I/EC
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
CONTENTS COPYRIGHT
1958
R E S E A R C H
MAY 1958 BY
THE
AMERICAN
D E V E L O P M E N T
CHEMICAL
D E S I G N
V O L U M E 50, NUMBER 5 SOCIETY Ν G Ι Ν Ε ΕR
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ISSUED
MAY
6,
• M A R K E T I N G
COVER Microscopic leaks in chemical process equipment are as hard to find as a needle in a haystack. Cover shows methods and equipment availa ble to help you find such leaks. FORECAST Liquid detergents in plastic containers move into the kitchen. . . .Design on a computer—speedy, accurate, and r e p r o d u c i b l e . . . .Solar energy— f a d or revolution? Some important steps are in the o f f i n g . . . .Glass with the workability of plastic is p o s s i b l e . . . .Uranium fuel—straight or premium for your c a r . . . .Pneumatic handling of polyethylene pellets points to a mild r e v o l u t i o n . . . .Commercial production of rare earths to get boost as a result of intensive research
21A
l/EC REPORTS Murmurings at the seaside (San Francisco meeting). . . .Radioactive tracers to boost oil production.. . .Bright future predicted for synthetic tires from p o l y i s o p r e n e . . . .Easy-to-install aluminum jackets to cover in sulated ells solve maintenance problems. . . .Care for radiation poison i n g . . . . Pattern for progress
24 A
50th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE—Fifty Years of Fertilizer Progress K. D. Jacob, U. S. Department of Agriculture
Important advances in the technology of fertilizers have been based on the experience gained through the years
40 A
50th ANNIVERSARY FEATURE—Agricultural Chemicals Leo G a r d n e r , California Spray-Chemical C o r p .
Farm modernization goes hand-in-hand with farm chemicalization to pro duce more food for the world. Getting the bugs out of food is very big business . . .
48 A
HOW TO FIND MICROSCOPIC LEAKS IN PROCESS EQUIPMENT— An l/EC Special Feature Everybody has his own pet method for finding leaks in process equip ment. While each may be effective for a given case, none is likely to be the panacea for all cases. Here are some approaches to the problem. WORKBOOK
53 A
FEATURES
EQUIPMENT A N D DESIGN—Hydrogen Behavior of Metals, A Factor in Selection of Metals for Equipment Fabrication G o r d o n P. K. Chu, Pfaudler Permutit Co.
Structural failure of process equipment often can be traced to dissolved hydrogen in materials of construction. A special diffusion cell has been devised to study the performance characteristic of these metals. . . . 4 A
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1958
59 A
COSTS—Continuous vs. Batch Production James B. W e a v e r and Frank S. Lyndall, Atlas Powder Co.
Continuous operation of a unit may not be the most economical when labor-variable dollars can justify batch operation 61A INSTRUMENTATION—Process Analysis by Thermal Conductivity R. F. W a l l , Monsanto Chemical Co.
Although thermal conductivity is less publicized as process control instru mentation, it is dependable, reasonably cheap, and easy to maintain .
69 A
CORROSION—Glassed Steel for the Chemical Industry D. K. Priest, Pfaudler Permutit Co.
New vistas have been opened to some industries by widespread use of glassed steel; more are certain to come 75 A SAFETY—Chemical Burns, Proper Treatment of S. M . MacCutcheon, Dow Chemical Co.
Water, water, everywhere—for chemical burns, but seldom used in time to prevent serious injury
81 A
PROFESSIONAL SIDE—The Man in Chemical Market Research Richard E. Chaddock, Hercules Powder Co.
A relatively new way to the " t o p " offers interesting work to the engineer searching for a career
97 A
DEPARTMENTS Briefs
9A
Ideas Exchange Column
87 A
New Books
91 A
Readers' Information Service
107 A
New Equipment and Materials
IllA
Alphabetical List of Advertisers
130 A
Hindsight and Foresight
133 A
Editorial
134 A CONTENTS CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
Workbook features (Α-numbered pages) are perforated for your convenience R E S E A R C H
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D E V E L O P M E N T
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D E S I G N
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E N G I N E E R I N G
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M A R K E T I N G
NEXT MONTH Epoxy Plasticizers, Stabilizers, and Adhesives—Symposium Epoxies are coming more in demand astheirsuitabilityto a variety of applications is recognized The Professional Side The man in teaching—academic freedom, consulting, government research, and community activities 50th Anniversary Features Oils, fats, and waxes, animal and vegetable—development of inorganic chem istry since 1 9 0 8 VOL. 50, NO. 5
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MAY 1958
5 A
CONTENTS—continued
CHEMISTRY
AND
CHEMICAL
ENGINEERING
Editor Looks A t
711
A P P L I C A T I O N OF M A C H I N E TO PETROLEUM RESEARCH
COMPUTATION
Engineering Design on α Computer E. J. Higgins, J. W . Kellett, and L. T. Ung . .
