The Chemical Age, Ju n e m d , 1945. W IT H M E T A L L U R G IC A L S E C T IO N
V O L . L U
No. 13 5 3 R E O IS T E B E P AS A N EW SPA PER
HUNSLET, LEEDS, ^10
’Phone : Leeds 2746S.
’Grams : O xb ros, Leeds.
L o n d o n î W in c h e s t e r , H o u s e , O ld B r o a d S t r e e t , E .C .2.
’Phone : London W all 3731.
Stock,
W E L D E D C O N S T R U C T I O N O R R E P A I R OF A L L K I N D S OF C H E M I C A L P L A N T
W e a r e e q u i p p e d t o u n d e r t a k e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n b y w e ld in g o f c h e m ic a l v e s s e ls , t a n k s , s tills , e t c . P la n t d a m a g e d b y c o r r o s i o n , e tc . c a n b e r e a d ily r e p a i r e d b y O x le y M e ta l S u r g e r y .
W e also specialise in homogeneous lead lining.
i i T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
W ith W e lls ’ W aste- O il Filter you can use y o u r oil several tim es
o v er and change It m ore often . A th orou ghly reliable suDDly o f oil Is assured w ith th e u se o f W ells' Special Filter Pads w hich w ork In conjunction w ith W ells' Patent Syphon Feed.
A.C. W ELLS
& CO. LTD
P R O V I D E N C E M I L L S * H Y D E ' C H E S H I R E
for acid -proof coatings for abrasive w h eels for electrical insulation
ATTWATER & SONS, Ltd.
Est. 1868
Write for juiler particulars of these oil filters.
Telephone : H u d t 953 Telegrams: Un
breakable Hyde.
HOPWOOD STREET PRESTON, ENG.
M IL L ,
BAKE LAQUE PHENOLIC
RESINS
• i O N Jpunijpt
— l i k e a n y t h i n g
Thick or clear— M O NO Pumps like anything. Thick may mean grease, sludge, or slurry heavily laden with grit, thin may be transformer oil, suds, or just plain water, but whatever the solids or viscosity, the M O N O Pump will do the job satisfactorily and will not be embarrassed by either a full or inter
mittent flow or a small seepage.
It's a m a tter o f design
M O N O P U M P S
L I M I T E DHead O ffice: GRANITE HOUSE, C A N N O N STREET. L O N D O N , E.C.-4. T ef.: Mansion House 6101
Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
BAMAG OIL AN D FAT TREATING PLANTS
OLEAGINOUS SEED E T C .-A N IM A L AND MARINE PRODUCTS.
Cake, o r R e s i d u e S O L V E N T E X T R A C T I O N
I
SAPONIFICATION
G L Y C E R I N E
D R Y I N G
r
i i
t
D E T E R G E N T S
C R U D E OIL
F A T S P L IT T IN G
F A T T Y A C IO D IS T IL L A T IO N
S o a p Stofch.
D Y N A M IT E AN O P H A R M A C E U T ICAL.
-SI.5 A.RINĘ, .EEECfcLEIŁ
W I N T E R I S I N G
r
S Ô A P S T O C K
JSSOQJ
i
2HxR e f i n e d o i l
i
POLVWERISATION
1
AND D E H Y O R A T IO N
O IL S - P A IN T S A N O V A R N IS H E S
HYOROGENATiON
DEODORISING
W I N T E R I S E D - S T E A R I N E
£>1U
I !
R e f i n e d H a r d o i l
Mjjdrogea H Y D R O G E N P R O D U C T IO N
i
■9XY<5LH.
H a r d a n d w S o f t O i l s B L E N D IN G
ANO T E X T U R A T IO N
I
L
R E P I N I N GP O S TM A R G A R I N E - V E G E T A B L E G H E E C O N F E C T IO N E R Y ETC.
Bamag Lid. s u p p ly a la rg e ran ge o f Plant fo r th e C he m ica l and O il Industry in c lu d in g those m e n tio n e d in the a b o v e chart. Do not hesitate to call u p o n the services o f the Bamag Specialist Chemists and E ngineers to h e lp y o u in the p la n n in g o f y o u r plant.
Full particulars and literature u p o n request.
BAM AG
B A M A G L IM IT 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 O A D , L O N D O N , S .W .1
T e le p h o n e : S L O a n e 9 2 8 2 T e le g r a m s * B a m a g , S o w e s t , L o n d o n
BAM AG LIMITED are on W ar O ffice and Adm iralty Lists
A
YES
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
Y estam in is pure, dried, de-bittered Yeast— richest in V itam ins B1 and B2 — w ith a 40 p er cent Protein content. I t adds greatly to Food V alue, and im parts an appetising, piquant flavour th a t results in increased dem and for your Processed Foods.
Y E S
YES .. t& e& e, a /ie, th e.
