RESEARCH
liTMJdrJcid υρτα
MEWIA 4 « ύ Ι ' Κ Ι 4 H i l l ιΤΜ
J WITHOUT INCREASING VISCOSITY VA/itft . » .
ί?!ΐί¥ι*ΐ£3ί*13 ι oavarore «rvwrra ^ a a i t « M 4
iiwaar*.fii i n The addition of o n l y .05% to 3.0% of Marasperse disperses insoluble particles in water suspension and prevents ag glomeration. Viscous pastry- masses become thin freeflowing fluids - . . Settling of suspended solids is prevented o r greatly retarded . . . Slurries are k e p t fluid even with greatly increased concentration of solids. Marasperse dispersants a r e non-hygro scopic, free-flo^ving powders. Use t h e coupon below for additional information a n d samples.
GE Pushes Yttrium Metal can be used b y itself or t o improve physical prop erties o f other metals
JL TTRIUM, which until a few years ago was more or less a laboratory oddity, shows real promise as a con O t - v l s t o r f e ol A m e r i c a n C a n C o m p a n y V—ΡΊΛ—/ struction material for atomic power CHEMICAL S A L t S OEPARTMEKT WENASHA, WISCONSIN plants. And, according t o General Electric scientists, it may also b e useful MARATHON in nuclear propulsion systems for air A Division o f American Can C o m p a n y • C H E M I CAL SALES D E P T . · N I E N A S H A , W I S . g craft. Please send Information File No. C I 19 D • Yttrium, they point out, has a fairly Samples • of MARASPERSE for use i n low absorption cross section, hence has a relatively low tendency to capture NAME thermal neutrons. It has good strength 1 rnwp^NY and relatively low density. In these 1 ADDRFSS respects, it is quite similar to titanium, which makes the metal attractive for
MARATHON Γ&) 4
in using hexone, rather than aqueous solution, in flame photometry. W i t h it, t h e background, or flame spectrum it self, contains C H and C 2 bands at sev eral critical wavelengths. These, Dr. Menis points out, will obscure portions of the desired elemental spectra unless they are eliminated. Fortunately, they can be eliminated by lowering the flame or by excluding the light from t h e luminous inner cone of the flame. Dr. Menis prefers t h e latter method since it eliminates t h e CH and Cj bands from the background spectrum without appreciably decreas ing sensitivity. • Interference. Dr. Menis finds n o spectral interference, by other elements of the rare earth group, for lanthanum, ytterbiuih, scandium, or neodymiurn. This means that these four elements can he estimated by flame photometry in mixtures of other rare earth elements without resorting to separation tech niques. Although some spectral inter ference occurs in all other cases, it is nevertheless possible to estimate other rare earths b y judiciously selecting wavelengths. Europium, for instance, can b e de termined by measuring emissivity at 459 m μ in mixtures containing other rare earth elements except terbium and samarium. And, emphasizes Dr. Menis, even if each of these two interfering ele ments m a d e u p ΙΟΓΥ of a sample which was 40 r ^ europium, spectral interfer ence would cause only a 3r/r error in the true value of europium.
42
C -SEN
NOV.
16.
19 59
aircraft use. Yttrium also can retain relatively large a m o u n t s of hydrogen a t high temperature. The metal can b e use-d alone and as a n alloying agent to malce other metals more durable. In feirrous alloys, it improves oxidation resistance a n d workability. In molten, metal, yttrium can serve as a "getter" t:o scavenge im purities. Information on the properties, fab rication, and potential uses of yttrium and its alloys was p r e s e n t e d in five re ports by GE's Dr. C o y L. Huffinc, Joseph M. Williams, J o h n F. Collins, Karl M. Bohlandcr, and C. Robert Simmons at the a n n u a l meeting of the American Society for ML étais in Chicago. GE's work in this field, sponsored by the Atomic Energy Commission, has been under way since; 1956. Significant strides have been made during the past year, particularly- in methods of purifying and using tlie material fr Making It P u r e r . T h e potential usefulness of yttrium i s becoming more and more evident n o w that t h e metal is available in greatly increased purity —hence with greatly improved ductility. High purity yttrium i s made commercially by reducing high purity yttrium fluoride or chloride with purified lithium or calcium. T h e resulting metal h a s only p a r t s per million of impurities. Research quantities of highly purified yttrium have been m a d e b y starting with relatively pure metal and then using vacuum distillation or solid-state electrolysis. Zone refining, so successful in preparing ultrapure metals for semiconductors, may remove some impurities, but this m e t h o d is not really effective in purifying yttrium, says GE. General Electric itself does not make yttrium. Producers of this metal include the A E C Ames Laboratory in Ames, Iowa; Crane Co. in Chicago; Michigan Chemical in Saint Louis, Mich.; Bureau of [Mines in Albany, Ore.; Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and Lunex Co. in Pleasant Viilley, Iowa. Far from cheap, yttrium sells for about $200 to $300 a pound, depending o n purity7 and quantity-. > Fabricating Techniques. GE's aircraft nuclear propulsion department in Cincinnati h a s d o n e much research on methods of fornxing and fabricating yttrium. Its workability, G E scientists find, is adversely affected b y some impurities, particularly oxygen. O n t h e
: ttl'MWi
\hmmaiMMfflms
Here are a few of the many chemicals that Butyl, offers excellent resistance to: Dimethyl hydrazine Phosphoric acid Sulfuric Acid Red fuming nitric acid Oxygenated solvents
EXCITING Akron
Ci Br methane Ozone Hydrofluoric acid Ammonia Molten sulfur
Enjay B u t y l rubber, due t o its u n i q u e a n d extremely low degree of u n s a t u r a t i o n , offers excellent resistance to corrosive chemicals. Versatile B u t y l i s t h e pre ferred r u b b e r for countless t y p e s of hoses, t a n k linings, gaskets, seals—and m a n y other applications where exacting chemical resistance is requiredB u t y l also offers . . . o u t s t a n d i n g resistance to weathering, sunlight, heat, a n d electricity . . . abra sion t e a r a n d flexing . . . superior d a m p i n g prop erties . . . a n d u n m a t c h e d i m p e r m e a b i l i t y t o gases and m o i s t u r e .
