THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK C & E N REPORTS: Textile Research Institute
N e w Rayon's Fiber Structure is Close to Natural Cellulose French researchers find w a y to produce r a y o n without disorganized fibers French researchers without disorganized fibers N E W Y O R K . - B X is the designation given to a new rayon fiber which mure closely approximates natural cellulose than anything developed heretofore. T h e fiber was discussed for the first time before the annual meeting of the Textile Research Institute h e r e Nov. 17 and 18. T h e rayon, which resulted from re searches conducted at t h e Comptoir des Textiles Artificiels in Paris, France, will be shortly placed in production at a new plant there and exported to the United States. T h e development was described by Leonard Soep and Nicolas Drisch oi the French research organization, and their paper indicated that the new rayon is currently in pilot plant production oi about 100O pounds a clay. Aim of t h e Comptoir researchers was to obtain cellulose fibers of improved struc ture. Mr. Drisch said that in the conven tional cellulose xanthate procedure lor viscose rayon, employing carbon disulfide, the structure of the natural cellulose is completely disorganized. T h e experi menters sought to eliminate this destruc tion or obtain at least a limited degree oi disintegration. "Rebuilt" Structures. This would per mit the rebuilding of molecular structures in the fiber and result in a product con taining fibrils which are present in natural cellulose. Carbon disulfide used in the viscose process causes the formation oi hydrophyllic groups on t h e end-fringes of tin· strut lure I'lements. These attract wa ter molecules, lesulting in swelling and chain separation. The research therefore was aimed to ward the production oi xanthate disper sions wherein the carbon disulfide did not adversely affect the internal fiber structuie, where the initial molecular associa tion is highly preserved, and where short chains were» absent. "It has been confirmed that it is feasible to obtain cellulose xanthate dispersions oi this kind," Mr. Diisch stated. "These dis persions h a v e a marked structural vis- osity, but nevertheless they can be filtered ami spun. T h e y n e far nearer to gels than to real colloidal solutions. From the xanthate jellies fib*τ stna hires may be obtained having a submit rosf more education and moie tech C Η ΕΜ IC A L
nology lor t h e l u t i n e rvas mad·· by K. II. Vojwiler, Abbott Laboratories' president. The Monmouth meeting was built around a series of six discussion groups. \V. S. H a l d e m a n . Monmouth College, ver\ed as general chairman, and F d w a r d L. Haeniseh, Wabash College, served a . conteience diiectoi. It was alter t h e informal meetings of these discussion groups that a motion was m a d e lrom t h e floor to form a permanent teachers' organization, with annual meet ings lot discussion «if mutual problems. \)i. Haciiist h was named chairman, and Ben T. Shawver, Monmouth College, was m a d e secretary. | ) r , Lewis invited t h e gionp to convene at the Institute of Laper Chemistry in Appleton, Wis,, next fall. A Ν D ΕΝ G Ι Ν ΕΕRΙ Ν G
NEWS
THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK dustrial alcohols a n d other solvents from petroleum; and development of chemical, physical, a n d electrical methods of using lower grade raw materials as we exhaust our available supply of t h e b e t t e r grades. Administrative Problems. T h e discussion group on administrative problems a g r e e d that in order to attract m o r e high school students to t h e study of chemistry in college it was important t o make m a n y personal visits and contacts with high school instructors and high school stud e n t s . T h e emphasis should b e on the cultivation of p r o p e r interests and attit u d e s rather t h a n on rigidly specifying t h e m a n n e r of preparation for college. T h e group agreed that to have t h e best and most interesting teacher at work on the general chemistry course is almost a
VOLUME
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the
AMERICAN
C H E M I C A L S O C I E T Y to
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dress questionnaires to various industries inquiring as to their willingness to s u p port research in small colleges. General Chemistry. One of the largest discussion groups w a s t h e g r o u p in general chemistry. On the subject of chemistry problems, there seemed to be general agreement that student difficulty was not in mathematics as such, b u t in t h e lack of ability to analwc the "problem—or, simply, inability to think.
A New High in Metering Efficiency
Garrett \V. Thiessen, chairman of the Monmouth c h e m i s t r y d e p a r t m e n t , presided over the e v e n i n g session of the conference Research and Teaching. In his address before t h e g r o u p , Dr. Lewis visualized three alternatives as the college chemistry teacher looks at research: research or teaching, research and teaching, or research in t e a c h i n g . H e strongly recomm e n d e d research and teaching, pointing out t h a t industry was willing to back projects of merit. He offered to help t h e colleges make contacts with industry for such research grants. Lewis called attention to grants m a d e b y the Research Corp., pointing out that already 2 5 0 institutions in 48 states have received such funds. l i e also mentioned the possibility of grants from the Atomic Energy Commission a n d from t h e Office of Naval Research. P e r s p e c t i v e Important. Important o b jectives of t e a c h i n g w e r e listed by Dr. Garrett. A m o n g them w e r e : knowledge of organic and physu :A processes, and awareness of their impact; training in t h e use of t h e scientific method and a perspective of w h a t can he expected of science; and conviction that science is power. E m p h a s i z i n g perspective, Carrett said that if science was to continue to develop effectively, a n d be a constructive asset to civilization, i* must have the support of a clear u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the basic principles and m e a n s of dealing with the problems of h u m a n relations. More Education and Technology. Tin· philosophical aspect was also touched on by Or. Volwiler. " W e can agree that the teclmologisjp must share with all others the responsibility for national actions; but he deplores t h e misuse of his discoveries as m u c h as anyone else. History has shown that w a r s are begun and fought with w h a t e v e r weapons are at hand, and it is hardly realistic to suppose that world conflict would b e avoided if we had less technology," h e said. T u r n i n g to the future, Volwiler foresaw n e w synthetic fibers, new plastics, in-
necessity. This is i n contrast to some of the major universities w h e r e teaching Hist year students is turned over to the younger and lesser qualified staff members. In connection w i t h research in t h e liberal arts college, the discussion group recommended that t h e conference request
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V O L U M E
3 0,
NO.
