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o n . Pe r Co p y 1 'o s t f r e e s d .
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t e n a i t OILS, PAINTS, CHEMICALS
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PRODUCTS, FOOD PRODUCTION
GENERAL ENGINEERING ETC.
TRADED INDUSTRIAL ENQUIRIES T O W N C L E R K , H U L L
ii T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5
S T E E L DRUMS
BEHOLD the invisible!
T h e se d ru m s a r e \v e ld o d th r o u g h o u t an d a re m a n u fa ctu re d in la rg e q u a n titie s . T h e y can b e su p p lie d p a in te d , g a l
vanised o r tin n e d . A lso m a n u fa c tu re d In s tain le ss s te e l. C ap aci
tie s ra n g in g fro m 2 0 to 150 g allons.
r i n iE visible comprises all th a t can be seen by the X naked eye. B u t outside th a t range lie wonderful things. Man is now finding ways to ‘ see ’ them.
Here are two instances. R ays of light in the spec
trum beyond the violet and below the red, which have vibrations too fine or too coarse for th e hum an eye to receive, are w ithin the range of specially treated photographic plates. Hence, m any things about the ultim ate structure of m atter, hitherto hidden from sight, are now revealed. Engineers have long sought easy meaps o f gauging strains and stresses. Through*"the use o f Polaroid the strains and stresses in transparent plastic m aterials can actually be seen. Both these developm ents require iodine. They are b u t two of the m any recent applications of this rem arkable element. The i o d i n e E D U C A T IO N A L B U R E A U Was SC t U p in 1938 tO collect and collate all available inform ation on iodine. The services of this Bureau are available free to any insti
tu tio n or m a n u fa c tu re r with an iodine problem.
Iodine Educational Bureau
" E v e ry th in g fo r S a fe ty E v e ry w h e re ”
G A S M A S K S
— A L L T Y P E S
Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatut
'• P ro t o ,”
" S a lv m ,"
“ F lr e o x ,” etc.
Jho rt-D litan ce Breathing Apparatus
• A n tlp o y a ,” and o th e r type*
. O X Y G E N and
¿ X Y G E N + C O ,
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" N o v o x ,”
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and o t h e r t y p e . D U ST MASKS and G O G G L E S of all pattern!
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FILTER
P A P E R S ,
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and E m bossed.
Pure Filterings fo r L aboratory W o rk , and in q u an tities fo r all Industrial
purposes.
A l l s i z e * . S q u a r e s . C ircles and Folded Filter R olls m ade to order
S ee report o f TESTS m a d e by the N ational Ph ysical Laboratopr, a copy o f w hich w ill be sent on application together # w ith b free sam ples if required.
Pod lio Filtering* are stocked by all the leading Whole* ale Laboratory Dealer*
EVANS ADLABD & Co., Ltd
p o s t u p m i l l s
W IN C H C O M B E , C H E L T E N H A M , E N G L A N D
Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
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AM PLIFIERS and IN STR U M EN TS for
RESEA R C H
“ G R A N T A ” W O R K S, 80 N E W M A R K E T R O A D ,
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KESTN ER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING CO . Ltd.
Chemical Engineers - 5, G R O S V E N O R G A R D E N S , L O N D O N , S.W .I
a re b e in g in c re a sin g ly a p p lie d in th e n u m e ro u s p ro b le m s p r e s e n te d by th e m o is tu r e c o n tr o l o f a i r , g a s e s , and s o l i d s . T h e re a r e m an y an d v a rie d c o n d itio n s in w h ic h lo w , o r d e fin ite m o is tu r e c o n t e n t is n e c e s
sa ry . K e s tn e r Silica G el d ry in g p la n ts h av e p ra c tic a lly u n lim ite d life, as th e Silica G el is easily r e a c tiv a te d . W e s h o u ld b e p leased t o p ro v id e f u r t h e r in fo rm a tio n a n d t o p u t o u r w id e e x p e r ie n c e in th is m a t t e r a t y o u r s e rv ic e fo r an y p ro b le m w h ic h y o u m ay have.
KESTNER DOUBLE ABSORBER SILICA GEL DRIER W ITH ELECTRIC REGENERATOR.
W R IT E F O R L E A F L E T 245.
A
ü T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 24, 1 945
FLUOR SPA R
0
HIGH GRADE 97-98% 0
0
Ca F2 CONTENT
is now available 0
from
THE GLEBE LEAD MINE
EYAM • DERBYSHIRE
Telephone : Eyam 41
D IC Y C L O H E X Y L A M IN E
CH ,
CH
H CH,
C H - N - C H CH2 B .P t. 7 60 m m 2 5 5-2 56 ‘,C
CtV / CH2 CH2 X
C H f CH
D ic y c l o h e x y l a m i n e i s a s t r o n g b a s e , b e in g s t r o n g e r t h a n A m m o n i a . I t f o r m s s a l t s w i t h a ll a c i d s a n d f o r m s s o a p s w i t h f a tt y a c i d s .
C O M M E R C I A L Q U A N T I T I E S A V A IL A B L E .
YORKSHIRE TAR DISTILLERS 17
CLECKHEATON - Y O R K S H I R E .
T E L . C L E C K H E A T O N /iT rN T E L E G R A M S . T O -
7 9 0 (5
L I N E S )V ilV
Y O T A R C LEC K H EA TO NMa r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
W h e n fu lly o p e n e d , th e sp ecially d e s ig n e d lo u v re s p ro v id e a n a l
m o s t in s ta n ta n e o u s c le a ra n c e o f fu rn e s , s m o k e e tc ., a n d , w h at is e q u a lly im p o r ta n t, give a d e q u a te n a tu r a l lig h tin g to th e w o r k s h o p s b elo w .
I t is o fte n d a n g e ro u s f o r ra in to fall th ro u g h th e o p e n r o o f o f a w o rk s h o p . In v ery lig h t ra in H ills S h u tte rs c a n be p a r tly c lo se d a n d still p e r m it a very h ig h p e rc e n ta g e o f e x tra c tio n .
In d riv in g r a in , sle e t, e tc ., th e S h u tte rs ca n b e c lo se d d o w n c o m p le te ly a n d th e y a r e th e n w e a th e r-tig h t. T h e clo sin g a ls o p r o v id e s lig h t o b s c u r a tio n f o r b la c k o u t.
H IL L S P A T E N T G L A Z IN G C O M P A N Y L IM IT E D
A L B IO N R O A D , W E S T B R O M W IC H . ’P H O N E : W E S T B R O M W IC H 1025 (6 lines) London Office W ar Address : 24, H EA TH H U R S T RO AD , H A M PSTEA D , N.W .3. ’Phone: H A M PSTE A D 0708
S H U T T E R V E N T I L A T I O N
f o r i n s t a n t c l e a r a n c e o f
F U M E S A N D S M O K E
from Foundries, Retort Houses, Furnace Buildings, etc., etc.
