INDUSTRIAL
4
AND ENGINEERING
CHEMISTRY
Modern Wizards
INDUSTRIAL &
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Entered as second class matter at Easton, Pa. Issued three times a month ; Industrial Edition on the 1st; News Edition on the 10th and 20th Subscription to Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, $7.50 per year; News Edition only, $1.50 per year. Single copies, 10 cents. Subscriptions should be sent to Charles L. Parsons, Secretary, 1709 G St.. N. W., Washington, D . C.
Vol. 2
JUNE 10. 1924
We M u s t Be Ready Under the heading, "Modern Wiz ards" we reprint on this page an editorial from the Pittsburgh Sun of April 2S. This paper has taken every opportunity to endorse scientific research and to promote interest in t h e work of the chemist. It is typical of a number of papers in the "larger centers throughout the country which have realized the value of keeping their public acquainted with progress in science as well as poli ties, music, art, and the more common tilings which are considered as news in the make-up of a modern newspaper. Undoubtedly there has been great interest in chemistry of late years and the attitude of papers like the Pittsburgh Swi in helping to spread correct information regarding the sciences should be and is appreciated to the fullest extent by chemists. However, we cannot help comment ing on the last three paragraphs of the editorial article referred to because here the Sun seems to point an accus ing finger at the chemist and convey to its readers the impression that chemists voluntarily use their knowledge and ability for destructive rather than con structive purposes. We hate gas warfare. In fact we detest war. Yet we cannot, as sane people, living in an age which only re cently witnessed the application of science to warfare in its cruelest form, content ourselves with sitting idly by and watching other nations scientif ically developing their offensive powers in all directions and doing nothing our selves in the way of preparation to combat these powers. The chemist loves to pursue his occupation in the walks of peace but
News Edition
No. 11
when the defense of the nation calls for his services he must bo ready to give them in full measure for the protection of life and liberty. We trust that our lay contemporaries wTill get the right idea about this. We chemists are not hankering to work or plan destruction with our science but we shall never fail t o respond to the call when we are needed and then we want to be ready. Some of us must be detailed t o the task of keeping abreast of the advance in t h e chemistry of destruction in order that the rest of us may be able to be of help quickly when our help is needed. It is not in curtailing scientific work which can be applied to destructive use in time of war that t h e remedy for war lies. Rather the opposite may be true for the more powerful our destructive agents become, the less likely are nations to rush into Avar with one another, especially if the people know what terrors these future Avars will hold forth for combatants as well as non-combatants.
I n s t r u c t Your Councilors The question of qualifications and the procedure of electing members to the A. C. S. was discussed editorially in our May 20 number. On page 6 of this issue we print Dr. Bogert's views on the eligibility and classification question. Enough publicity has now been given to this matter to enable members to instruct their councilors how to vote at the fall meeting when the suggestion to publish names of appli cants and recommenders comes up for consideration. Instruct your councilors before your section discontinues its meetings for the summer.
"Readers of this page who have been following t h e articles b y 'Crucible' will appreciate t h e t r u t h of the t r i b u t e paid t o modern chemists b y President Coolidge at t h e meeting of t h e American Chemical Society in Washington the other day. 'Wonderful' is a much overworked word, but in i t s true sense it is applicable t o the discoveries that chemists have given t h e world in re cent years. T h e y h a v e transformed life, bringing comforts a n d conveniences t h a t n o t even t h e wealthiest of earlier generations were able to procure, into t h e homes of the lowliest of today. " T h e predecessors of chemists, t h e alchemists of the Dark Ages, sought t h e philosopher's stone which was to change base metals into gold. Our m o d e r n wizards have not discovered the philos opher's stone, b u t they have hit upon many other things t h a t a r e far more beneficent to mankind. They havt* succeeded, for example, in producing excellent dyes, flavoring extracts, per fumes, drugs, gases a n d fertilizers from coal. "President Coolidge alluded t o t h e valuable service t h a t chemists a r e rendering in finding uses for waste products. As a result of their dis coveries along this line t h e garbage a n d refuse of great cities, for t h e dis posal of which i t was formerly neces sary t o p a y , n o w c a n b e sold. T h e public probably little realizes t h e e x t e n t t o which waste m a t t e r can n o w b e utilized. A s a n extreme example of t h e chemists' power, i t m a y b e men tioned that a t t h e forest products l a b o r a t o r y of t h e United States Forest Service, a process h a s been invented b y which saw dust is transformed i n t o food for c a t t l e . " I t is hardly t o be doubted t h a t , n o t withstanding t h e extraordinary char acter of t h e achievements t h a t m o d e r n chemists have to their credit, the science is still in its infancy. There will b e keen satisfaction in living during t h e next few decades if for no other reason t h a n to see w h a t n e w marvels these magicians evolve· "Alas, their discoveries have n o t a l l contributed to t h e happiness of m a n kind. They h a v e i n v e n t e d gases a n d explosives for military purposes t h a t created havoc in the World W a r with out a parallel in previous wars. A n d it h a s been asserted t h a t since t h e con clusion of t h a t struggle other agencies of destruction have been found which have possibilities so terrible as to dwarf, in comparison, those t h a t were actually employed. "Says Sir Charles Parsons, former president of t h e British Association for the Advancement of Science: 'The possibility of t h e uncontrolled use on t h e part of a nation of the power which science h a s placed within its reach is so great a menace t o civilization t h a t the a r d e n t wish of all reasonable people is t o possess some radical means of prevention through t h e establishment of some form of wide a n d powerful con trol.' " T h e chemists will d o well, as S i r Charles suggests, to devote their ener gies t o t h e controlling of t h e great forces of n a t u r e for t h e use a n d convenience of m a n , instead of applying t h e m to d e structive purposes."—The Pittsburgh Sun.