48
DECEMBER
1,
1952
CHEMICALS
5059
THE CHEMICAL WORLD THIS WEEK On the course content, t h e teachers agreed that a n element of history was im portant; that physical chemistry should be oi a descriptive nature rather than vigor ously mathematical in approach, and that about 1 0 % of t h e time should be spent on organic. The teachers felt that one three-hour laboratory period was a more economical and satisfactor> use of time than two two-hour sessions. Analytical Chemistry. T h e teachers in the analytical group felt that qualitative analysis could best b e offered as a sepa rate one-semester unit provided during the first semester of the sophojnore year. The group agreed that this particular course was not necessary tor nonchemisti> majors and that a somewhat briefer tieatment of qualitative analysis during the latter half of the second semester oi general chemistry wa.s adequate. In a course in instrumental quantita tive analysis, the teachers felt that sub ject matter should iiu hide: potentioinetrie titrations, electroanalysis, colorimetry, and spec-trography. Radiochemical techniques in analytical courses were not being used by any of the teachers and the feeling was that they are hetter for giaduate schools. Recommendations coming irom the dis cussion group on organic chemistry in cluded: two years of college chemistry should be a prerequisite for organic chem istry; a new organic problem book with answers should be prepared, and the use of safety glasses at all times should be re quired in t h e organic laboratory. Physical Chemistry. T h e teachers of physical chemistry reported that pressure could be relieved on crowded study schedules by more detailed treatment of various subjects in other courses. They suggested that courses in analy tical chemistry give more emphasis to the study of ionic equilibria, pi I. colloids, electrochemistry, redox potentials, and in strumental analysis. And in the physics course they suggested more emphasis on quantum mechanics, subatomic phenom ena, and statistical analysis. Curriculum. The important part of the discussion on curriculum centered around the ACS accreditation program. T h e gen eral feeling was that the ACS accredita tion serves to stimulate the quality of chemistry taught in colleges. However, a number of the teachers strongly protested the practice of the Society oi sending lists of ACS-appruved colleges to high school graduates.
Correction It has been called to the editor's atten tion that improper credit was given for the work on vitamin D which was presented before the Animal Nutrition Research Council meeting (CfcEN. Oct. 13, page 4 2 5 8 ) . Actually, the work was done by B. B. Migicovsky, University of California, and the paper was presented by D. 11. Laughland because of Dr. Migicovsky**» inability to be present at the meeting.
5060
These five members of t h e d u Pont family, relaxing b e t w e e n court sessions, are Pierre S., Henrv B., Irenee, and Pierre S. du Pont III, and Hugh R . Sharp, Jr.
INDUSTRY
Du Pont Called Largest Single Concentration of Economic Power Defendants charged with mutual markets and intentional restraint of trade CHICAGO. —In what could easily prove the most crucial antitrust cas»· in t h e his tory of the I'nited States, t h e Federal Government on Nov. IS started proceed ings here agam-t tht* du Pout empire — naming as defendant*- Κ. Ι. du Pont d e Nemours et Co., General Motors Corp., I'nited States Rubber Co., Christiana Se curities Co.. Delaware Healtv & Invest ment Corp.. Aud some 11") individual mem bers of the du l'ont family. The trial is the result ot proceedings initiated more than three \ ears ago. On June K), 1949, the ( .o\ eminent filed its suit aimed at breaking up what S u p r e m e Court Justice Turn C. ('lark, then Attorney General, has • ailed the "largest single concentration ot mmnniii
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trict Court for the Northern District ot Illinois, the defense counsel charged that the C o \ eminent, in working u p its charges, has entirely ignored "the· nature 1 present trade and commerce a m o n g t h e three manufacturing corporations," and th.it even m its references to allegedly monopolistic· practice·* as far hack as the early twenties and beyond, it has depended on "isolated and unrelated episodes--indeed, tragmenFederal J u d g e Waller LaBuy, here in his chambers, is presiding over the anti trust suit against the du Pont interests
p o w e r i n t h * · I ' n i t e d Stiltes."
There is little doubt that Justice Clark η as correct m his description ut the tin Runt network's si/f a n d strength, t h e ques tion to he deeid