YESTAMIN
B R A N D OF P U R E D R I E D Y E A S T
T H E E N G L I S H G R A I N S C O . L T D . , BU R T O N - O N - T R E N T
CHLORAMINĘ
( Chlor amine-T )
*
B .P . and COMMERCIAL
Enquiries should he made to the
W holesale and E xp ort D epartm ent
. B O O T S P U R E D R U G CO. L T D N O T T IN G H A M
B968-805
Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E iii
F i n e C h e m i c a l s F o k E v e r y
p u rp o se
x i T the m om ent only hall the sto ry can b e told.
N ot until th e p e a c e has b e e n w on can w e tell you o f th e w a r d ev elo p m en ts w hich will b e in c o rp o ra te d in the p o s t-w a r d e sig n a n d m anufacture of o u r O p t i c a l - M e c h a n i c a l - E l e c t r i c a l I n s t r u m e n t s a n d A ircraft E quipm ent.
A V IM O L T D ., T A U N T O N S o m e r s e t ( E n g l a n d )
A pproved u n d e r A ir N a v ig a tio n Rules f o r C iv il A v ia tio n .
LONDON EN GLAN D
M & B In du stria l Chemicals Series (N o . 2 a ).
T he R e se a rc h Chemist
T h e in te re s t a ro u s e d in th e p u b lic m in d by th e a c h ie v e m e n ts o f th e R e s e a rc h C h e m ist is b a se d p rim a rily o n th e p ra c tic a l v a lu e o f his d isco v e ries, b u t th e lay m in d has little u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e difficul
ties a n d th e p ro b le m s e n c o u n te r e d b e fo re la b o r a to r y sy n th e s is c a n be T ra n s la te d in to fa c to ry p r o d u c tio n . A fte r th e d ra m a tic d isco v e ry co m es th e g e n erally f a r m o re d ifficu lt ta sk o f m e e tin g th e d e m a n d o c c a s io n e d by it, a n d su ch p ro b le m s h a v e b een a c c e n tu a te d d u rin g th e la s t few y e a rs b y th e w o rry o f w a rtim e s c a rc itie s. P a tie n c e , re s o u rc e a n d u n r e m ittin g e ffo rt a r e ju s t as n e c e s sa ry in re s e a rc h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t w o rk a s th e o c c a s io n a l flash o f in s p ira tio n , a n d th e se q u a litie s h a v e h e lp e d th e c h e m ist to d e al su ccessfu lly w ith th e m a n y tr o u b l e s o m e s itu a tio n s w h ic h th e w a r h a s b ro u g h t.
T h e re s e a rc h w o rk e r s o f M a y &
B a k e r h a v e h a d th e ir s h a r e o f w a r
tim e d ifficu lties t o o v e rc o m e . W ith o u t th e ir e ffo rts m a n y o f o u r c u s to m e rs w o u ld • h a v e b e en less satisfied w ith th e serv ice w e h av e b e en ab le, t o give th e m . P e r h a p s th e p ro b le m s w h ic h fa c e y o u fall w ith in th e s c o p e o f th e ir e x p e rie n c e ? I f s o , w e s h o u ld b e p le a se d to a tte m p t t o s o lv e th e m . T e le p h o n e : Ilf o rd 3060. E x te n s io n s 71 o r 72.
May&BakerLtd
D A G E N H A M
Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
Ju n k 2 , 19 4 5 THE C H E M I C A L A G E V
A COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL RUBBER SERVICE No. 2 J
V - B E L T S
The unique construction and performance o f D unlop V B elting is th e resulc of extensive research and e xp e rim e n t by D unlop technicians.
V-Belts w ith the D unlop C ontinuous Spiral co nstruction are noted fo r th e ir e xtre m e fle x ib ility and absence o f stretch . They have set new standards of efficiency in p ow er transmission. This is belting w hich gives long and tro u b le - free service — service in the D unlop tra d itio n .
h d u n l o p
D U N L O P RUBBER CO . LTD. (GENERAL RUBBER G O O DS D IVIS IO N ) W O R K S A N D H EAD OFFICE : CAM BRIDGE STREET, MANCHESTER London : C le rke nw ell House, Birmingham : D unlop House, L ivery Street, 3
C le rke nw ell Green, E.C.I Glasgow : 48-60 and 70-78
Liverpool: 24 C o rn h ill, Park Lane, I N o rth W allace S treet, C.4 45/G.E.G/7B
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
A . J. RILEY & SON, L td .
B A T L E Y , Y O R K S
A L L O B A R B I T O N E C Y C L O B A R B I T O N E
F IN E S T QUALITY.
A C T U A L L Y M A N U F A C T U R E D A T B A R N E T
— b y ■ ■
PIERSON, MORRELL & CO., LTD.