.
Computer Use in Pilot Plant Calculations L. S. Stanton, Ε. Β. Reid, and H. F. Mason . . . Computer Analysis of W a x Manufacture and Storage J. E. Borner M a c h i n e Solution of a Boundary V a l u e Prob lem for a Continuous Arosorb Process A. W . Pollock, M . F. Brown, and C. W . Dempsey Multicomponent Distillation Calculations on a Large Digital Computer N. R. Amundson and A. J. Pontinen Continuous Distillation Calculations by Relaxa tion M e t h o d Arthur Rose, R. F. Sweeny, and V. N. Schrodt . .
712
719
721
725
730
737
(End of Symposium) Use of Computers in Reactor Design D. S. Billingsley, W . S. McLaughlin, Jr., Ν. Ε. W e l c h , and C. D. Holland Chemical Cost a n d Profitability 1957. Annual Review. J. B. W e a v e r
Estimation— 753
Recovery of Uranium from Stainless Steel Fuel Elements L. W . Niedrach, A. C. G l a m m , M . E. Brennan, and Β. Ε. Dearing Preparation a n d Carbonates W . J. Peppel
Properties
of
741
the
763
O x i d a t i o n of ferf-Butylcyclohexane to Dibasic Acids w i t h Nitrogen Dioxide W . H. Clingman, Jr., and F. T. W a d s w o r t h . . . .
767
AND
PRACTICE
Thin Films of Polytetrafluoroethylene as Lubri cants a n d Preservative Coatings for Metals V. G. FitzSimmons and W . A. Zisman. . . . . .
781
Control of Degradation in Oil-Extended StyreneButadiene Rubber R. J. Reynolds
785
Uranium Distribution in Pseudowollastonite Slag Edward Young and Z. S. Altschuler
793
Sulfur Compounds as A n t i o x i d a n t s . A n a l o g s of Beta-Alkylmercaptoketones R. B. Thompson, J. A. Chenicek, and Ted Symon .
797
Least Squares Chan-Hui Chou
799
Applications of Least Squares Methods J. B. O p f e l l and Β. Η. Sage
803
Determination of Free Convection Heat Transfer Properties of Fluids J. E. Boberg and P. S. Starrett
807
Chemical Solution of Evaporator Scale N. O . Schmidt and W . S. Wise
811
Effect of Heat Transfer on Flow Field at Low Reynolds Numbers in Vertical Tubes T. J. Hanratty, E. M . Rosen, and R. L. Kabel . . .
815
Liquidlike Properties of Fluidized Systems Junji Furukawa and Tsutomu Ohmae
821
Experimental Determination of Velocity Profiles in a n Extruder Screw Silvio Eccher and A l d o Valentinotti
829
Steady-State Longitudinal a n d Radial Tempera ture Distributions in Internally Heated Finite Wires G . W . Preckshot and J. W . Gorman
837
Phase Equilibria in Natural Gas Systems. A p p a ratus w i t h W i n d o w e d Cell for 8 0 0 P.S.I.G. a n d Temperatures to — 3 2 0 ° F. L. W . Brandt and Lowell Stroud
771
777
849
Correspondence Thermodynamics of Solutions H. W . Prengle, Jr
GUIDE FOR AUTHORS, published in December 1957 issue, page 2093, gives copy requirements to be observed in preparing manuscripts for consideration. Manuscript (2 copies; should be sub mitted to the Editor, 1155 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington 6, D. C. The American Chemical Society assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced by contributors to its publications. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the American Chemical Society. 1958 Subscription Rates 1 yr. 2 yr. 3 yr. Members, foreign and domestic $4.50 $7.50 $10.00 Nonmembers, domestic and Canada 5.00 8.00 11.00 Nonmembers, foreign except Canada 15.00 27.50 40 00 Postage to countries not in the Pan-American Union $2.70 yearly; Canadian postage $0.90 yearly. Single copies: current issues, $1.50 (March and September, issued in two parts, priced at $2.50). Claims for missing numbers will not be allowed it received more than 60 days from date of mailing plus time normally required for postal delivery of journal and clami. No claims
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
THEORY
Alkylene
Cross Linking of Butadiene-Acrylate Polymers by A l k a l i n e Earth Hydroxides W . Cooper and T. B. Bird
6 A
IN
Correction
848 729
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