NEWS EDITION
N O V E M B E R 10, 1938
585
The Gadolin Medal E. R. Schierz, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
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N 1935 t h e Society of Finnish Chemists, Suomalaisten Kemistien Seuran, be came especially interested in t h e work of Gadolin. I t decided t o honor him a n d make known t o t h e world t h e achieve ments of this great Finnish chemist. Early t h e next year there appeared a brief biographical sketch a n d an appre ciation of Gadolin, b y Tomula ( / ) . T h e society on M a y 16, 1936, established t h e Gadolin Fund t o stimulate a n d sup port research in chemistry, and decided t o award t h e Gadolin Gold Medal for achievement in this field. T h e medal is 60 m m . in diameter.
T h e medal will not be awarded in t h e present year. We are able t o print t h e accompanying ictures through t h e courtesy of E . S. omula.
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1. Ten pounds of Gel va 7 polyvinyl acetate and 10 pounds of Gelva 2.5 poly vinyl acetate are dissolved in a mixture of 10 pounds of toluene and 10 pounds of ben zene, the solution is emulsified with 25 pounds of a 4 per cent aqueous solution of water-soluble methyl cellulose known a s Colloresin DK, and 15 pounds of water are added. 2. Eighty pounds of an emulsion of poly merized methyl acrylate. T h e fabric is impregnated on both sides with a total q u a n t i t y of 80 t o 100 per c e n t of t h e mixture calculated on t h e weight of t h e fabric, then dried a n d employed a s a n interlining between two layers of fabric, such a s cotton poplin.
Gust. Komppa 1867— Literature Cited
Ossian A s c h a n i860— T h e medal is t o be awarded principally t o Finnish chemists, b u t provision h a s been made t o make its award t o foreigners possible (2). I t is t h e only one in Fin land offered as a reward for accomplish ments in chemistry. T h e society con siders t h e medal a symbol t h a t unites past research with t h e research progress of t h e Finnish chemists of today. In Helsinki, on October 13, 1937 (£), before a large assembly t h e first Gadolin Medal was awarded t o Gust. K o m p p a a n d Ossian Aschan. There were present, besides members of t h e society, official representatives of t h e Finnish Govern ment, of universities, of technical insti tutions a n d other colleges, of scientific a n d technical societies, kinfolk of Gadolin,· a n d university students. T h e program consisted of a brief address upon t h e life a n d work of Gadolin b y E . S. Tomula, followed b y an account b y Niilo S. T o i vonen of t h e work of t h e recipients of t h e medal. A. H . Cajander, Prime Minister of Finland, a former student of Aschan, presented t h e medals.
mixed with a polyvinyl resin o r mixture of polyvinyl resins of low softening point— polyvinyl acetate or a polyvinyl a c e t a t e aldehyde condensation product. I t is essential t h a t upon normal ironing t h e resin shall not penetrate t o t h e exterior of t h e fabric. Penetration can b e avoided by employing a resin composition whose softening point is such t h a t it becomes a d hesive without becoming fluid a t normal ironing temperature, a n d b y restricting t h e amount of resin t o t h a t necessary t o secure adhesion. T h e most suitable quantity depends t o some extent upon t h e nature of t h e fabric a n d can readily b e determined b y simple preliminary tests. T h e use of mixtures of acrylic resins a n d polyvinyl resins is of particular advantage, it is claimed, since a composition of t h e most suitable softening characteristics can be readily secured b y adjusting t h e rela tive proportions of t h e two resins. I t is necessary also t h a t a resin composition b e chosen which is n o t too stiff when cold. If a polyvinyl resin is used alone t h e handle of t h e collar is too stiff a n d papery. If a n acrylic resin is used alone t h e softening point m a y b e rather high, although t h e degree of stiffness when cold is satisfactory. Another important advantage of t h e process lies in t h e fact t h a t n o solvent is required for securing softening and a d hesion of t h e interlining. T h e resinous compositions employed are resistant t o mild alkali such a s is used in laundering. A typical example is a cotton fabric which is impregnated with a mixture of t h e following emulsions:
(1) Tomula, E . S., Suomen Kemistilehli, 25 (1936). (2) Ibid., A 9, 0 0 (1936). (3) Ibid., A 10, 101-13 (1937).
A 9,
Presented before the meeting of the Division of the History of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, Milwaukee, Wis.. September 5 to 9. 1938.
Resins for Laminated Fabrics C. I I . S . T u p h o l m e , N e a e h a m Hill, Duckcnfield, Surrey, E n g l a n d o THAT laminated fabrics, such a s are used for collar cloths, should have S laminations capable of being separated during washing in order t o facilitate ade quate cleaning, t h e Bleachers' Association has patented t h e use, between t w o layers of nonimpregnated fabric, of a fabric interlining stiffened b y a thermoplastic resin composition which will soften on washing a n d become stiff again after iron ing. T h e composition is a mixture of acrylic and polyvinyl resins, and consists of a polymerized derivative of acrylic acid or of α-methyl or α-ethyl acrylic acid, such as t h e methyl or ethyl ester, preferably
T h e Gasification o f Solid Fuels by Oxygen under Pressure Editor, News Edition: HE interesting resume of t h e operation
T TION, 16, 535 (October 10, 1938) 1 omitted of Lurgi gas-generators ( N E W S
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one of t h e points of greatest interest—viz., t h e solid fuel used may have t h e size 2 t o 5 mm. Brown coals in Saxony normally are graded as follows: Aim. >5 2 to 5 1 to 2 Ο 5 toi < Ο.δ
Per cent 30.2 56.8 3.5 0.7
0.8
Preliminary drying t o a water content of 4 per cent is required, b u t this con sideration affects1 lignites rather t h a n bituminous coal. W. F . FARAOHBR 1608 Walnut St. Philadelphia. Pa. October 13, 1938 » Berthelot, Chimie (1938).
Λ industrie,
40, 444-5
