NEWS EDITION*
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Vol. 9, No. 22
Vacuum Oil Co., Inc. Research, and Development
Above, Some of the Apparatus Used in. the Study of the In sulating Oils. These Devices Operate witiiout Interruption for Several Days in Routine Tests
A.t Right, In en Analytical Chemical Laboratory
Below, One of the E x p e r i m e n t a l De vices in the Process Division. This Is a Clay Burner
A. S- T. M. Issues Report on Petroleum T h e American Society for Testing Ma terials has issued the annual report of its Committee D-2 o n Petroleum Products and Lubricants, together with the reports of several subcommittees. The book comprises 267 pages and includes thirty-three standard methods of test and fourteen tentative test methods for products in this field. Standard methods of test are included for the determination of bitumen, burning quality of kerosene oils and of mineral seal oils, carbon residue of petroleum products, cloud and pour points, and color of lubricating oils, petrolatum, and refined petroleum oil. Tests for the dilution of crankcase oils, dis tillation of crude petroleum, gasoline, naph tha, etc., flash points, gravity by means of the hydrometer, and the analysis of grease are also given. T h e price of the book is $1.25. It can be obtained from A. S. T. M . Headquarters, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pa.
T h e Vacuum Oil Co., Inc., for many years h a s maintained a research unit at its Paulsboro, N. J . , plant T h i s research group was in addi t i o n to scientific activities maintained by t h e c o m p a n y a t Rochester and Olean, Ν. Υ., and Βayonne, N. J. About two years a g o it was decided t o increase t h e facilities for research at Paulsboro, a n d buildings were added t o the former nucleus a n d additions made to the staff of highly trained personnel. Last year w e announced that H. A. C u r t i s had accepted t h e appointment as director o f research for t h e company, and since that time he h a s been made chairman of t h e research and development committee of the company besides retaining h i s title of chief of research and de velopment department. Since Doctor Curtis' a p pointment, further additions have been made t o t h e scientific and technical staff of the company, until now more than 140 highly trained men are busy with a multitude of diversified problems. As a result of t h e study of other research plants a n d operations, n o t only in the petroleum, but in other industries, the present laboratories were designed and erected. The facilities represent the best features of other research units further adapted t o V a c u u m ' s need, a s well a s many details r e s u l t i n g from t h e company's experience. The research area covers 3 acres. T h e four main buildings provide more than 62,000 square feet of floor space, and in the newer buildings the walls of glazed tile make for cleanliness, good lighting, and att r a c t i v e appearance. One of the buildings is devoted to administra t i v e work and t o large laboratories for physics and chemistry, besides t h e library—at present containing more than 3000 volumes. Another building of the same size holds three offices a n d ten chemical labo ratories, these devoted c h i e f l y to o r g a n i c
N o v e m b e r 20, 1931
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
and analytical work. T h e basements o f these buildings are also utilized and are connected b y a tunnel. At t h e rear of the organic and analytical laboratory building is a one-story structure 7 0 X 215 feet, given over t o chemical engineering. Here it is that the results of t h e laboratories are s t e p p e d up on a small scale. If successful, a still larger pilot plant may be p u t i n operation, and perhaps again a larger o n e before the process or piece of equipment is elevated to refinery scale. Process development is t h e object of t h i s building. Alongside the chemical engineering laboratory is the mechanical engineering laboratory of equal size, divided i n t o a number of rooms where all manner of tests m a y be made on lubricants and fuels. T h e series of dynamometer rooms h a v e cold rooms in connection, so that all t e s t s can be made at t e m peratures as low as —20° and as high as 180° with any degree of relative humidity. I t is t h e purpose t o make possible -testing of motors, their fuels and lubricants, under every conceivable condition of operation. N o t only can motors foe tested, but i n one of the rooms a chassis a s long a s 49 f e e t can be admitted. Needless to say, the m a n y laboratories and testing rooms are
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equipped with modern devices and an air of truth-seeking pervades t h e whole establishment. In the organization are a number o f men whose names are well known to our readers and to scientific men everywhere. N e w programs of research are being perfected, a n d some o f the work will doubtless find its way along new paths a n d carry t h e industry into new fields. A s stated in the Vacuum Oil
News:
Industrial research is hard, steady, well-organized work, with definite, commercial objectives. There is always the possibility that, through some fortuitous circumstances, t h e research worker may find hidden somewhere an unsuspected something of importance, but those discoveries form no part of his plan. His job is to find out whether or not the industry can do something that ought to b e done and that seems possible of attainment. The search for the philosopher's stoue has no counterpart in modern industrial research. Obviously, it i s not possible for every research organization to do everything t h a t may seem desirable. It must devote its energies to- those problems which fit best into its company's commercial aims.