NEW PRODUCTS THROUGH PETRO-CHEMISTRY E N J A Y C O M P A N V , I N C . , 15 West 51st Street, New York 19, Ν. Υ. · Boston · Charlotte · Chicago · Detroit · Los Angeles · New Orleans · Tulsa
Find out how this versatile rub ber can improve your product. Call or write the Enjay Com pany, today!
C H J AY,
iPi
ïft
RESEARCH
/ PREmUCATlOHÏ NEWS!
FAMOUS CHEMICAL REFERENCE Now Greatly Expanded in Size and Scope The first new edition of T H E MERCK INDEX in seven years is now on press. Published on a nonprofit basis to serve the professions, it is completely updated, increased in size, and expanded by 2,300 new chemical monographs. New cross-indexing quickly leads you ίο concise information on any given sub stance—regardless of whether you look it up under brand, generic, or systematic chemical name. Send reservation certif icate now to receive your copy imme diately on publication early in i960.
other hand, small amounts of o t h e r s chromium, aluminum, and vanadium, for example—make it more workable. Yttrium is hazardous to machine be cause it has a tendency to burst into flame spontaneously or in the presence of a spark. For safety reasons, c h i p s from machining should be as large a s possible and are immediately stored in drums or metal containers u n d e r several inches of high-flash-point oil. A very reactive metal, yttrium is ordinarily melted in an arc furnace i n vacuum or in a protective atmosphere. T o date, it has been cast only in ingots about 6 inches in diameter. For some time, commercial yttrium could be reduced only 5 to 10f'< in thickness (by cold rolling) without edge cracking. T h e problem; The metal contained too m u c h oxygen. However, when it contains only 5O0 p.p.m. of oxygen, it becomes ductile enough to withstand a 60 t o 90 f c r e duction in thickness. At 100O a n d 3000 p.p.m. of oxygen, it must gen erally b e worked at about 1650° F . Because yttrium oxidizes rapidly above 1400° F., it must be hot worked in a protective atmosphere or encapsulated. • Alloys of Yttrium. Small percent
ages of yttrium can "spectacularly im prove" steel alloys, says G E . This metal effectively boosts high tempera ture oxidation resistance of iron-based alloys containing chromium. Adding lr'f yttrium to a stainless steel contain ing 2of'f chromium gives the metal the same oxidation resistance at 2500° F. that, without yttrium, it would have a t 2000'" F. T h e iron-chromiumyttrium alloy can b e easily cold rolled and welded. When Sr( aluminum is a d d e d to this alloy and it is heated t o 2600° F., a n oxide coating that is hard, nonchipping, and thermally shock resist ant forms. T h e material's usefulness may be limited, however, because it is hard t o fabricate. Unalloyed vanadium cracks ex tensively when cold rolled and cold pressed. But when 0.5 to 2 r/ r of yttrium is a d d e d , it scavenges the oxygen and nitrogen; vanadium can then be cold rolled to thin sections having only slight edge roughness. Yttrium has great potential a s an alloying agent, G E researchers believe. Its usefulness, they say, d e p e n d s on how well industry translates laboratory findings into high-volume production.
Luxuriously bound · Now contains approximately 1600 pages ^|RESERV^TIONCERjnjF^
m ft!
1
Merck & Co., INC., Rahway, New Jersey Dept. CG-9 «>; I wish to receive the new MERCK INDEX (Seventh Edition) immediately upon publication. Kindly reserve a copy in my name at pre-publication price of SI 1.00. . . . . C h e c k enclosed. . . .Bill me for price of book plus 40£ handling charge.
I
Name. Address.
I
City
m
44
Zone
State
OFFER LIMITED TO PROMPT ACCEPTANCE
C&EN
NOV.
