The Nineteenth Colloid Symposium Boulder,
*1&m&L!!*!U&^^
Wz-tM
American Chemical
Society 104TH MKKTI.NO.
Buffalo. X. Y., Septem-
ber 7 to 11, 1942. lO.Vrn MEETING. Indianapolis. 1ml.. April 12 to 111, 1943. MMiTii MKKTIN«.. Minneapolis. Minn., fall i if 1943. NATIONAL CHEMICAL KX POSITION AND NATIONAL INIHSTRIAL CHEMICAL C O X -
KKKKNTK. Sherman lintel,Chicago, 111.. November 24 to 29, 1942.
O t h e r Scientific Societies AMKIUCAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL KXCSI-
XEBKS. Netherland Plaza Hotel. Cincinnati, Ohio, November 16 t o 18. Annual meeting. AMKIUCAN
INSTITUTE
OF
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS. Vancouver, 13. C , September 9 to 11. AMERICAN O I L CHEMISTS* SOCIETY. Drake
Hotel, Chicago, 111., October 7 to 9. AMERICAN
PETROLEUM INSTITUTE.
Ste-
vens Hotel, Chicago, 111., November 9 to 13. Annual meeting. NATIONAL
TUTE. 2S.
LUIIRUATINC C R E A S E
INSTI-
New Orleans, La., October 20 to
NATIONAL
PETROLEUM
ASSOCIATION.
Hotel Traymore, Atlantic City, N. .1., September 10 to 18. Annual meeting. N E W ENGLAND ASSOCIATION OF C H E M ISTRY TEACHERS. University of New
Hampshire, Durham, N. H., August 11 to 14. TECHNICAL
ASSOCIATION
OF THE P U L P
AND PAPER INDUSTRY.
Hotel Statler,
Boston, Mass., September 29 to October 1. 1 The list of the SOCIETY'S National Officers and Directors. Editors, members of Council, Divisional and Local Section Officers, Committees, and Chapters of Student Affiliates
appears
in
CHEMICAL
AND ENGINEERING
NEWS three times a year—usually February 10, May 10. ami October 10. The latest list is printed on page 001 of the May 10 issue.
922
Co/o., June 18 to 20,
I N SPITE of travel problems, more than 100 guests registered for t h e Nineteenth Colloid Symposium, held on the campus of the University of Colorado, June IS to 2 0 , 1942. With hut a single exception at lctust one author of every communication was on hand to present his paper. The symposium was opened Thursday morning by Professor Hermann of the Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado. Dr. Heniams of Colorado spoke on a two-path rectilinear electrophoresis cell and Dr. Marton of Stanford surveyed the applications of the electron microscope in colloid chemistry. The Thursday afternoon session was opened with an inspiring address by President Robert L. Stearns of the University of Colorado, who made a special trip from a business engagement in Denver to welcome the guests of the symposium. T h e five papers of the afternoon on t h e general subject "Inorganic Colloid Chemistry" were presented b y Shaw and France of Ohio State, Weiser of Rice, Reyerson of Minnesota, and James of Eastman Kodak Co. The Friday morning session was devoted to five papers under the general subject "Colloidal Electrolytes" given by Marshall of Missouri, McBain and Mrs. McBain of Stanford, Dean of Stanford, and Cassell, consulting chemist, Chicago. The Friday afternoon and Saturday morning sessions were given over to various aspects of "Protein Chemistry". The six pa]x;rs were presented by Hauser of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, N orris of Colorado, Hill of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Ahramson of Columbia, Strain of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Friedman of Oregon State College. The authors who presented t h e 18 papers and their associates who collaborated with them in the preparation of t h e papers are t o be congratulated o n the quality of the contributions which maintained the interest of the group throughout the five sessions. Through t h e kind cooperation of Dr. Lind, the papers will be published during the fall in t h e Journal of Physical Chemistry. The Committee on General Arrangements, with Professor Germann as Chairman, and t h e Committee on Entertainment for Women, with Mrs. Germann as Chairman, provided for the comfort and
CHEMICAL
1942
entertainment of the guests. On Thursday afternoon the visiting ladies were* complimented by a tea at the Germann home and on Friday afternoon were taken to points of intcrest in the vicinity of Boulder Thursday evening all the guests were entertained at dinner in the Boulderado Hotel, followed by a musical program, in the Music Room of the university library, contributed by Professors Jones and Wessel of the College of Music of the university. On Friday evening the guests were motored to the picnic grounds atop Flagstaff Mountain for a steak fry. At twilight the group returned to the campus of the university where they were entertained at a square dance. Program of papers, entertainment, and fine weather combined to make the Nineteenth Colloid Symposium a memorable one for all who were fortunate enough to attend. HARRY R. W E I S E R ,