T h e S h u tte rs p r o v id e w h a t is in effect a m o v e a b le r o o f t o th e b u ild in g w h ic h , b y m e a n s o f steel lo u v re s in th e m selv es fo rm in g e x tr a c tio n v a n e s, c re a te e x tr a c tio n d r a u g h t. T h e lo u v re s a re f o rm e d o n b o th sid e s o f a c e n tra lly o p e r a te d d u a l g e a r u n i t ; e a c h sid e c a n b e o p e r a te d in d e p e n d e n tly in o r d e r
to fa c ilita te e x tr a c tio n in s tr o n g w in d s.
I n v e ry w e t w e a th e r, d riv in g sn o w a n d a t n ig h t th e y c a n b e c lo se d a n d fo rm c o m p le te w e a th c r - tig h tn e s s a n d lig h t o b s c u ra tio n .
A d e q u a te n a tu r a l lig h t to th e w o rk sh o p s below is a v a ila b le w hen (he s h u tte rs a re open.
BRITISH PATENT NOS. 536127, 536942 A N D 536943
M - W .5 4
* o r t h e
v V T 0
^ ^ LIQUORS
< r ...
W O R T H IN G T O N -S IM P S O
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
h a n d l e d
S team o r P o w e r D riv e n Pum ps.
D ry V acuum P um ps. W e t V acuum P um ps. C o m p re s so rs. S team J e t A ir E je c to rs an d Surface C o n d e n s e rs fo r O p e ra tin g w ith V acuum Pans.
^ H e a t E xch an g ers. j
W o rth in g to n -S im p so n ’s N a m e o n any M achine is a G u a ra n te e o f H igh
Q u a lity and R eliab le P erform an ce.
An In sta lla tio n o f tw e lv e e le c tric a lly -d riv e n H o ri
z o n ta l S p lit C a sin g C e n trifu g a l P u m p s a t an im p o r ta n t C h e m ica l W o r k s in t h e M idlands. T h e se u n its h a n d le a v a rie ty o f C h e m ica l S o lu tio n s u se d in v a rio u s m a n u fa c tu rin g p ro c e sse s.
W O R T H I N G T O N - S IM P S O N L T D . , N E W A R K - O N - T R E N T .
A . J. RILEY & SON, Ltd
BATLEY, YORKS
Teleg ra m s: " B O ILE R S . B A T L E Y. " Telephone: 657 B A T L E Y (3 lin es) E S T A B L IS H E D 1888 M a k e rs o f
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W IT H A G ITA T O R S SHEET LEAD O R H O M O G E N E O U S
LINED VESSELS T A R , B E N Z O LE & O IL STILLS C O N D E N S E R S , E V A PO R A TO RS
A N D DISTILLING PLAN TS MILD STEEL PIPES
ALL PRESSURES LA N C A SH IRE, C O R N IS H E C O N O M IC & W .T . BOILERS
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 94 5
the name to
m em orize gas d ryers for
and a ir
conditioning units
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T Y B U R N R D . , E R D I N G T O N , B I R M I N G H A M . 2 4
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v i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5
B A R BARBIT<
A L L O E
A C T U A L L Y M/
B 1 T D N E S(
A N D
3 A R B 1
O N E D L U B L E [ T O N E
D A T B A R N E T FIN EST QUALITY.
I N U F A C T U REI
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Q U E E N ’S RO AD - B A R N ET - H ERTS
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W e o ffe r a c c u m u la te d e x p e r ie n c e o f 50 y e a r s ’ sp e c ia liz a tio n .
O U R W O R K S , th e la rg e st in th e U n ite d K in g d o m d e v o te d e s p e c i
ally t o D RY IN G M A CH IN ER Y , a re laid o u t and e q u ip p e d w ith th e la te s t p la n t f o r th is p a rtic u la r p u rp o se .
M ANY S T A N D A R D SIZES in c lu d ing LA BO RA TO R Y M ODELS.
W e ha ve te s t p la n ts on a com m ercia l sc a le alw ays a vailab le
RICHARD SIMON & SONS, LTD.
PHŒNIX W O RKS, BASFORD, N O T T IN G H A M
M a r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
tooo
■ g
Ü B É M I
l i l i i
H
H P *
MR
1
SiWll
■
ROBÉY & CO. LTD
G L O B E W O R KS, LIN C O LN
v i i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5
Im perial
Made in Great Britain
Typewriters can now only be supplied under licence from the Board o f Trade
Imperial T ypew riter Com pany L td.
Leicester
ROYAL WORCESTER
o r a to r y D o r c e la in
W e a re th e larg est m akers in th e C o u n try o f L a b o ra to ry , S cientific a n d T e c h n ic a l P o rcelain . . . W e a re m ak in g a su p re m e effo rt to m a in tain a d eq u a te su p p lies to m ee t th e ev er-g ro w in g need s o t th e L ab o ra to rie s a n d R esearch S tatio n s o f w a r-tim e B rita in . . . S u p p lies can b e o b tain e d f r o m a ll r e p u t a b l e L a b o r a t o r y F u rn ish e rs.
TH E WORCESTER ROYAL PO R C ELA IN C O ., L T D .,
Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
The Research Chemist
T h e in terest aro u sed in th e public m in d by th e achievem ents o f the R esearch C hem ist is based prim arily on th e practical value o f his discoveries, bu t th e lay m in d has little u n d erstan d in g o f th e difficul
ties an d th e problem s enco u n tered b efo re la b o ra to ry synthesis c a n be tra n sla te d in to factory p ro d u ctio n . A fter th e d ra m a tic discovery com es th e generally far m o re difficult task o f m eeting th e d em an d occasioned by it, a n d such p roblem s have been acce n tu a te d d u rin g th e last few y ears by th e w o rry o f w artim e scarcities. P atience, reso u rce an d u n re m ittin g effort a re ju st as necessary in research a n d develop
m en t w ork as th e o ccasional flash o f in sp iratio n , a n d these qualities have helped th e chem ist to deal successfully w ith th e m any tro u b le so m e situ a tio n s w hich th e w a r has b ro u g h t.
T h e research w o rk ers o f M ay &
B aker have h ad th eir sh a re o f w ar
tim e difficulties to overcom e.
W ith o u t th e ir efforts m an y o f o u r cu sto m e rs w ould have been less satisfied w ith th e service we have been ab le to give them . P erh ap s th e p roblem s w hich face y o u fall w ith in the scope o f th eir experience?
If so, we sh o u ld be pleased to a tte m p t to solve them . T e le p h o n e : Ilford 3060. E xtensions 71 o r 72.
i U a y & B a l f e r L t d
D A G E N H A M
M & B Industrial Chemicals Series (No. 2a).
B A K E L A Q U E
Synthetic Resin Laminated Boards, Tubes, Rods, and
Mouldings
B A K ELA Q U E
Resins, Varnishes and Moulding Powders
MICA and MICANITE
in all forms
Vulcanised Fibre and Leatheroid
Varnished Cloth, Tape and Tubing
Presspahn, Fullerboard Ebonite and all Insulating Material for
Electrical Engineers
ATTWATER Ł SONS LT?
PRESTON
ESTABLISHED 1868
X T H E ^ C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5
S o le M a n u fa c tu re rs ,
PETER SPENCE & SONS LTD.