(THE O R IG IN A L BRITISH ASPIRIN MAKERS)
Q U E E N ’S R O A D - B ARNET - HERTS
0723 Grams : Pierson. M o rre ll, Barnet
T e le g ra m s : " BOILERS. B A T L E Y ." Telephone: 657 B ATLE Y (3 lines) E STA B LIS HE D IBSB
Makers o f
M ILD STEEL RIVETED A N D W E LD E D VESSELS JACKETED PANS COMPLETE
W IT H AG ITATO R S SHEET LEAD O R H O M O G E N EO U S
L IN ED VESSELS TAR , BE N ZO LE & O IL STILLS CONDENSERS, EVAPORATORS
A N D DISTILLIN G PLANTS M ILD STEEL PIPES
A L L PRESSURES LANCASHIRE, CO RNISH E C O N O M IC & W .T . BOILERS
Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E
W A R EXPANDS THE USE OF MONSANTO
CRESYLIC
T
■'HE R.A .F. was stretched to the lim it in 19,40. Speed Hin in reconditioning aero engines was a vital m atter.T he pressure for improved and quicker maintenance caused the use o f C RESY LIC A C ID , an old established product with a long list o f conventional uses, to expand in this newer field, where it won another medal for a sound, war-time jo b in the front line.
T
H E same set-up can be found in many industries.There’s a need everywhere for im proved and quicker processes. M aybe there’s a dependable M onsanto product—Cresylic Acid o r another—to fit the picture.
I f you have an idea brewing, M onsanto’s wide technical experience o f their products is ready to help you.
Their intim ate knowjedge o f the product may provide the key to your problem.
Is there a post-war message here for you ?
H1205
A SE L E C T IO N of the M A I N T YPES of M O N S A N T O C R E SY LIC S
Pure CRESOLS Ortho, meta- and para-lsomers
CRESOL B.P. British Pharmacopoeia
Pale CRESYLIC ACIDS 98%. 99%
Dark CRESYLIC ACIDS 97%
ORTHO-rlch CRESYLIC ACIDS MEtA-rlch CRESYLIC ACIDS
45/75% and over 75% orthocresol 40/42%, 49/51% and 52/53% metacresol XYLENOL Mixtures Controlled boiling ranges
A.D.F. CRESYLIC ACIDS American duty free grades 5 .S.S. grades a re covered by the above lis t. M onsanto C rcsyllcs being in fa c t m a n u fa ctu re d to more closely co ntro lle d specifications.
MONSANTO CHEMICALS LIMIT ED. RUABON. W R E X H A M , DENBIG HSHIR E
v iii T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
AN ANNOUNCEM ENT
The Kestner Evaporator & Engineering Co., Ltd., wish to advise all th e ir pre -w a r clients, and those whose business th e y have had to refuse, d u rin g the busy w a r years, th a t they hope soon to be able to deal w ith all e n q u irie s 'fo r COMPLETE PROCESS PLA N T downwards.
In all post-w ar w o rk the Kestner Company w ill be able to apply the in fo rm a tio n and experience th e y have gained w h ils t em
ployed on u rg e n t w a r problem s.
As you may know i f you have read o u r
advertisem ents, K e stn e r’s make a speciality of COMPLETE PROCESS PLA N T fo r the Chemical and A llie d Industries. N e w p ro cesses have been developed and perfected d u rin g th e w a r years by th e C om pany’s staff o f experienced Chemists, Physicists, M etallurgists and Engineers. The C om pany’s W o rk s also have been specially re b u ilt and equipped to manufacture KEEBUSH, th e acid resisting m aterial th a t Is essential in the c o n stru ctio n o f Chemical Plant.
Do you wont to be firs t on the W orld M arket, with newly developed war-tim e processes—
I f so consult the :
KESTNER EVAPORATOR & ENGINEERING Co L td .
C H E M IC A L 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 .
“
The Kestner O rganisation-—a lw a ys at your service ”
Ju n e 2 , 19 .(5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
“L I T H C O T E ”
'R tw e d ¿K 7^U u > ú ¿ ¿ ’
T H E CREAT L IF E S A V E R
Can only be manufactured In sterile plant.
“ L ithcote ” linings have been approved for this purpose by the Ministry o f W ork s and are now In use by many of th e leading manufacturers of Penicillin.
“ L ithcote ” lined v essels (lined in s itu o r at ou r W o rk s) give co m p lete protection against corrosive m edia, being in ert tow ards acids, so lv en ts, brines, alcohols, fats, o ils, syrups, and give p rotection against m etallic contam ination.
Please ask for copy o f o u r new Brochure. All enquiries in the United Kingdom and Ireland to :—
N E W T O N C H A M B E R S & C O ., L T D .,
Iro n W o r k s , T H O R N C L IF F E , N r . S H E F F IE L D
IN THE NATIONAL CAUSE
P E N I C I L L I N
N E W T O N C H A M B E R S E-CD LTD THORNCLI FFE N
rS HE FF I E L D
T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 1 9 4 5 -
GUELPH CASKS
THE GUELPH CASK, VENEER
& P L Y W O O D CO., LTD.
West Ferry Road,
MILLWALL - LONDON, E. 14
Telephone : East 1489 A lso a t :
Manchester, England ; Scotstown, Q uebec ; and Mattawa, O n ta rio , Canada.