June
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
ID, 1924
( Co H t i η u ed from
page 3 )
sidered to be a polymerized product, although containing a portion of oxidized oil, distinguishing it from those already explained under t h e head of oxidized oils prepared a t low temperatures. While not so suitable as a binding medium in linoleum, this is an ideal cement for cork carpet and similar product» which re quire resilient properties.
Plain Linoleum T h e most important of the three classes of linoleum in common use today, is t h e ordinary plain or single colored floor covering. As before stated, this con sists of a mixture of ground cork, pigment and linoleum cement. These ingredients in their proper proportions are placed in a special machine, in m a n y respects similar to a bread mixer, and intimately mixed to produce a plastic mass or dough. From here t h e mixture is next passed iuti» a " G e r m a n , " which is a steamheated machine resembling a large meat grinder, where the cement and fillers are so well blended as to appear to have lost their individual form. Kmerging from this operation in the form of shreds, the mix is run over scratch rolls to form a coarse granulated powder necessary for further t r e a t m e n t . This powder is then spread evenly over a moving strip of burlap and t h e whole passed between the heavy steam-heated rolls of a calender. Here the powdered mass is firmly pressed into an even coating of a predetermined thickness on the burlap back. After leaving the calender rolls, the "green" or u n m a t u r e d linoleum is hung in large stoves about 05 feet deep, in the form of loops or folds, where literally speaking, miles of linoleum are undergoing a further oxidation process. T h e time required for the linoleum to mature in these stoves, which are heated to 140° F . , varies from 1 to 8 weeks, depending, of course, upon the thickness a n d construction of the linoleum fabric. At such a time as the linoleum will resist a s t a n d a r d indentation pressure, it is removed from the stove in immense rolls. The material is then trimmed, cut, given a rigid inspection, and crated for shipment. P r i n t e d Linoleum Another and familiar class of floor covering is t h e well-known printed linoleum. As t h e name implies, this is simply a thin grade of plain linoleum, on the surface of which has been printed a coating of oil paint in a t t r a c t i v e de signs a n d colors. Up to the point where the printed surface is applied, all plain and printed linoleums a r e similarly con structed. T h e large horizontal printing machine, which applies t h e surface paint b y means of printing blocks, is usually equipped to print from 1 to 10 different colors and designs in one operation, although 24 colors can be used by a modern printing machine. T h e movable printing blocks resemble in m a n y ways t h e ordinary en graving plate a n d are usually a b o u t 18 inches wide and from 6 to 12 feet long, corresponding to the width of t h e lino leum. W h e n t h e machine is s t a r t e d the process is continuous, due to t h e fact t h a t t h e blocks are arranged to work in unison. In other words, while t h e blocks are auto matically raised to t a k e a coat of paint, the strip of linoleum moves forward just t h e width of one block so t h a t with each downward movement of the blocks, a finished strip of linoleum 18 inches wide
is obtained. As the printed material leaves the printing machine, t h e p a i n t is wet, and therefore it goes back into thedrying oven for several days to m a t u r e or until such time when the paint is per fectly dry. It is then removed a n d handled in a similar manner as plain linoleum. Inlaid Linoleum Inlaid linoleum, another important variety of floor covering, is distinguished from printed linoleum by t h e fact t h a t t h e colored designs or patterns e x t e n d completely through t o the burlap back. Here, we have wood flour substituted for p a r t of the ground cork in o r d e r to give a firm and dense linoleum mix, necessary in building up t h e p a t t e r n . Inlaid linoleum is divided into two classes: granulated or moulded, and straight-line, depending upon the m e t h o d of manufacture. T h e process of m a n u facture is very similar in every respect to t h a t of plain a n d printed goods up to the point of application of t h e mix to t h e burlap back. At this point, however, large complicated a n d expensive machines are necessary for completing the operation. In case of the older or moulded v a r i e t y the mix is applied to the burlap b a c k in a granular form by means of m e t a l stencils. After the linoleum mix has been properly prepared in the various colors in a granulated state, it is placed in cold storage until needed. This is necessary to prevent caking or sticking, as it m u s t pass readily through t h e stencil openings, which correspond t o t h e p a t t e r n or design to be moulded on t h e burlap. In order to operate t h e machine for this kind of linoleum, a stencil is required for each color. If a two-color design is to be made, two stencils are m o u n t e d on a frame over the horizontal m a c h i n e on which t h e burlap moves. The first stencil is then filled with t h e granulated mix, after which t h e burlap moves for ward about 6 feet or the width of each stencil to the second stencil to be filled with t h e other color. When the second one h a s been finished, the burlap a g a i n moves forward, showing a complete or solid covering of t h e m i x in the proper p a t t e r n . The burlap with its cover of linoleum mix is then moved under a large heated h y d r a u l i c press where a pressure of 2000 p o u n d s to t h e square inch fuses t h e mix t o t h e back. A t the same time, all the g r a n u l a r particles of the different colors h a v e dis appeared into one smooth surface of lino leum fabric. Like all plain and p r i n t e d linoleum, the " g r e e n " goods are placed in t h e stoves until properly m a t u r e d . Straight-line inlaid linoleum is easily recognized by the clear straight e d g e line separating the different designs, -which in t h e case of moulded inlaid is of a ragged nature. T h e various colored mixes for straight-line goods are r u n separately through a calender which forms thin sheets or " b l a n k e t s " of a desired thick ness. F r o m these " b l a n k e t s " t h e nu merous blocks representing the p a t t e r n s to be built, are c u t by means of a steel die stamping machine. After a sufficient number of the blocks have been c u t , they are assembled into the proper design on t h e burlap, and pressed in a m a n n e r sim ilar to t h e moulded goods. By m e a n s of t h e high pressure and heat, t h e s e are welded together into a single s h e e t on the burlap back and then hung i n t h e drying oven.