NATIONAL BUILDINGS ■ ST. M ARY'S PARSONAGE
M A N C H E S T E R , 3
LONDON O F F IC E : 7 7 8 / 7 8 0 SA LIS B U R Y HOUSE E.C2
A LARGE USER OF WATER. . .
a chemical manufacturen
?
H e ro Is th e rapid supply w a te r f ilte r y ou have b een lo o k in g fo r —-designed to su p p ly a la rg e and c o n s ta n t flow of PURE w a te r. T h e o u tp u t, d ep e n d in g o n th e a p p l i e d p re s s u re
and th e size of th e filte r, is fro m 150 gallons to 12,000 gallons p e r h o u r.
T h e se filte rs a re s t r o n g l y c o n str u c te d In galvan
ized Iro n and are te s te d to 100 lbs. to th e s q u a re Inch.
A nd th e y — w ith th e filte rin g m a teria l, e i th e r ca rb o n o r silica q u a r tz — can be clean ed In a few m in u te s. F o r full In fo rm atio n w r ite
BERKEFELD FILTERS
B erk efeld F ilters, L td. (D e p t. 61), S a rd in ia H o u se , Klngsway,. L ondon
The N O T T I N G H A M THERMOMETER
= CO. LTD. ... . P Y R O M E T R IC E Q U I P M E N T
ST E A M 0 W A T E R . F I T T I N G S FOR.ALL P U R . P O S ES
ENSURE T H E MAXIMUM OF EFFICIEN CY TO GETH ER WITH LONG L IF E UNDER
A L L WORKING CONDITIONS
A lso SA N D C A ST IN G S IN A LL N O N -FERRO U S M E T A L S IN C L U D IN G H IG H T E N S IL E B R O N Z E S & A LU M IN IU M
T rlo n lte L td ., C llffe V ale, Stoke-on-Trent PHONE ! «TOKt-ON-TRÏNT 2171-3
IN D IC A T O R S — W a ll T y p e , P o rta b le , M u lti-p o in t, Panel M o u n tin g .
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RESISTANCE TH ERM O M ETERS.
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GLASS STEM DIVIDED— R anges up t o 550° C . o r 1,000° F.
GLASS IN V A R IO U S METAL FITTINGS—
P ipe T y p e , Ja m , V arn ish , M o lten M etal, Q u e n c h in g B ath, B akers, D y e rs, Flue G as, e tc .
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M A N S F I E L D R O A D =
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E n g l a n dA L U M I N O F E R R I C
R E G D . T R A D E M A R K
T H E CH EA PEST FORM OF SULPHATE OF ALUM INA
® o . i 8
Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
d £ S o C
* ° j £ s d < £ S *
There’s money \\in the air
W h erev er so lv en ts a re u sed m o n ey Y\ w h e th e r a n active c a rb o n reco v ery p lan t literally tak es to th e a ir a s th e re su lt w o u ld b e a w o rth -w h ile p ro p o s itio n , o u r
o f e v a p o ra tio n a n d in m a n y in d u stria l a d v iso ry d e p a rtm e n t c a n c le a r th e a ir by p lan ts th is w astage c a n b e v ery serio u s. ^ su p p ly in g y o u w ith th e n ecessary details.
T h e re isn’t th e sp ace h e re to list all
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M e l b o u r n e A g e n t s — M e s s r s . H . R . Hi l l & S o n , P ty , L t d ., 350 K in g S t r e e t .
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M IC R O S C O P IC A L E Q U I P M E N T . pH M ETERS, ET C ., ETC .
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CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
IN S T O N E W A R E and SP ECIA L M ETALS
P u ls o m e te r-D o u lto n S to n e w a r e A cid P u m p
Is A c id -p ro o f N o n -p o ro u s U n a ffe c te d by te m p e r a t u r e ch an g es.
W ill n o t c o n ta m in a te o r d is c o lo u r liq u id s.
List N o . 2778
D e sig n e d t o m e e t In d u stria l re q u ir e m e n ts f o r A ll-B rltlsh p u m p s o f high efficiency th a t w ill c o m p e te a d v a n ta g e o u sly w ith an y C h e m ica l p u m p on th e w o rld m a r k e t.
S tan d a rd sizes c o v e r a larg e ran g e of p a tte r n s .
Oulsometer engineering CU...
t li n e £ l m s Iro n w o rk s .
Reading.
FO R T H E T R E A T M E N T O F O ILS A N D FATS
H IG H EST G R A D E O F P R O D U C T • L O W E S T REFIN IN G LOSSES MAXIMUM C O N T R O L A N D FLEXIBILITY IN O P E R A T IO N
COMPLETE FACTO RY INSTALLATIONS FOR THE PROCESSING OF A N I M A L , V E G E T A B L E A N D M A R I N E O I L S & F A T S
B A M A O
B A M A G L I M I T E D
U N I V E R S A L H O U S E . 6 0 B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E R D .. L O N D O N . S . W . I .
O n W a r O ffice and A d m ira lty Lists. T e le p h o n e , S lo an e 9282
Ob
The Chemical Age
A W eekly Journal Devoted to In d u strial and E ngin eering C hem istry
B O U V E R I E H O U S E , 154 F L E E T S T R E E T , L O N D O N , E .C .4
T e le g ra m s: A L L A N G A S F L E E T L O N D O N T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 12 (10 lines) GLA SG O W : 1 16 H ope S tre e t (C entral 3 9 7°) B IR M IN G H A M : D a im le r H o u se , P a ra d ise S tr e e t (M id lan d 0784-3) T H É C H E M IC A L A G E offices a re closed on S a tu rd a y s in ac co rd an c e w ith th e a d o p tio n of th e fiv e -d a y w eek b y
B en n B ro th e rs L im ited i y \
V O L . L I I
N o. 1 3 4 3.
March 24, 1945
al Subscription 2 1s.Overseas 26s
Com placency in the C hem ical Industry T
H E o p in io n o f t e c h n o lo g is ts w hoh a v e v is ite d B r i ta i n f r o n t o th e r l a n d s d u r i n g th e w a r h a s b e e n c r itic a l.
T h e s e m e n h a v e c o m e to B r i ta i n to see w h a t w e a r e d o in g a n d to e n d e a v o u r to h e lp u s to im p r o v e p r o d u c tio n in th e c o m m o n i n te r e s t. I t m a y b e t h a t th e m e th o d s t h a t s u i t o t h e r c o u n tr ie s w ill n o t s u i t u s. O u r to ta l p r o d u c tio n m a y b e s m a ll e r , so t h a t m a s s p r o d u c tio n m e th o d s m a y n o t b e a p p l i c a b l e ; o r, a s in c o a l m in in g , o u r c o n d itio n s m a y n o t s u i t m a c h in e s d e s ig n e d f o r q u ite o th e r c o n d itio n s .