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
AMMONIUM BIFLUORIDE ACCUMULATOR ACID
SODIUM FLUORIDE FLUORIDES
A lso S pecia lly P u re H y d ro chloric, N itric an d S ulph uric A C I D S F O R A N A L Y S I S
JAMES WILKINSON & SON, Ltd.
TINSLEY PARK ROAD, SHEFFIELD
T elegram s: “ C hem icals, Sheffield** Phone: 41208-9
SPECIALISE IN RESEARCH ON
The following are available on a plant production b asis:
Uric acid, Alloxan, Alloxantin, Allantoin, Acid Sodium urate.
L im ited small quantities o f the following are available for research p u rp o s e s:
Violuric acid, U racil, Thiouracil, D ia lu ric acid, Triaminopyrimidinc, Murcxide.
GENATOSAN LABORATORIES
P U R I N E S &
P Y R I M I D I N E S
Enquiries to
GENATOSAN LTD., LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICS.
Telephone: L o u g h b o ro u g h 2292
J UNE 2, 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E x i
N E W C H E M I C A L D E V E L O P M E N T S
is it a problem of wetting ?
dispersion ? detergency ? penetration ?
Problems under these headings exist in diverse forms in a m ultitude of different industries ; you can probably think o f several in your own work. A nd equally diverse ancl m ultitudinous are the solutions which have been evolved to suit individual cases.
W ith the introduction of a series of new synthetic products, t p open the way to a real simplification and rationalisation of these problems. F or these new products are not only suprem ely effective wetters, dispersers, detergents and penetrators ; they are, thanks to their “ congenial ” properties, almost universally applicable in wet pro
cessing.
Soluble to clear solutions in w ater o f any tem perature or any hardness, chemically neutral, remarkably stable, innocuous to dyestuffs and pigm ents, tl ese new com
pounds may well open up entirely new possibilities in form ulation and processing, as well as solving old problems in a better way.
O ur technical service will be glad to send you details of these products and to discuss their application to your own particular processes.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTS LTD
ST. H ELEN ’S CO U RT, GREAT ST. H ELEN ’S LONDON, E.C.3
T E L E P H O N E : AVENUE 4321
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E J u n e 2
,
1945S T E A M f ] W A T E R . F IT T I N G S FOR A LL P U R P O S E S
^ S r W E s
E N S U R E T H E M A X IM U M OF E F F IC I E N C Y T O G E T H E R W I T H LONG L I F E U N D E R
A L L W O R K I N G CONDITIONS A/so SAND CASTINGS I N ALL N O N -F E R R O U S M E T A LS I N C L U D IN G H IG H TE N S ILE B R O N Z E S * A L U M IN IU M
Trionite Ltd.. C liffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent PHON! I «TOKf-OH-TRINT 81T1-2
VERTICAL TYPE
EVAPORATORS
Single and M u ltip le Effects fo r Chemical Liquors, F ru it Juices, Sugar Liquors and Syrups, C austic Lye (e.g. in Soda Re
covery), Accessory Condensers, Vacuum Pumps and C e n trifu g a l Pumps.
O U R W ID E EXPERIENCE ENSURES E C O N O M IC A L A N D RELIABLE EQUIP
M ENT.
MIRRLEES WATSON
iiiiiniiiiiiiiiituiiihZ>sK<^TOMp/^yjY 1IM1TTPENGINEERS GLA SGOW
gives longer runs between regeneration
BURGESS ZEOLITE COMPANY LIMITED
68.-72.K0RSEEERRY ROAD .WESTMINSTER.S.W.I. Tel : ABBey 1868
PETER SPENCE & SONS LTD.
N A TIO N A L BUILDINGS ■ ST. MARY'S PARSONAGE
M A N C H E S T E R , 3
LONDON OFFICE: 7 7 8 /7 8 0 SALISBURY HOUSE E.C7 N 4
J u n e 2 , 19 4 5 T HE C H E M I C A L A G E x i i i
--- S W E D E N ---
FRICK & C O . of Gothenburg desire to repre
sent producers of raw materials consumed by the following trades—
PAINT • PRINTERS* IN K • VA R N ISH LINOLEUM • RUBBER • OILCLOTH • NITRO
CELLULOSE LACQUERS • F IR E W O R K S WALLPAPER • PAPER MILLS • GLAZED PAPER
(Replies from Chemical Colour M anufacturers are not solicited.)
HE R R T H O R S T E N F R I C K
Firma Frick & Co. - Gothenburg - Sweden'
we can su btract a smell
In m a n y in d u s tria l pro cesses it’s im p o rta n t to h a v e y o u r su b s ta n c e m in u s its sm ell o r m in u s its im p u ritie s, since it m ay be g o in g in to a fo o d o r d rin k o r a b e a u ty p re p a ra tio n . O u r A c tiv e C a rb o n c a n d o m o re th a n d e o d o rise , o f co u rse.