Chairman
Alpha Chi Sigma Holds Conclave J-TIOIILIOHTS of the 17th biennial conclave of Alpha Chi Sigma, professional chemical fraternity, at the Congress Hotel, Chicago, 111., June 19 to 22, 1942, were addresses by past presidents William Higburg, sales manager of the Republic Creososte Co., Indianapolis, and H. K. Wiedemann, consulting chemist of St. Louis. The convention was also addressed by member S. D . Kirkpatrick, president of the American Institute of Chemical Kngineers and editor of Chemical a/w/ Mitalluruical Enyinvvring. Carl S. Miner, of the Miner Laboratories, was initiated by the fraternity into its Illinois Institute of Technology chapter. The collegiate chapters at the institute and a t Northwestern University joined in conducting the ceremony. Although the conclave had been shortened and entertainment features eliminated, all official delegates were present save alumni representatives from Los Angeles, San FVancisco, and Philadelphia. The fraternity will continue t o lend its financial sponsoring (SI,000 per year) to the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Award
in Pure Chemistry. It will also continue its national grants-in-aid activities whereby money grants are made t o collegiate chapters in sponsoring local professional activities of benefit to the chemistry department and the school. The national
AND ENGINEERING
NEWS
safety program, set in operation during the past biennium, will be continued. The fraternity adopted legislation to meet, as best possible, the three-semester plan in some schools. The national office reported a high active membership and a record number of men initiated during 1940-41. A national committee was established to direct the operation of the fraternity in the best interests of national defense. Walter S. Ritchie retired as president and completed 20 years of active service with the fraternity in national capacities. He was succeeded by Harold P. Gaw, American Rolling Mill Co., Middletown, Ohio. Other members of the executive council elected were: first vice president in charge of professional chapters and groups, A. Watson Chapman, Celotex Corp. of New Orleans; second vice president in charge of collegiate chapters, L. W. Van Doren, Basic Vegetable Products Co., Vacaville, Calif.; national ritualist, Clyde B. Hutchison, Champion Coated Paper Co., Saundersville, Ga. John R. Kuebler (Epsilon). Indianapolis, was appointed national secretary-treasurer and editor of The Hexagon, and with this conclave assumed these duties for the fraternity on a full-time basis. Invitations for subsequent conclaves were submitted: 1944, St. Louis, Mo., and 1946, Cleveland, Ohio, under the sponsorship of the Cleveland-Akron-Case School of Applied Science groups.
Westinghouse Shares Its "Know H o w " TV/TORE than a score of new engineering developments and new ideas that could be put to work to help speed production in almost any war industry were disclosed a t the Astor Hotel, New York, to newspaper writers and leading technical magazine editors by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. on June 16. "We believe this demonstration illustrates the willingness of many big companies to share their specialized 'know how* with all American industry during this national emergency", said A. A. Bates, who directs chemical and metallurgical work a t the Westinghouse Research Laboratories, where many of the technical advances were discovered. "The real problem", he continued, "is t o provide some means for the common interchange among industries of such ingenious discoveries and new techniques, so they can be put to use in the thousands of small factories which are working day and night on war production." Devices demonstrated ranged from a simple screwdriverlike cotter pin spreader that any factory worker can use t o one requiring elaborate laboratory equipment and skilled technicians for determining by photoelasticity the stresses on huge bolts
VOLUME
2 0, N O .