T h e r e a r e , h o w e v e r , s t a n d a r d p r o c e s se s to w h ic h th e s e q u a lif ic a tio n s c a n n o t a p p ly . I n th e s e p r o c e s s e s th e r e m a y b e in e ffic ie n c e s o f w h ic h w e a r e n o t a w a r e , o q to w h ic h w e d e li b e r a t e l y c lo s e o u r m in d s b e c a u s e w e d o n o t w a n t to c h a n g e . “ I f it is
n o t n e c e s s a r y to c h a n g e , ” s a id L o rd F a l k l a n d , “ it is n e c e s s a r y n o t to c h a n g e . ” T h a t m a y b e t r u e o f th e g o v e r n m e n t o f a c o u n tr y . I t is n o t t r u e o f in d u s tr y . A n e x a m p le m a y b e d r a w n fro m i r o n a n d s te e l m a n u f a c tu r e . O n e o f th e k e y o p e r a t io n s in t h a t i n d u s t r y is th e o p e n - h e a r th f u r n a c e in w h ic h t h e m e ta l is m e l t e d , i m p u r itie s a r e r e m o v e d fro m it, a n d it is c o p v e r te d in to s te e l o f th e
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T h e T r e n d o f W a r-T im e E a rn in g s 266 N e w C hem ical A p p a ra tu s ... 268 P erso n a l N o te s ... ... ... 269 G en era l N ew s fro m W e e k to W e e k 270 F o rth co m in g E ve n ts ... 272 C o m p a n y N ew s ... 272 C om m ercial In te llig e n c e ... 273 N e w C om panies R e g iste red ... 273 S to c k s a n d S h a res ... 274 B ritis h C hem ical P rices ... 274
c a r b o n c o n te n t d e s ir e d . T h e s te e l i n d u s t r y w a s q u ite s a tis fie d w ith its o p e n - h e a r th f u r n a c e p r a c tic e . E a c h w o rk s m a n a g e r o p e r a te d h is s h o p s a c c o r d in g to h is l ig h t s a n d e a c h k n e w in h is o w n m in d t h a t h is w o r k w a s w e ll d o n e . T h e n , h o w e v e r , so m e 20 o r 25 y e a r s a g o a fu e l e x p e r t w a s a p p o in te d to th e in d u s t r y , w h o s t a r te d to a s k h o w th e r e s u l ts f r o m o n e w o r k s c o m p a r e d w ith th o s e f r o m a n o th e r a n d h o w B r itis h p r a c t ic e c o m p a r e d w ith f o r e ig n . U l t im a te l y , a m e e tin g w a s c o n v e n e d a t w h ic h , a f t e r s o m e d iffic u lty , th e b a t t l e m e n ts o f s e lf - c o m p la c e n c y a n d m u tu a l s u s p ic io n w e r e s c a le d a n d o v e rc o m e . T h e r e s u l ts s h o w e d s u c h s t r i k i n g d if f e r e n c e s b e tw e e n w o r k s in th is c o u n tr y a n d l e f t so m u c h to b e d e s ir e d b e tw e e n th e r e s u l ts o f o u r w o r k s a n d th o s e o f so m e
f o r e ig n w o r k s , t h a t a t h o r o u g h i n v e s ti g a tio n w a s u n d e r ta k e n t h r o u g h th e o fficial c h a n n e ls o f th e s te e l i n d u s t r y — th e B r itis h I r o n a n d S te e l F e d e r a t io n a n d th e I r o n a n d S te e l I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h C o u n c il.
T h e r e s u l t h a s b e e n a n o t a b l e i m p r o v e m e n t in B r itis h o p e n - h e a r t h s te e l p r a c tic e . W e b e lie v e , t h o u g h in th is w e w r ite w i t h o u t c o m p le te i n f o r m a tio n , t h a t B r itis h p r a c t ic e is . n o w th e e q u a l o f a n y f o r e ig n p r a c tic e . W h a t th is 257
258 258 259 264 264 265
255
2 5 6 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 m e a n s in c o m p e titiv e p o w e r a b r o a d , a n d
c o s ts o f p r o d u c ti o n a t h o m e c a n w e ll b e im a g in e d . I t w a s o b ta in e d b y c o o p e r a t io n b e tw e e n m a n u f a c t u r e r s w h o w e r e in c o m p e titio n o n e w ith a n o th e r .
W h e r e d o e s th e c h e m ic a l in d u s t r y s ta n d ? A re w e so c e r t a i n t h a t e a c h w o rk s h a s t h a t l i t t l e s o m e th in g t h a t its n e ig h b o u r h a s n o t g o t t h a t w e v e il o u r d o i n g s i n a c lo u d o f s e c re c y a s th e s te e l i n d u s t r y o n c e d id ? D o w e th in k w e k n o w a l l th e r e is to b e k n o w n ? H e a v e n k n o w s , w e h a v e n o c a u s e f o r c o m p la c e n c y . M r. W i l l i a m B a tt , v ic e -
c h a i r m a n o f A m e r ic a ’s W a r P r o d u c tio n B o a r d a n d U .S . m e m b e r o f th e c o m b in e d P r o d u c t io n a n d R e s o u r c e s B o a r d , h a s t o ld u s b l u n t l y t h a t B r i ti s h in d u s tr y m u s t “ w a k e u p o r p a c k u p . E v e n b e f o re th e w a r , ” h e s a y s , “ B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y h a d f a l l e n h o p e le s s ly b e h in d th e tim e s . I t s tu c k to m e th o d s a n d to o ls o f its g r a n d f a t h e r s ’ d a y a n d w a s q u ite in c a p a b l e o f m e e tin g m o d e r n c o m p e titio n . S t i ll le s s w ill i t b e a b le to c o m p e te in th e w o r ld o f to - m o r r o w . I t is B r i t a i n ’s t r a g e d y t h a t r i g h t n o w sh e is le a s t f itte d to d o th e t h in g s s h e n e e d s to d o , in th e a r e a w h e r e i t is m o s t e s s e n t ia l t h a t s h e s h o u ld d o th e m — r e s t o r a t io n o f th e w o r ld e x p o r t m a r k e t s . ”
W e h a v e m a n y e s ta b lis h e d b r a n c h e s o f c h e m ic a l m a n u f a c t u r e in th is c o u n tr y . C o u ld n o t th e y a ls o b e n e f it b y c o m b in e d a c tio n ? C o n c r e te e x a m p le s a r e a lw a y s b e tt e r t h a n g e n e r a li t ie s . S u p p o s e w e s e le c t th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f s u l p h u r i c a c id a s a n e x a m p le . M a n y w o r k s m a k e a c id a s p a r t o f t h e i r i n t e r n a l p r o d u c tio n , m a n y s e ll a c id to o th e r s . M r. P . P a r r i s h ( T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , J a n u a r y 8, 1944) s u g g e s ts th a t o u r h o m e p ro d u c tio n o f s u l p h u r i c a c id m ig h t w e ll b e 2,000,000 to n s . I t is w e ll k n o w n to a c id m a k e r s t h a t th e r e a r e , b e tw e e n w o r k s u s i n g th e s a m e p r o c e s s e s , d if f e r e n c e s in y ie ld a m o u n t i n g to a t l e a s t 10 p e r c e n t., a n d i t is s a f e to s a y t h a t t h e y ie ld o f a c id p e r u n i t o f s u l p h u r c o u ld b e i n c r e a s e d o n m o s t w o r k s f r o m 2 to 5 p e r c e n t.