I t ca n d e-co lo u rise. I t c a n sim plify c ry s ta llis a tio n . I t can im p ro v e c o lo u r a n d in crease c o n c e n tra tio n . I t can rem o v e d e trim e n ta l flav o u rs.
I t c a n clea n p re c io u s liq u id s a n d gases. I n o th e r w o rd s it ca n rem o v e th e o b sta c le s in th e w ay o f im p ro v in g th e q u a lity a n d a ttra c tiv e n e ss o f m a n y p ro d u c ts in every d ay use, a n d o u r a d v is o ry d e p a rtm e n t will be o n ly to o p le a se d to a ss ist th e pro cess.
M e lb o u r n e A g e n t s — M e ss r s . H . R. H ill & S o n , P ty . L td ., 350 K in g S t r e e t .
S U T C L I F F E S P E A K M A N
A ND COMPANY LTD
LE IG H * L A N C A S H IR E London Office : 82 King William Street, E.C4. M A N sion Home 1285 6 .
T HE C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
LODGE CO TTRELL
£ ELECTROFILTERS
T O T C L E A N G A S
HIGH EFFICIENCY RECOVERY OF DUSTS AN D FUMES FROM I N D U S T R I A L G A S E S THE ONLY MANUFACTURERS INTHISCO UNTRY PRODUCING EXC LU SIVELY ELECTRICAL
PRECIPITATORS
•
L O D G E - C O T T R E L L L T D .
Head Office and Works: B IR M IN G H A M
London Office: D R A Y T O N H O U S E • G O R D O N S T R E E T - W - C - I
BROTHERHOOD
AIR AND GAS COMPRESSORS
= = = = = = = = = = = = = Also = = = = = R E F R I G E R A T I N G A N D W A T E R C O O L I N G P L A N T ;
H O M O G E N I S E R S ; S T E A M E N G I N E S A N D
5-STAG!ooc ^ PRESSOR T U R B I N E S
Descriptive Literature and Advice free on request
PETER BROTHERHOOD LTD. • PETERBOROUGH
The Chemical Age
A Weekly Journal Devoted to Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
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 LLA N G A S F L E E T LO N D O N
G LA SG O W : 1 1 6 H ope S tre e t (C entral 3970)
T e le p h o n e : C E N T R A L 3 2 12 (xo lines) B IR M IN G H A M : D aim ler H ouse, P a rad ise S tr e e t (M idland 0 7 8 4-3) T H E C H E M IC A L A G E offices are closed on S a tu rd a y s in ac co rd an ce w ith th e a d o p tio n of th e fiv e -d ay w eek by
B enn B ro th e rs L im ited
x£L. Q i.t—
V OL. L I I
N o. 13 5 3 .
June 2, 1945
A n n u al S u b sc rip tio n 2 1 s.Overseas 26s. -
[PQLiTCCT:—
Industrial A lcohol T
H E fa c t th a t a G o v e rn m e n t d e p a rtm e n t finds i t n e cessary to set u p a C o m m itte e of I n q u iry m ay g e n e ra lly be a d d u c e d as ev id e n c e th a t th e fa c ts a re in d is p u te . M ost re p o r ts of G o v e rn m e n t co m m itte e s a re th e re fo re co n ten tio u s.
S o m etim es th e c o m m itte e d isco v ers th a t th e fa c ts a r e n o t in d is p u te a n d the re p o rt is u n re s e rv e d ly ac c e p te d . T h e R eid re p o r t on th e coal in d u s try w as an e x a m p le of a re p o rt w h ich h a s been p re tty g e n e ra lly acc e p te d in its e n tire ty by a ll co n cern ed . O f a ll c o n te n tio u s d o c u m e n ts of th is c h a ra c te r, on e of th e m ost c o n te n tio u s is th a t la te ly issued u n d e r th e title “ R e m o v a l o f c e rta in excise re s tric tio n s on d is tilla tio n a n d of allo w a n c e s on in d u s tria l a lc o h o l a n d e x p o rte d s p ir its ,” by a s m a ll co m m ittee u n d e r th e c h a ir m a n s h ip of L o rd M ay.
B riefly , in d u s tria l a lc o h o l a n d p o w er a lc o h o l h a v e for
m a n y y e a rs re c e iv e d an a llo w a n c e of 3d.
p e r p r o o f : g a llo n in co m p e n sa tio n fo r the in c re a se d cost of p ro d u c tio n d u e to th e s ta tu to ry r e s tric tio n on c o n c u rre n t b re w in g a n d d is till
i n g ; a n d a lso 2d. a g a l l o n a llo w a n c e given- in th e 19 2 1
F in a n c e A ct, _ “ fo r th e p u rp o s e of e q u a lis in g th e co n d itio n s as a g a in s t th e sp irits o f fo re ig n m a n u f a c tu r e .” W a r
On Other Pages
S o le s and Comments ... 475 I.C .I.'s W ar Record ... 477 Sintered Glass in I n d i a ... 479 German Chemical Industry To-Day 480 A Chem ist’s B ookshelf
Alcohol from W ood W aste L etters to the E ditor Cylinder Valve F ittings Personal Notes ...