14
»
in turbines. With photoelastic analysis, M. Hetcnyi of Westinghouse discovered that a nut with either a tapered thread or tapered lip will increase the effective strength of the fastening as much as 40 per cent, reported Dr. Bates. Westinghouse electronics research has reduced from 8 hours to 15 minutes the time usually required to determine the grain sizes of metallic powders used by numerous industries in making pressed, molded metal parts. T o grade speedily these tiny metal specks—so small they can be seen only with a powerful microscope— P. F. Kalischer, Westinghouse research metallurgist, developed a sorting method that employs a glass tube, a photocell, a light bulb, and a milliammeter. To analyze a powder specimen, Dr. Kalischer mixes 1 gram of the specimen with 100 cc. of acetone and a wetting agent. The mixture is placed in the glass tube mounted between the photocell and the light source. As the particles settle, the liquid clears, permitting more light to pass through the tube to the photocell. "By reading the milliammeter at regular intervals, Dr. Kalischer plots a curve showing the rate at which the specimen clears", Dr. Bates said. "Comparing this curve with similar curves for standard particles of known size, he can determine both average size and relative quantities of different particles in the test specimen. The usual method of measuring particle size is to float the powder in glycerol and measure the settling time, but such a test does not give accurate information about relative quantities of grains of different sizes. Use of a wetting agent is important, because it helps the acetone to surround each metal grain completely. Without it, the settling rate might be affected by tiny air bubbles surrounding the grains." Others among 25 examples of Westinghouse "know how" demonstrated or explained by Dr. Bates included the use of electric heaters to tighten big turbine bolts, a technique that avoids torsional strains; use of magnetism to detect under-the-surface flaws in steel; an electronic control to increase production and safeguard the quality of steels treated in atmosphere furnaces; and development of machinemade dies to replace many handmade dies.
Armour Foundation Plans War Policies H P o PROVIDE for thorough consideration of problems facing the Armour Research Foundation, Chicago, free from pressure of everyday matters, Harold Vagtborg, director, called a week's conference of department heads at a remote point in Wisconsin from June 22 to 27. Among problems discussed at a round table were how the foundation staff of 125 can more effectively serve the war effort and aid industry in preparing for the postwar period, and what new approaches can
» » JULY
2 5,
1942
be made to t h e major war projects already being studied by the foundation.
Mineral Industries Conference Canceled H P H E Illinois Mineral Industries Conference, scheduled for Urbana, 111., October 30 and 31, has been canceled, according t o an announcement by M. M. Leigh ton, chief of the Illinois State Geological Survey. The sponsoring groups, the Illinois Mineral Industries Committee, Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois, and State Geological Survey, have agreed to lend their combined support to the Regional Conference of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers in St. Louis October 1 and 2. T h e St. Louis meeting will stress problems of the mineral industries of the Mississippi Valley area, with particular reference to war needs, and the purpose of the Illinois conference, as originally planned, will be adequately met.
Science Talent Search Trips IVTINB girls and 31 boys were invited to 111 Washington, D . C , July 13 to 15 to compete for 20 Westinghouse science scholarships in t h e Science Talent Search conducted by the Science Clubs of America and sponsored by Science Service. Winners of the trip were selected by competition in secondary schools of the United States, from more than 10,000 entrants. Twenty will be chosen for scholarships which will allow them to go to any college of their o w n selection to continue science or engineering training. One boy and one girl will be awarded $2,400 Westinghouse Grand Science Scholarships, while 15 boys and 3 girls will receive $200 Westinghouse Science Scholarships.
Instruments Needed "P>ESEARCH workers seeking instruments required in their work b u t difficult to find are invited to communicate with D . H . Killeffer, 60 East 42nd St., New York, N. Y., chairman of the newly appointed Committee on the Location of N e w and Rare Instruments of the National Research Council. The plan of the committee's activity is t o assist in locating needed instruments of types not ordinarily available through usual channels. Assistance is particularly desired from owners and builders of instruments falling within the new or rare categories which might be made available to others through sale or for temporary use under mutually satisfactory conditions.
923