T h is w o u ld m e a n g r e a t e r p r o d u c tio n , d e c r e a s e d c o s ts , a n d le s s i m p o r te d s u l p h u r . T h e r e is c le a r l y r o o m fo r i m p r o v e m e n t a n d f o r c o n c e r te d a c tio n . T o q u o te M r. P a r t i s h (lo c . c it., p . 3 3 ),
“ I t is w r o n g to a s s u m e t h a t n o o p p o r t u n i t y e x is ts f o r r e s e a r c h i n th e s u l p h u r i c a c id i n d u s tr y . A t t h e p r e s e n t tim e a l a r g e n u m b e r o f m a n u f a c t u r e r s t a k e th e
l in e o f l e a s t r e s i s t a n c e , a n d m a n u f a c t u r e s u l p h u r i c a c id f r o m s u l p h u r . T h is is a r e l a t i v e l y s im p le p r o c e s s , c a p a b le o f e a s y c o n tr o l , a n d p o s s e s s in g f le x ib ility a s r e g a r d s p r o d u c ti o n , if o n e k n o w s (a ) h o w to u t il i s e c h a m b e r s p a c e to th e b e s t p o s s ib le a d v a n t a g e , a n d (b) h o w to a p p o r ti o n th e G lo v e r a n d G a y - L u s s a c to w e r s s u ita b ly . B u t th e m a n u f a c t u r e o f s u l p h u r i c a c id f r o m a n h y d r it e o r s p e n t o x id e w ith H3S - c o n ta in in g g a s e s , o r e v e n w ith p y r i te s , is a m o r e d iffic u lt p r o b le m . Y e t th e p o s s ib ilitie s f o r th e p r o d u c ti o n o f c h e a p s u l p h u r i c a c id a r e m o r e a l l u r i n g , b e c a u s e th e d if f e r e n c e in th e u n i t p r ic e o f th e r e s p e c tiv e q u a li t ie s o f s u l p h u r le a v e s a m a r g i n w h ic h c a n b e p r o f ita b ly e x p lo ite d , g iv e n c o r r e c t d e s ig n a n d o r d e r e d c o n t r o l . ”
S t i l l p u r s u i n g th is s u b je c t v is - à - v is a c id m a n u f a c t u r e , o u r r e a d e r s m a y be r e m in d e d t h a t a n u m b e r o f s u g g e s tio n s f o r r e s e a r c h o r im p r o v e m e n t w e re m a d e in M r. P a r r i s h ’s 1945 a r t i c l e ( T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , J a n u a r y 13, p . 40).
A ll b u r n e r s a r e n o t e q u a l l y s u ite d fo r b u r n i n g e v e r y siz e o f p y r ite s . W h y s h o u ld n o t th e i n d u s t r y u n d e r ta k e to s c r e e n th e r a w m a t e r i a l a t th e p o r t o f e n tr y a n d d e s p a tc h th e s e v e r a l siz e s to w o rk s t h a t c a n b e s t u s e th e m ? W e d o th is f o r c o a l. W h y s h o u ld n o t e v e r y w o r k s p r o d u c e p o w e r f r o m t h e h e a t o f c o m b u s tio n o f th e s u l p h u r it u s e s ? T h e r e a r e d if f ic u ltie s —b u t d if f ic u ltie s a r e th e r e to b e o v e rc o m e . W h y s h o u ld a c id m a k e r s n o t h a v e a n e x p e r t s ta ff to m a k e a s u r v e y o f e v e r y a c id p l a n t w ith a v ie w to its im p r o v e m e n t, a s h a s b e e n - d o n e in th e ir o n a n d s te e l i n d u s t r y ? W h a t a r e t h e p o s s ib ilitie s o f d e s i g n in g s t a n d a r d is e d e q u ip m e n t f o r a c id m a n u f a c t u r e ? W h y c a n n o t th e p r o p o s e d c e n t r a l s ta f f b e e m p o w e r e d tp e r e c t a n d o p e r a t e p i lo t p l a n t s f o r c e r t a i n n e w p r o c e s s e s n o t u s e d in th is c o u n tr y , e .g . , th e s i m u lt a n e o u s p r o d u c tio n o f s u l p h u r i c a n d n i tr i c a c id s ?
I n s e l e c ti n g s u l p h u r i c a c id m a n u f a c t u r e a s t h e t e x t f o r th is s u g g e s t i o n , w e m u s t m a k e it c l e a r t h a t it is n o m o re t h a n a n e x a m p le c h o s e n to i l l u s t r a t e w h a t w e b e lie v e to b e a p r i n c i p l e o f g e n e r a l a p p li c a t io n . B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y w ill s u r v iv e , a n d p r o s p e r in th e f u t u r e o n ly in so f a r a s i t is e ffic ie n t. T e c h n ic a l e ffic ie n c y is th e b a s is o f m a n y i n d u s t r ie s a n d o f th e c h e m ic a l i n d u s t r y s u p r e m e ly . I t d o e s n o t m a t t e r w h e th e r firm A in
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h i g h e r e ffic ie n c y th a n firm B in L o n d o n . I t d o e s n o t m a t t e r if firm C in G la s g o w c a n p r o d u c e a t a s l i g h t l y lo rv e r c o s t t h a n e it h e r firm A o r B a n d t h u s u n d e r s e l l i ts c o m p e tito r s o r m a k e a l i t t l e m o re p r o f it W h a t w ill m a t t e r s u p r e m e ly is t h a t B r i ti s h i n d u s t r y a s a w h o le s h a l l b e a t le a s t a s e ffic ie n t, a n d s h a l l b e a b le to p r o d u c e a t a s lo w a c o s t, a s th e p a r a l l e l i n d u s t r ie s o f o t h e r c o u n tr ie s . T o t h a t e n d w e a s k t h a t th e c h e m ic a l in d u s tr y s h a ll fa c e th e f u t u r e r e a l i s t i c a l l y a n d
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X th e s e d a y s , w h e n th e r e is so u r g e n t a d e m a n d f o r s c ie n tific id e a s o f a c o n s t r u c t i v e n a t u r e , i t is w e ll t h a t e v e r y e n c o u r a g e m e n t s h o u ld b e g iv e n to a ll c la s s e s o f th e c o m m u n ity in w h ic h s u c h id e a s a r e c a p a b le o f d e v e l o p m e n t ; a n d if a n e w s o u r c e c a n b e t a p p e d , so m u c h th e b e tte r . A s w e g o to p r e s s , w e h a v e g o o d r e a s o n to b e lie v e t h a t a h is to r ic e v e n t is t a k i n g p l a c e w h ic h m a y w e ll b e a b i g s te p to w a r d s th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f a n e w r e s e r v o i r o f s c ie n tific a b ility . O n T h u r s d a y o f th is w e e k th e R o y a l S o c ie ty is e le c t i n g n e w F e llo w s , a n d it is b e lie v e d to b e a s g o o d a s c e r t a i n th a t it w ill h a v e e le c te d i ts f ir s t w o m e n F e llo w s — i f w e e x c e p t Q u e e n V ic to r ia , w h o w a s e x o f fi c io P r e s i d e n t o f th e S o ciety '. T h e n o m in a te d w o m e n a r e : M rs. K a t h le e n L o n s d a le , a p h y 'sic is t o f th e R o y a l I n s t i t u t i o n , a n d D r . M a r jo r y S te p h e n s o n , th e C a m b r id g e b io c h e m is t..I t is p r o f o u n d l y to b e h o p e d t h a t th e r e c o g n itio n o f t h e i r b r i l l i a n t w o rk w ill s e r v e a s a n e n c o u r a g e m e n t to o th e r w o m e n to d e v o te th e m s e lv e s to s c ie n tific r e s e a r c h w o rk .