Crystallography S c h o o l ...
Me t a l l u r g i c a l Se c t i o n
M odern Tream ent o f Manganese New Zealand Ironsands
The Im portance of Steel M etal Notes ...
General News from W eek to W eek 489 Company News ... 491 New Companies Registered ... 491 Stocks and Shares ... 49' British Chemical Prices ... 492
e x p e rie n c e h a s show n th a t th ise - re s tric tio n s a re no lo n g e r n ecessary a n d th ey h a v e b een rem o v ed . S in ce th e new sys
te m of c o n tro l h a s no effect on cost of p ro d u c tio n , th e T r e a s u r y fe lt th a t th e b asis o f th e 3d. a llo w a n c e h a d d is a p p e a re d . T h e 2d. p ro te c tiv e a llo w a n c e a p p e a re d a lso to f a ll d u e fo r re -e x a m in a tio n a n d th e c o m m itte e w as a p p o in te d fo r th e p u rp o s e of e x a m in in g th e w hole m a tte r. I t sh o u ld be m a d e c le a r th a t th e G o v e rn m e n t is n o t av e rse to m a k in g a n a llo w a n c e to in d u s try , sin ce th e C h a n c e llo r h a s a c c e p te d th e re p o r t of the H y d ro c a rb o n O ils C o m m itte a n d h a s g iv e n effect to th e a llo w a n c e s th e re p ro posed in h is la te s t B u d g e t.
T h e M ay C o m m ittee fo u n d th a t d u rin g the p e rio d o v er w hich th e 3d. a llo w a n c e h as ru n , th e p ro d u c tio n of in d u s tria l a n d p o w er alc o h o l h a s in c re a se d fro m 4.6 m illio n p ro o f g a llo n s in 1920-1, t o.9 m illio n in 1928-9, an d to 50 m illio n in 19 4 1-2. Som e w itn e s s e s . a s
c rib e d th is rise w h o lly to th e o p e ra tio n of th e su b sid y , b u t th e C o m m ittee s u g g e s ts th a t th e in c re a se d p ro d u c tio n m u s t h a v e re d u c e d c o sts a n d th a t th e effect of th e ta x h a s b een n e g lig ib le in re c e n t y e a rs. O n th e o th e r h a n d , is it n o t a lso th e fa c t th a t w ith re d u c e d costs of 482
482 483 483 484 484
485 487 488 488
473
474 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E J u n e 2 , 19 4 5
p ro d u c tio n , th e effect of th e jd . is m a th e m a tic a lly g r e a te r , a n d m ay th u s be v e ry m u ch m o re im p o r ta n t no.w th a n it w as in e a r lie r y e a rs ?
T h e a llo w a n c e w as n o t n e c e ss a rily g iv e n o n a lc o h o l p ro d u c e d o th erw ise th a n by fe rm e n ta tio n . T h e c o m m itte e h o ld s th e view th a t c o n sid e ra b le re s e a rc h h as b een d o n e on o th e r m e th o d s o f p ro d u c in g a lc o h o l (sp e c ia l m e n tio n is m a d e of th a t of th e B ritis h O x y g en C o m p a n y , w hich is b e lie v e d to in v o lv e th e re c o v e ry of e th y le n e fro m coke-oven" g a s), a n d th a t so lo n g as th e o ld e r p ro cesses re c e iv e a su b sid y , th e n e w e r pro cesses w ill be h a n d ic a p p e d . W h ile e v e ry c a re m u s t be ta k e n n o t to d e stro y th e in d u s trie s th a t h a v e b een b ased on a lc o h o l, e sp e c ia lly in th e e x p o rt m a r k e t, th e re is little d o u b t t h a t a su b sid y m u s t n o t be u sed to b o ls te r u p a n u n e c o n o m ic p ro cess to the d e tr im e n t of econom ic p ro cesses w hich ca n p ro d u c e e q u a lly c h e a p ly w ith o u t a su b sid y .
W h a t th e effect of th e re m o v a l o f the 3d. w o u ld be 011 a lc o h o l u s a g e a n d on a lc o h o l-u sin g in d u s trie s re m a in s u n c e r
ta in . T h e p ro d u c e rs o f a lc o h o l are u n a n im o u s in s ta tin g th a t th e w h o le 5d.
w as p a s s e d on to th e u s e r s ; th e u sers a c c e p t th is. W e d ed u c e th a t th e p ro c e e d in g s w ere n o t a lto g e th e r h a r m o n i
ous, fro m th e c o m m e n t of th e c o m m ittee th a t th e u se rs “ a r e . . . re ly in g on th e s ta te m e n ts of th e ir s u p p lie rs a n d a r e not in a p o sitio n to ch eck th e m .” M o reo v er, th e c o m m itte e goes v e ry d e e p ly in to th e p ro s p e rity a n d p ro fits o f th e D is tille rs C o m p a n y w ith a view to sh o w in g th a t the p e rio d d u r in g w h ich th e su b sid y w as p aid h a s b e e n o n e o f v e ry g r e a t p ro s p e rity fo r th a t c o m p an y . T h e p ro d u c e rs a ll a g re e th a t th e su b sid y h a s ca u se d th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f new in d u s trie s b ased on a lc o h o l, a n d th a t th e a d v a n c e s in alco h o l p ro d u c tio n a n d u tilis a tio n w o u ld not h a v e , b een p o ssib le b u t fo r th e su bsidy.
