War
Work of Canadian National Research Council
SCIENTIFIc research in Canada during the past three years has been directed almost wholly to the solution of problems arising out of the war. The National Research Council is serving as a central coordinating body directing research within its own laboratories and in t h e universities a n d industry, and has been appointed the official research station of t h e Navy, Army, and Air Force in Canada.
For the Navy Scientific problems arising in connection with the work of the N a v y are studied jointly by officers from Naval Headquarters and civilian personnel on t h e council's staff. Many of the problems relate to the supply of materials and t h e preparation of specifications. Highly technical problems have arisen from antisubmarine warfare a n d mine-sweeping o p erations. Several sections of the Division of Physics and Electrical Engineering are concerned almost exclusively with research and development programs for the Royal Canadian N a v y . The Division of Chemistry is working on paints, rubber, low-alloy high-strength steels and aluminum alloys, seawater resistance of coatings, and inhibition o f corrosion of metals b y chemicals.
For the Army All kinds of supplies have had to b e tested t o determine whether they are acceptable according to military standards. Apparatus has been developed and constructed for work in ballistics o n a n increasing scale. An important war service was rendered in 1939 by promoting the development in Canada of optical glass manufacture for the production of precise optical parts for military equipment. T h e project i s n o w in production by a government-owned company. Equipment was installed and a staff assembled in t h e National Research Laboratories for the inspection of gages used in the production of guns, shells, fuses, bombs, and other mechanical items n o w in mass production. Another important activity is chemical warfare. From a small cooperative effort between the National Research Council and the army, this activity has developed rapidly and is now a highly coordinated project operating as a directorate of t h e Department of National Defense, under a director general who is a civilian scientist o n the staff of the National Research Council. Of the active personnel about o n e half are civilian scientists and the rest are uniformed officers and men.
92
Indicators for war gases a n d chemicals for other war services have been synthesized and studied. The rubber laboratory has investigated for production purposes o r improvements surgeons' gloves, ground sheets, gas-mask components, artillery and tank parts, crash and steel helmets, and has made numerous acceptance tests on contract deliveries. Recently much attention has been given t o rubber conservation problems and to the study of synthetic rubber processes. Production of fuse-powder charcoal was carried on until recently by the National Research Council ; it has now been turned over to a commercial concern. Activities in the textile laboratory have been largely in connection with acceptance test work and specifications. A Large amount of work is being carried out o n the development of suitable types of antigas impermeable-type fabrics and on the maintenance of suitable standards of quality in material which is being manufactured in Canada. Other studies include waterproofing, mildewproofing, and flameproofing of cotton textiles. Inspections have b e e n made and advice given a s to the suitability of a variety of leathers for different military purposes. Examination h a s been made of numerous dressings and waterproofing compounds for leathers. Component parts of certain anti-aircraft protection devices were constructed. Transparent sheet resins for military purposes h a v e been tested against specifications; vulcanized fiber identification disks and other objects have been examined; and general consideration has been g i v e n t o the substitution of plastics for metals. Preservative coatings for use on military vehicles a n d other equipment for war purposes have been developed, as have gas-detector paints, luminous paints, finishes for rifle barrels, camouflage paints, and other special paints. An explosives laboratory t o carry out testing required under the Explosives Act and to conduct research o n explosives and related compounds is under the j o i n t administration of the National Research Council and the Department of Mines and Resources. A n Associate Committee on Explosives has been established to coordinate and direct all work in this field.
For the A i r Force Establishment of the new aeronauttical laboratories just outside of Ottawa has provided improved facilities for research o n problems arising from modern trends i n aviation. Closest cooperation is m a i n tained between the Royal Canadian Air Force and t h e council's laboratories
CHEMICAL
through the Associate Committee on Aeronautical Research, the chairman of which is the Air Member for Aeronautical Engineering, R. C . A. F . Horizontal and vertical wind tunnels enable tests to b e made on model aircraft o f all kinds. In the engine laboratory dynamometer rooms are provided for testing aircraft engines, while in t h e gasoline and oil laboratory complete equipment i s provided for physical and chemical testing of aviation fuels a n d lubricants. A structures laboratory provides for t h e fabrication of prototypes of aircraft a n d for the t e s t of component parts. Experimental work is often carried o u t cooperatively with the Royal Canadian Air Force T e s t and Development Establishment which is really a full-scale experimental flying station.
Medical Research In t h e field of Medical Research a n active committee of the council h a s made great progress. Several n e w subcommittees h a v e h a d to b e established t o deal w i t h questions of shock a n d blood substitutes, wound infection, and surgical problems. Under three associate committees dealing w i t h aviation, naval, a n d army medical research problems, research activities have b e e n carried on at most of t h e universities o f Canada a n d at t h e National R e search Council, t h e Ontario Research Foundation, the Clinical Investigation Units, and other establishments of t h e services.
For War Industries The Division of Applied Biology has rendered valuable assistance in t h e fitting of temporary refrigerators on merchant vessels. All export eggs are now shipped in powder form. Dehydration of meat, chiefly pork and cured ham, h a s been studied a n d an a c ceptable quality of product has been o b tained. Closely related i s the development o f containers in which a substitute for t i n plate has been used. Packages based primarily o n fiber and w a x combinations h a v e been found useful. Dehydrated products require packaging in waterproof materials. The need for magnesium led to intensive research a n d resulted in the d e velopment o f a process well suited t o Canadian conditions of production. A plant o f 10 tons capacity per d a y , built by t h e Department of Munitions and Supply to use this process, i s in operation. The shortage of natural rubber has stimulated research on t h e possibility of producing rubber from plants t h a t can b e grown on the American continent. Synthetic rubbers of various types are being developed and tested, and plants are being established for the production of t h e more useful types.
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