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m a k e a s e r io u s a t t e m p t to a s c e r t a i n w h e th e r c o m b in e d e ffo rt c a n n o t d o s o m e th i n g t h a t i n d iv i d u a l is o la te d m a n a g e m e n t h a s n o t b e e n a b le to a c h ie v e , b e a r i n g in m in d w h a t th is c o - o p e r a tiv e s y s te m h a s d o n e f o r i r o n a n d s te e l.
T h e r e a r e o b je c tio n s . O f c o u r s e th e r e a r e . W e c a n t h in k o f a d o z e n , o u r s e lv e s . B u t, a s D r . J o h n s o n s a id , “ N o t h i n g w ill e v e r b e a tt e m p t e d if a ll p o s s ib le o b je c tio n s m u s t firs t b e o v e r c o m e .” W h y n o t m a k e s u l p h u r i c a c id m a n u f a c t u r e a te s t c a s e , a n d se e w h a t c a n b e d o n e ?
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D u r i n g th e w a r , th e n e e d f o r e c o n o m y in f u e l, a n d th e a c t i v it i e s o f th e F u e l E ffic ie n c y C o m m itte e o f th e M in is tr y o f F u e l a n d P o w e r h a v e s t i m u l a te d i n te r e s t , w ith th e r e s u l t t h a t th e r e is n o w le s s w a s te o f f u e l a n d le s s p o llu tio n . T h e r e is r o o m , h o w e v e r , f o r f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t a n d it is to be h o p e d t h a t th e r e w ill b e n o s l a c k e n in g o f e ffo rt in th is d ir e c tio n a f t e r th e w a r . ” T h e a b o v e q u o ta tio n , d r a w n f r o m th e C h a d w ic k L e c tu r e , d e li v e r e d o n M a r c h 13 b y D r. A. P a r k e r , D ir e c to r o f F u e l R e s e a r c h a t th e D . S . I . R . , g i v e s a p r e tt y g o o d id e a o f a s u b je c t to w h ic h a l l o f u s , a s f u e l u s e r s , w h e t h e r d o m e s tic o r in d u s t r i a l , w ill h a v e to g iv e o u r im m e d ia te a tt e n ti o n . T h e t i t l e o f th e l e c t u r e w a s
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P ollu tion : Its Cause and Cure
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O L L U T I O N f r o m c o a l, b e f o re th e w a r , c o s t th is c o u n tr y a m a t t e r o f ,£50 m illio n p e r a n n u m ; a n d m e th o d s a r e n o w a v a i l a b l e , s a id D r . P a r k e r , b y w h ic h c o n s id e r a b le r e d u c t io n c a n b e a c h ie v e d . P r o g r e s s , h o w e v e r , m u s t n e e d s b e g r a d u a l if th e d e m a n d s fo r c e r t a i n ty p e s o f f u e l a r e n o t to o u t s t r ip th e s u p p ly . E ffic ie n c y in m e th o d in s e v e r a l d ir e c tio n s c a n e ffe c t a n i m p r o v e m e n t, e .g . , in i m p r o v e d c o a l- w a s h in g p r a c t ic e , a n d in th e a c t u a l u s e o f f u e l — f o r e ffic ie n t u s e w ill c a u s e le s s f u e l to b e b u r n t . T h e r e a r e a l r e a d y in e x is t e n c e h i g h l y e ffe c tiv e m e th o d s w h e re b y s m o k e c a n b e p r a c t i c a l l y e li m i n a t e d in l a r g e m o d e r n b o ile r i n s t a l l a t i o n s , a n d th e s e m ig h t w e ll b e e x te n d e d to o th e rT H É C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 b o i le r a n d f u r n a c e p l a n t s . I n a d d it i o n ,
t h e r e a r e p r o c e s s e s w h ic h r e m o v e th e s u l p h u r o x id e s fro m c h im n e y g a s e s b e f o r e d is c h a r g e to a t m o s p h e r e ; b u t th e s e a r e n e it h e r c h e a p n o r e a s ily o p e r a t e d , a n d , a l t h o u g h th e ta s k o f r e m o v i n g th e s e d iffic u ltie s is in h a n d , n o i m m e d ia te s o lu tio n , is in s ig h t. T h e F u e l R e s e a r c h S t a t i o n 's w o r k o v e r th e l a s t fe w y e a r s h a s r e s u l te d in th e e v o lu tio n o f s im p le a n d e a s ily - o p e r a te d e q u ip m e n t to m o d ify th e d o o rs o f L a n c a s h ir e a n d m a r in e b o ile r s , w h e r e b y th e e m is s io n o f sm o k e c a n b e p r a c t i c a l l y e li m in a t e d , a n d th e v a lu e o f th is e q u ip m e n t h a s a l r e a d y b e en f u l l y d e m o n s tr a te d . R e m a in s th e d o m e s tic fire , r e l a t i v e l y th e w o r s t o ffe n d e r.
N e w d e s ig n s o f g r a t e , r e d u c i n g th e a m o u n t o f s m o k e to a b o u t h a l f h a v e b e e n d e s ig n e d , b u t a r e n o t y e t in g e n e r a l u se , a n d in th e l o n g r u n it w o u ld s e e m t h a t , so f a r a s d o m e s tic a p p li a n c e s a r e c o n c e r n e d , e n c o u r a g e m e n t s h o u ld b e g iv e n to t h e u s e o f c o k e , g a s , a n d e le c t r i c i t y in p la c e o f c o a l, w ith in e c o n o m ic lim its , i f a tm o s p h e r ic p o l lu t i o n is to b e g r e a t l y re d u c e d .