T h e p ro h ib itiv e ta riff a g a in s t fo re ig n a lc o h o l h a s h e lp e d h o m e p ro d u c e rs m a te ria lly . O n th e o th e r h a n d , m a n y in te re s ts re p r e s e n ta tiv e o f h e a v y c h e m i
c a ls , p a in ts , c o lo u r a n d v a rn is h , an d a rtific ia l s ilk , a g re e th a t th e su b sid y h a s little o r no effect o n th e ir b u sin e ss. T h e w o rd in g o f th e re p o r t s u g g e s ts th a t th e c o m m itte e h a s fa ile d to d iffe re n tia te b e
tw een in d u s trie s in w h ic h alco h o l costs a r e a h ig h p ro p o rtio n of th e c o st of p ro d u c tio n a n d th o se in w hich th e s e llin g
p ric e of th e go o d s is su ch th a t th e cost of th e a lc o h o l u sed is a m in o r c h a rg e . T h e "com m ittee, h o w ev er, does n o t d o u b t th a t th e ta riff ex e rc ise d a m a te r ia l in flu ence, b u t p o in ts to o th e r c o n tr ib u tin g fa c to rs, su ch a s ' th e b e tte r o rg a n is a tio n of th e in d u s try a n d th e a p p lic a tio n of the re s u lts of m u ch in c re a se d in d u s tria l scientific re s e a rc h . I t s c o n c lu sio n is th a t “ on a rev iew of th e c irc u m sta n c e s we c a n on ly e x p re s s o u r c o n c lu sio n th a t th e c la im s m a d e as to th e effect of the a llo w a n c e on th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e u s in g in d u s trie s a n d of th e B ritis h c h e m ic a l in d u s try a s a w h o le a re m uch e x a g g e r a te d .” W e w o n d er. T h e tr u th h ere seem s to lie a t th e b o tto m of a v ery d eep w e ll, a n d th e c o m m ittee h a s g iv e n little re a s o n , sav e p e rs o n a l o p in io n , fo r its co n clu sio n .
H o w e v e r, it m u st not be fo r g o tte n th a t a ll th e d is m a l fo re c a sts m a d e by in d u s try re g a r d in g th e a d v e rs e effect of th e re m o v a l of th e subsidy a re based, on th e a ss u m p tio n th a t th e w ith d ra w a l o f th e a llo w a n c e w ould re s u lt in a c o rre s p o n d in g risei in th e cost of in d u s tr ia l a lc o h o l to u s in g > in d u s trie s. T h e T re a s u r y , su p p o rte d by th e c o m m itte e , seem s to ta k e th e v iew th a t th e re m o v a l o f the E x c ise re s tric tio n s a n d th e d e v e lo p m e n t of n ew p ro cesses n o t b ased on fe rm e n ta tio n w ill k eep th e p ric e dow n. T h e 5d. is to be d is c o n tin u e d . T h e c o m m it
tee, h o w e v e r, co n v in ce d th a t th e fu tu re effect is n o t c le a r ly d e fin a b le , reco m m ends th a t th e p o sitio n s h a ll be w a tc h e d , an d th a t, if a n y in d u s try finds its e lf u n d u ly h a n d ic a p p e d by re a s o n of in c re a se d a lc o h o l p ric e s d u e to th is ac tio n , th e G o v e rn m e n t s h a ll c o n sid e r g iv in g sp e c ia l assista n c e . B u t the m a n n e r in w hich th e c o n c lu sio n is couched su g g e s ts th a t th is is th e la s t th in g th e c o m m itte e w o u ld lik e to see done. T h e re p o r t, in fa c t, le a v e s u s w ith th e fe e lin g th a t th e c o m m itte e h a s been u n s y m p a th e tic to th e p ro d u c e rs of a lc o h o l a n d feels th a t th e ir o p p o sitio n to th e re m o v a l of th e 5d. a llo w a n c e is not b ased o n . econom ic n ecessity , b u t u p o n se lf-in te re st. T h is is a s tra n g e c o n c lu
sion if th e c o m m itte e a c c e p ts, as it h a s done, th e view th a t the- 3d. h a s been p assed on to th e c o n su m er. T h e p la in fa c t is th a t w e c a n n o t afford to h a n d ic a p o u r c h e m ic a l in d u s trie s , a n d if th e in i cre a se d co st o f a lc o h o l is fo u n d to do so, th e sta tu s q uo sh o u ld be re g a in e d
Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 475 w ith o u t diffidence, fa c e -sa v in g o r p ro
c ra s tin a tio n . I t m ay v ery w ell be th a t th e T r e a s u r y ’s h o p e th a t in d u s try w ill find som e-w ay of m e e tin g th e em erg en cy by th e d e v o lo p m e n t of n e w e r p rocesses w ill be ju stified .