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Cork Carpet Cork carpet, which has already been mentioned, is simply a composition of coarse granular cork and Taylor Oil worked with the required amount of pig ment, after which the mass is rolled on plain burlap by means of a calendering machine a n d then hung in stoves until properly matured. The maturing process of this material, as a rule, is accomplished in less time than in the case of linoleum, a n d under proper conditions it is fully seasoned in two t o four days. The main physical characteristics required in this particular floor-covering are resiliency and springiness to the step, a n d for this reason the regular linoleum cement cannot be used. Although it differs widely from linoleum physically, cork carpet fills a wide and important place as a floorcovering, which no other material can exactly duplicate. Conclusion From a practical viewpoint, the chem ical changes which occur during the prep aration of linseed oil for use in linoleum manufacture, are divided into two classes - -oxidation and polymerization. Under t h e former are included " s h e d " and "me chanical" oils, while under t h e latter are included linoleum cement a n d Taylor Oil, although there is still some discussion whether linoleum cement is a true polym erized product. The reactions taking place in t h e ma turing process of linoleum fabric, while not definitely understood, are due largely t o oxidation, which is dependent to a great extent upon light, temperature, moisture, and the driers used in t h e oil. This action, especially in heavy plain or battleship grade of linoleum, h a s been known to continue over a period of years due to t h e fact t h a t an almost impervious film forming over the surface of t h e lino leum prevents the oxygen in t h e air from coming in contact with the unoxidized portion of oil. " T h e chemical change which takes place when a vegetable oil 'dries' to a solid, elastic skin, is but imperfectly understood. T h e final product appears, however, to be the same, whether raw linseed oil be allowed to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere slowly, whether the drying be accelerated by previously con verting t h e oil into 'boiled' oil, or if the raw linseed oil be treated in a current of oxygen or ozone a t a somewhat elevated temperature after having been intermixed with driers." * This solid elastic skin referred t o above is now generally known as linoxyn and is the final binding medium in all linoleum products, regardless of the method used for unseed oil preparation during the manufacturing process. Pig-iron production in April totaled 3,233,000 tons as compared with 3,446,000 in M a r c h and 3,550,000 in April, 1923. Furnaces in blast at the end of April numbered 230 with an average daily ca pacity of 96,365 tons as against 270 with a capacity of 112,240 tons in blast at the end of t h e preceding month and 310 fur naces with a capacity of 119,500 tons on April 30 of last year. Steel-ingot produc tion during April totaled 3,386,000 tons, a decline of 802,000 tons from t h e preceding month and 578,000 tons below April of last year. * L e w k o w i t s c h , V o l . I l l , page 177.
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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING Another View of Classified Membership
At the meeting of the Council of the American Chemical Society held in Wash ington, D. C , April 21, 1924, Dr. M. T. Bogert gave expression to the following views on the subject of classified member ship: "1 f«-, 50, 100, 200, Γ>0θ, 1000 or multiple liters or kilograms.
Gold i n Sea Water The following is an extract from page () of the annual bullion letter, 1923, published by Samuel Montagu & Co., London, Eng. "We have referred in a previous annual letter to the presence of gold in sea water. I t is reported t h a t the quantity has been recently reduced from one grain to under one-thousandth part of a grain per ton of sea water. We have been informed that experts in England, and in America, have shown that one metal can be changed into another a t certain periods by radio-ac tivity, such as when there are sun spots. At such a time there is immense radio ac tion upon the earth, and this is said t o be the only possible explanation of the dis appearance of so large a proportion of the gold in sea water. Hence, though gold has been actually recovered from sea water a t a considerable cost, its extraction is now still less a paying commercial proposition."
" T h e Story of Portland C e m e n t " is the latest addition to the series of indus trial motion picture lilnis released by the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Mines.