Im p orts to India
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F I R S T s te p in th e a b o litio n o f w a r tim e i m p o r t c o n tr o ls h a s b e e n ta k e n in I n d i a b y th e is s u e a t N e w D e lh i 011 M a r c h 2 o f a n O p e n G e n e ra l L ic e n c e , w h ic h w ill e n a b l e a n y I n d i a n i m p o r te r to im p o r t f r o m th e U n i t e d K in g d o m a w id e r a n g e o f c o n s u m e r g o o d s w ith o u t a n i m p o r t lic e n c e . B e s id e s t h e e x p e c te d ite m s , s u c h a s c l o t h i n g , e le c t r i c a l h o u s e h o ld a p p li a n c e s , a n d p a p e r a n d b o o k s , c e r t a i n p h a r m a c e u t ic a l s a n d c h e m ic a ls a r e a ls o c o v e r e d b v th e lic e n c e , a s w e ll a s p h o t o g r a p h i c g o o d s , t o ile t r e q u is ite s , a n d g l a s s b o ttle s a n d g la s s w a r e . A c o m p le te lis t w ill b e p u b l is h e d in th e n e x t is s u e o f t h z. B o a r d o f T r a d e J o u r n a l.T h e a c tio n ta k e n in I n d i a , w e a r e i n f o r m e d , h a s b e e n r e n d e r e d p o s s ib le b y th e i m p r o v e d s h i p p i n g p o s itio n a n d is d e s ig n e d to e n c o u r a g e in c r e a s e d E x p o rts f r o m th e U n ite d K in g d o m to I n d i a o f c o n s u m e r g o o d s o f w h ic h I n d i a s ta n d s b a d ly in n e e d . T h e a b o litio n o f th e I n d i a n im p o r t l ic e n s in g f o r m a l i ti e s , w h ic h h a v e b e e n in fo rc e s in c e 1942 fo r th e c la s s e s o f g o o d s i n v o lv e d , s h o u ld e n a b le U n ite d K in g d o m t r a d e r s to i n c r e a s e t h e i r 's a l e s in th e I n d i a n m a r k e t a s a d d it i o n a l s u p p lie s b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e in th e i m m e d ia te f u t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y a f te r
th e e n d o f th e w a r w ith G e r m a n y . T h e r e m o v a l o f i m p o r t r e s t r ic ti o n s b y a n o v e r s e a s i m p o r t i n g c o u n tr y s u c h a s I n d i a is c o m p le m e n ta r y to th e a c tio n ta k e n in th e U n ite d K in g d o m to f r e e a s w id e a r a n g e o f g o o d s a s p o s s ib le f r o m e x p o r t c o n tr o l a n d th u s e n a b l e e x p o r t t r a d e to i n c r e a s e to th e m a x im u m e x te n t p o s s ib le w ith th e r e s t r ic te d la b o u r f o rc e a v a i l a b l e to m a n u f a c t u r e r s a n d s h ip p e r s .
Royal Society
D i s t r i b u t i o n o f S t a t e G r a n t s
T
H E R oyal S o ciety h a s been in fo rm e d by th e T re a s u ry t h a t th e follow ing g ra n ts , w hich a re a d m in iste re d by th e S o ciety , h av e been p ro v id ed in th e e stim a te s fo r th e fiscal y e a r 1945-46 : fo r scientific in v e stig a tio n s , £14,000, fo r scientific p u b lic a tio n , £7000, an d fo r scientific co n g resses,£1600. I n view b o tli of th e g re a te r am o u n ts a v a ila b le a n d of th e p re se n t c h a n g ing co n d itio n s, th e S o ciety h as d ecid ed t h a t m o re fre q u e n t a llo c atio n w as d e sira b le . T h e la s t d a te s fo r m ak in g a llo c a tio n s a re : fo r g r a n ts fo r scien tific in v e s tig a tio n s, M a rch 31, J u ly 31, a n d N o v em b er 30, 1945; fo r g r a n ts for scientific p u b licatio n , -Tunc 15 and N ovem ber 15, 1945.
A Courtauld Endowm ent
C h a i r o f C h e m i c a l E n g i n e e r i n g
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O U R T A U L D S , L T D ., h av e d e cid ed to endow a C h a ir of C h em ical E n g in e e ring a t th e Im p e ria l C ollege of S cience and T ech n o lo g y , a S chool of th e U n iv ersity of L o n d o n , w hich h as h ad 110 pro fesso r i p 'th i s s u b je c t fo r som e y e ars p a st.
A n n o u n cin g th is d ecisio n in h is an n u a l s ta te m e n t, M r. S am u el C o u rta u ld , a fte r h av in g m ade re fe re n c e to th e reso lu tio n passe d by th e b o a rd la s t J u n e to p ro v id e
£500,000 fo r th e e n co u ra g em e n t of in d e p e n d e n t scien tific an d tech n o lo g ical re s e a rc h a t th e u n iv e rs itie s , p o in te d o u t t h a t it n eces
sa rily to o k a good d e al o f tim e to b a la n ce th e d iffere n t cla im s a n d to give th em final effect, b u t t h a t th e en d o w m en t of th e above-m en tio n ed c h a ir w as a lre a d y “ defi
n ite ly s e ttle d .”
Mr. T . Ma r t i n succeeds Mr. T . H . He w l e t t, M .P ., J . P . , as m an a g in g d ire c to r of th e A n c h o r C h em ical C o., L td . M r.
M a rtin h as b e en asso c iated w ith th e com p a n y fo r som e 30 y e a rs, a n d w as la tte r ly a s s is ta n t m an a g in g d ire c to r. M r. H e w le tt w as o n e of th e first d ire c to rs w hen th e com p a n y w as fo rm ed in 1907 ; h e w as a p p o in te d m a n a g in g d ire c to r in 1923 an d c h a irm a n in 1935, a n d th is la s t p o sitio n h e re ta in s .
Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E 2 5 9
’N IT R O G E N IN L E T
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N IT R O G E N O IL IN L E T IN L E T N O Z ZLE
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TA PE RE D ^ c a r b o n H E A R T H '
BLO C K
' PO KIN G AND C L O S U R E S H A F T
CO N TRO LS Q U E N C H IN G 1
C O N E S C R A P E R
S H A F T W J R I V E CONE
SU M P V E R T IC A L
R A M S H A F T
H O R IZO N TA L RAM
M agnesium Production—II
D evelopm ents in T herm al Reduction P rocesses
b y D . D . H O W A T , B .S c ., P h .D ., F .R .I .C ., A .M .I .C h e m .E . (1C ontinued fro m T h e C h e m i c a l A g e , M a r c h 1 7 , 1 9 4 5 , p . 2 4 3 )
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H E F o r d M otor Co. lias p a te n te d 1“ a re d u c tio n fu rn ac e d esig n ed to use oil as tbc shock-cooling m edium , th e m ain outlines of th e p la n t being phown in F ig s. 5 a n d 6, As ind icated in these figures, th e m ain body of th e fu rn ace is cylindrical in cross-section w ith singlc-phase electric pow er supplied to two directly-opposed v ertical electrodes. A bolted steel casing houses refractory brick in su latin g lin in g , w hile th e a c tu a l w alls of (he furnace are form ed by carbon blocks.cooled copper electrode sleeve encloses the u p p e r electrode, while a .stream of nitro g en is in tro d u ced th ro u g h a channel in th e elec
tro d e holder. A ccording, to th e p a te n t, the nitro g en stre am raises th e pressure w ith in th e furnaces to slig h tly above atm ospheric, while th e direction of flow of th e nitro g en p re v en ts co ndensation of magne.sium vapour on th e cooler p a rts of th e electrode or th e g land.
