H e will speak on "Steric Effect of Methylene Groups." A distinguished foreign guest, Sir John Simonsen, will talk on "Terpene Chemis try; the Past and the Future" before
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the organic group, in his Fritzsche Award address. With t h e aim of defining the basic fac tors involved in the quantitative esti mation of organic functional behavior, the Division o f Analytical and Micro Chemistry is sponsoring a symposium on the determination of this functionality, to be h e l d Tuesday. The Analytical Division is also co operating with the Division of Petro leum Chemistry and the Division of I n dustrial ajid Engineering Chemistry in sponsorship of a Symposium on Adsorp tion. I t s purpose is to cover broadly the fundamental nature of adsorbents and the various applications of them. T h e papers are classified into four groups: fundamental nature, research applica tions, analytical applications, and com mercial applications. A Symposium o n the Nomenclature of Hydrocarbons is also being sponsored by the Division of Petroleum Chemistry, along with t h e Divisions of Chemical Education, Chemical Literature, and Organic Chemistry. This action comes as the result o f several years of coopera tive work: to eliminate disorder in usage. The papers will explain the systems in use today and in many cases will include recommendations for modifications. Several new proposals will be explained, including the Dyson cipher. The Precision Scientific Award will be presented to Β . Η. Sage at a luncheon on Thursday. D r . Sage will deliver an ad dress on "Status of Thermodynamics in the Petroleum Industry." A symposium, initiated at the sugges tion of t h e National Research Council, is to be sponsored jointly b y them with the Division of Cellulose Chemistry. I t is proposed to discuss all the important ways in which cellulose can be degraded. T h e practical aspects of this subject are of great importance in preservation of cotton clothing, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials. Also sponsored b y the Cellulose Division is a special group o f papers o n textiles. Sulfur in agriculture is the subject of a special group of papers organized under t h e Division of Fertilizer Chemistry. The Division of Water, Sewage, and Sanitation Chemistry offers a S y m posium o n Operating Experiences with Industrial Waste Treatment Works, for the purpose of providing factual oper ating data and experiences in the treat ment of industrial wastes. While the Division of Gas and Fuel Sanitation Chemistry offers a Sym posia, it has organized special groups of papers o n synthetic liquid fuels and on oxidation and combustion. The former will b e concerned with preparation of hydrogen and synthesis gas, mechanism o f coal hydrogenolysis process, and appli cation o f the fluidized bed technique to t h e coal hydrogenolysis process. 2545