16,
1959
Î Bigger Boron Crystals from Floating Zone Melting Floating zone melting can now b e applied to boron powder, jthanks to D r . E a r l S. Greiner of Bell Telephone Laboratories. O r . Greiner has developed a w a y to coat boron powder with boric acid, now can p r o d u c e strong pressed boron rods. W r ith the method, Bell Labs has made boron crystals up to 0 . 1 in. across.
&M^
NaH Uses
\ht Prices Down!
':.%-• ν'--'.ι!--
IVIHI announces price reduction of over 20% for Sodium Hvdride Oil Dispersion This new price schedule may well justify your switch to sodium hydride for most condensation and alkylation reactions requiring a base! The new lower price of sodium hydride oil dispersion coupled with its reaction effectiveness and ease of handling merit your investigation.
C h e c k this n e w price
simplifies these reactions and brightens the future of glycidyi esters in flavors and perfumes. NaH successfully permits the condensation of ethyl chloroacetate and acetophonone, cyclohexanone, and methyl nonyl ketone. Alkylation of Malonic-type Esters with Alkyl Halides — a lowtemperature reaction that eliminates forcing techniques.
schedule
NaH
10,000 pounds and over* — $.95 per pound . . . 1,000 pound quantities — $1.00 per pound . . . 100 pound quantities — $1.25 per pound . . . Up to 100 pounds — $2.25 per pound . m . *in one year.
NaH
applications
is safe a n d e a s y t o h a n d l e !
MM NaH is available in quantity as a stable 50% mealy dis persion of 5-20 micron crystals in mineral oil. The oil coating is a moisture barrier which preserves activity of the hydride.
include:
Retaliation and alkylation of amines and amides. — Fast reaction that results in high yields . . . especially useful for synthesising tranquilizers and antihistamines. Phenothiazine and 2 amino pyridine, for example, are rapidly alkylated.
Write for complete information or technical service! A 20-page brochure "Sodium Hydride Dispersed In Oil" is available upon request.
Glycidyi Ester synthesis — through Darzen's condensation NaH
ΓΜ 1
P I O N E E R S IN H Y D R I D E
Tji -Metal Hydrides ,_ i j
CHEMISTRY
Incorporated
1116 C O N G R E S S S T R E E T , B E V E R L Y , M A S S A C H U S E T T S
RESEARCH • Induction melting of reactive metals
such as titanium in a water-cooled copp e r crucible is feasible as a production process, according to studies made by Battelle Memorial Institute for MallorySharon Metals. Cold crucible melting offers some potential advantages over consumable arc melting, Battelle says. Among them: continuous melting, uniform product, no n e e d for specially prep a r e d electrodes. Battelle foresees biggest potential for t h e process in production of specialty steels. • Talanta, research journal of analytical chemistry, has set u p a new award —the Talanta Medal, for outstanding contributions to analytical chemistry. The award will have a value of $300 and will be awarded at irregular intervals. Normally, however, it will not be given more frequently than once a year. Pergamon Press, publisher of Talanta, will pro vide the money; a committee of journal editors and members of the ad visory board will make the se^ecti'
VISCOSITY A product dimension as important as Ph, color or stability. Accurate viscositv control turns chance to science — waste to wealth.
BROOKFIELD The n a m e you can depend on when you see it on any viscosity measurement or control instrument.
YOU AND THE CHEM SHOW You are a scientist, the coming Chem Show will be our meeting ground. Booth #855-51 will conveniently show in live operation the Brookfield Viscometran now in use successfully for polymerization end point determination and continuous "in process" viscosity recording. See and try, the famous Brookfield viscometers in a broad range of models, look over the many Brookfield accessories which give the Brookfield viscometer its famous flexibility. At the Chem show, anytime, make Brookfield your first source for viscosity information.
The iporld's standard for viscosity measurement and control
Brookfield know how is yours for the asking without obligation
Wrookffeld
ENGINEERING
LABORATORIES
STOUGHTON 46
C&EN
NOV.
16,
19 59
12,
INCORPORATED
M A S S A C H U S E T T S
• Americans should not aically change their diet—particu· .uty their consumption of unsaturated fatty acids —until all the facts are in, warns Dr. M. K. Horwitt of Elgin State Hospital, Elgin, 111. Lipid composition of the brain, red blood cells, and presumablyother vital tissues can be altered by dietary means. Such changes can produce pathological changes, he points out. • Effects
of
radioactive
fallout
on
man's food supply are being investigated on a long term basis b y scientists at University of Michigan. Argonne National Laboratory and seven agricultural experiment stations across the country are cooperating. Objective: a "base line'* for measuring changes in radiological levels in crops. The study is one of several in this country aimed a t tracing fallout from the atmosphere through man's environment and into t h e body. • Atomic
Energy
Commission
has
awarded 12 new research contracts a n d renewed 4 2 others in the life sciences. Total value: $1.36 million. The contracts are for work in medicine, biology, and the environmental sciences. AKC has also renewed 15 contracts, worth $638,000, for unclassified physical research—including high energy physics, thermodynamics, ceramics, and radiation chemistry.