A tapered carbon block held w ith in a steel
E L E C T R O G LA N D
S T E E L S L E E V E
H A R G E F E E D P I P E
V E R T IC A L RAH C H A M B E R
F i g . 5 . F o r d M o t o r C o .’s c a r b o - t h e r m i c r e d u c t i o n f u r n a c e , s h o w i n g t h e a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h e o i l - q u e n c h i n g m e c h a n i s m i n t h e c o n e in r e l a t i o n to t h e f u r n a c e
( B .P . 5 5 9 ,8 6 6 ).
F i g . 5 a .
T h e ¿m all size of th e a c tu a l fu rn ace cham ber in relatio n to th e size of th e body should be noted as it c o n stitu tes a definite featu re of all electric arc furnaces used for th e carbo- th erm ic red u ctio n of m agnesia. A w ater-
housing bolted to th e base of tile fu rn ace form s th e h e arth of th e furnace ch am b er, th e charge being in tro d u c ed u p w ard s th ro u g h a c en tral hole in th is block. Tw o h y d rau lic ra m s , one h o riz o n ta l a n d th e o th e r v e rtic a l,
2 6 o T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ma r c h 2 4 , 1 9 4 5 are em ployed to produce a com pact charge
and to force th e com pressed m ate ria l u p into th e fu rn ace cham ber. T h e charge is in tr o duced in to th e ho rizo n tal ram ch am b er by a feed pipe, th e ram th en forcing th e p a r
tially com pacted charge in to th e ch am b er of th e v ertical ram . A ir, expelled from the ch arg e, escapes, p a st th e pisto n s. W h en in position, th e charge m u st act as p a rt of the electrical circu it in th e fu ih a c e, hence the necessity for th e expulsion of all a ir an d the production of a h ig h ly com pact m ate ria l. B y in terlo ck in g th e feed of th e v ertical ram w ith th e pow er in p u t to th e electrode, th e charge is forced u p w ard s a t a controlled ra te , so th a t th e top layer of m ate ria l is m ain tain ed a t th e level of th e base of th e furnace c h am b er. C onsiderable side th ru s ts are set up d u rin g th e m ovem ent of th e ch arg e, and it has been found necessary to form the carb o n base blocks of th e fu rn ace in the tap ered fashion alread y in d icated .
A gaseous m ix tu re of m agnesium m etal vapour a n d carbon m onoxide, to g eth er w ith th e n itro g en in tro d u ced a t th e electrode holder, passes th ro u g h th e ta p hole to the cone. As show n in F ig . 0, the cone com prises tw o sectio n s, th e fro n t po rtio n , shaped like a fru stu m of a cone, flaring o u tw ard s from th e tap-hole, w hile th e back portion, sh ap ed like a hollow cylinder, is provided w ith a n explosion d iap h rag m , a sum p, and jo u rn als for a n assem bly of sh a fts . T h e flared portion of th e cone is oil-jacketcd and is equipped w ith a rin g of je ts th ro u g h w hich oil is sprayed in to th e in te rio r. An o u ter ja c k e t aro u n d each je t allow s n itro g en to be in tro d u ced in to th e cone. T h e in n e r jet
Oil INLET
F i g . 6 . E n l a r g e d v ie w o f q u e n c h i n g c o n e (se e F i g . 5 ) , s h o w in g r e l a t i o n o f t a p h o l e , o il s p r a y s , a n d p o k i n g a n d
s c r a p e r s h a f t s ( B .P . 5 5 9 ,8 6 6 ) . tu b e is replaceable and is rem oved when th e nozzle becomes blocked. B y in tro d u c in g a stream of n itro g en th e je t tu b e m ay be replaced w ith o u t a ir finding its w ay in to th e cone. As show n in d etail in F ig . 6 , the
wall of th e fu rn ace body is c o n stru cted w ith a su itab le recess into w hich th e 'ta p e r e d p a rt of th e condensing cone fits, so sh o rte n in g th e len g th of pas.sage 'b e tw e e n th e arc and th e p o in t a t w hich condensation begins. T h is facto r is of v ita l im portance in th e design of an y fu rn ace/co n d en ser u n it in m agnesium reduction by carbon. F ig . 6 shows how7 the o u te r ivall of th e cone a b u ts a g ain st a tap ered rin g in th e fu rn ace casing. H oused w ith in the cone are th ree concentric sh afts.
T he innerm ost sh a ft carries a t its end a ream er w hich m ay be forced in to th e tap hole of th e fu rn ace to rem ove accretions, th is ream er s h a ft being operated by an external handle. T h e c en tral a p e rtu re in th e cone m ay be closed by a scaling device carried on th e end of the in te rm ed iate sh aft.
M ounted on th e ex terio r of th e seal sh a ft is a scrap er sh a ft fitted w ith ex ten d in g arm s and scrap er blade.s. R o ta tin g ju s t w ithin th e cone w alls, these scraper blades remove an y deposited m aterial w h e th er of m agnesium m etal v a p o u r or slag. T h is assem bly of sh a fts is su p p o rted by two jo u rn als as in d i
c ated in F ig . 5.
T h e fu rn ace body, including th e c h arg in g m echanism , is m ovable, being su p p o rted on w heels ru n n in g on rails, a rra n g e d in th e form of a n arc of a circle (arran g e m en t ind ic ated in F ig . 5 a ). In th is way easy access is provided to th e in te rio r of the fu r
n ace or cone. B y m ain tain in g th e ad m is
sion of nitro g en th ro u g h th e electrode holder, access of a ir to th e fu rn ace space is p re v en ted , w hile th e sealing device m ay be em ployed to p rev en t a ir from en terin g the condensing cone. T hese fe atu res are claim ed by th e in v en to rs as o u tsta n d in g ad v an tag es.
D u rin g furnace operatio n oil u n d e r p re s
sure is sp ray ed into th e cone, th e nozzles being a rra n g e d to cause th e oil sp ray to be directed slig h tly fo rw ard tow ards th e larg e r end of th e cone. A n u m b er of p re
viously form ed m agnesium p a rticle s are c ir
cu lated w ith th e oil to a c t as nuclei for fu rth e r m agnesium m etal v ap o u r condensa
tio n . Oil, co n tain in g th e condensed m ag nesium m etal, collects in th e sum p of th e cone from w hich it is rem oved for fu rth e r tre a tm e n t an d sep aratio n of m etal, th e con
veyor line in cluding a tra p to p re v en t access of a ir to the in terio r of th e cone.
M o l t e n M e t a l C o o lin g
S everal p a te n ts h av e also been g ra n te d covering th e em ploym ent of m o lten m eta ls as shock-cooling m edia. A recen t p a te n t11 g ra n te d to th e Dow Chem ical Com pany claim s th e use of a m olten m etal w hich is m iscible w ith a n d h a s a boiling p o in t low er th a n th a t of m agnesium , an d is supplied a t such a te m p e ra tu re th a t th e m agnesium dis
solves th e re in . L ead prom ises to he th e m ost su ita b le m etal for th is purpose, th e gaseous m ix tu re of m agnesium m etal v ap o u r and carbon m onoxide being passed in to a