Significant results m a y be expected from this new program of research, and t h e organization has our best wishes.
Some of the Personnel o f Research and Development
Laboratories, Vacuum. Oil C o .
Chemical Abstracts Issues New List of Current Periodicals E. J. CRANE, Editor, Chemical Abstracts, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio From index t o abstract to original paper—these are the usual steps in a literature search. T h e last of these has frequently been a difficult one to take because library facilities a r e more or less limited for most of u s . Chemical Abstracts has undertaken to help bridge this gap between abstracts and original papers by providing a "List of Periodicals Abstracted," containing information which should make it possible f o x a n y chemist anywhere to get almost any paper w i t h a minimum of effort. In addition to such information as publishers' names and addresses, subscription prices, etc., there is provided a k e y to library files. After each journal name, numbers are given which tell which of 250 libraries scattered throughout t h e United States, Canada, and Hawaii currently receive it. If t h e libraries within reach do not have a needed periodical, it is usually possible to g e t a photoprint quickly and at reasonable c o s t from o n e of the many libraries that provide such a service (indicated i n the list). T h e last printed list appeared in 1926. The new list, thoroughly revised, will appear as a part of the November 20th number of Chemical Abstracts, and so will go to all w h o receive this journal. Reprints will be available at 50 cents each. To obtain them, one should write t o the office of Chemical Abstracts. T h e new list contains 3100 entries, 1993 of which represent periodicals of chemical interest now appearing. The 1107 other entries are for discontinued periodicals, name changes, transliterated names (mostly Japanese and Russian), and names of sponsoring institutions. M a n y of the periodicals listed are of course not srtrictly chemical publications, but each can be counted on to contain at least occasional papers of scientific or technical interest to chemists. A l l are examined systematically i n the production of Chemical Abstracts.
T h e considerable increase in t h e number of periodicals listed (from 1246 in 1926) is t o be accounted for b y (1) the appearance of many new journals, estimated recently as a new one of chemical interest every two weeks; ( 2 ) the recent tendency for periodicals to foe split up into more or less distinct parts ( Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers into 14 parts, for example); (3) the unearthing of a considerable number of obscure publications appearing in Japan, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Scandinavian countries, etc. ; and (4) the entering of a number of irregular publications not previously counted as periodicals. N e w scientific periodicals have been appearing in Russia with a frequency that is particularly noticeable. T h e journal name abbreviations shown in the list have standing as international standards by reason of action taken b y the International Union of Chemistry several years ago. T h e canvass of libraries was conducted by the Research Information Service of the National Research Council under the direction of Clarence J . West with Callie Hull helping. T o them, t o the 250 cooperating librarians, and to the many abstractors and others w h o helped us in the compilation of the journal information (Nellie G . Mahaffey of the Chemical Abstracts office w a s in charge), those who find t h e list useful owe a debt of gratitude. I gratefully acknowledge their fine cooperation. Doctor W e s t ' s task was a particularly heavy one. "The most useful compilation in chemistry" is the comment one chemist made with reference to the last published list. Evidence is abundant that t h e list does serve a very useful purpose, b u t there is also evidence that many are failing to take advantage of it. And s o special attention is called t o it now a t the time when the new edition is appearing.