T h e r e s u lt of th e T r e a s u r y ’s a c c e p t
an ce o f th is re p o r t w ill be a g re a te r d e v e lo p m e n t o f h o m e -p ro d u c e d alco h o l from so u rces o th e r th a n im p o rte d
N O T E S A N D
German Chemical Plant
I
N th e p a g e s of th is issu e w e m a k e an a tte m p t, in th e in a d e q u a te sp ace a t o u r d is p o s a l, to illu s tr a te th e p re s e n t sta te o f th e G e rm a n ch e m ic a l in d u s try as le f t by th e A llie d a ir a tta c k s. So fa r as w e know , w e a re th e first tr a d e or te c h n ic a l jo u r n a l to d ra w a tte n tio n to th is a sp e c t o f G e rm a n in d u s try , w hich, bo th by re a s o n of th e a m o u n t of d e s tru c tion c au sed a n d b e cau se o f th e q u a n tity of p la n t s till re m a in in g in w o rk in g o rd e r, m u st n eed s h a v e a n im p o rta n t b e a rin g on th e fu tu re p o licy of th e A llies to w a rd s th e ' d e fe a te d enem y.W e m a k e no a p o lo g y fo r th e fa c t th a t the p h o to g ra p h s , in m ost in sta n c e s, b e tra y a n A m e ric a n o rig in ; in d e e d , we owe th e Office o f W a r In f o rm a tio n o f the U .S .A . in L o n d o n a d eb t of g r a titu d e fo r th e ir c o u rte sy an d h e lp fu ln e s s . W e sh o u ld lik e to ask in c id e n ta lly , h o w ev er, w h a t h a s becom e o f s im ila r p ic tu re s of G erm an in d u s tria l p la n t w hich m u st h a v e b een ta k e n by B ritis h w a r p h o to g ra p h e r s . W e g a th e r , fro m a re c e n t note in th e W o r ld ’s P ress N e w s , th a t m a n y B ritis h w a r p h o to g ra p h s ju s t d is a p p e a r so m ew h ere b etw een th e w ar
• a re a a n d F le e t S tre e t. O u r in q u irie s in
“ th e p ro p e r q u a r te r ” in L o n d o n w ere m e t w ith a b la n k sta re an d a co n fessio n of c o m p le te ig n o r a n c e ; it w as a s th o u g h th e G e rm a n c h e m ic a l in d u s try h a d n e v e r e x is te d ; o r, if it h a d ex iste d , w a s a m a tte r of in fin ite sim a l im p o rta n c e . W e b e g to d if fe r; a n d w e h o p e th a t if th is n o te sh o u ld re a c h th e official eye, if m a y le a d to a w id e r c irc u la tio n of th e p ic to ria l fa c ts , a n d c o n se q u e n tly to a c le a re r k n o w le d g e o f th e in d u s tria l p ro b le m s th a t w ill h a v e to be faced in E u ro p e .
m o lasses. O ne of th e p rin c ip a l sources of alco h o l m ig h t w ell be th e e th y le n e p ro d u c e d by coal c a rb o n isa tio n . I t is u n d e rs to o d th a t a t le a s t tw o p la n ts a re a lr e a d y in o p e ra tio n fo r th e reco v ery of th is e th y le n e , a n d , if th e re m o v a l of th is jd . m a k e s as m uch d ifferen ce as m a n y w itn esses c o n sid e r, it c a n n o t be d o u b te d th a t a n ew im p o rta n t b y -p ro d u c t h a s b een a d d e d to coal ca rb o n isa tio n .
C O M M E N T S
Whither German Industry ?
T
H E w ay in w h ich th e A llie s are g o in g to ta c k le th e c ru c ia l p ro b le m of d e a lin g w ith G e rm a n y ’s in d u s tria l sy stem w ill c e rta in ly h a v e a d ecisiv e in flu en ce on th e ch an ces o f b u ild in g a m ore p e a c e fu l w o rld . T h e re a re tw o m a in sch o o ls of th o u g h t in co n n ectio n w ith th is p ro b le m : one, ig n o r in g a ll th e su ffe rin g s w hich G erm an y inflicted u p o n m illio n s of in n o c e n t p e rso n s, s till sta n d s a w e stru c k before G e rm a n y ’s p e rv e rsio n of efficiency a n d c la im s th a t th e re can be no p ro s p e rity on th e C o n tin e n t—o r in th e w o rld — w ith o u t an o v e r
in d u s tria lis e d co lo ssu s in th e h e a r t of it. N o d o u b t, c e rta in firm s o r in d i
v id u a ls w ho h a d a lu c r a tiv e tr a d e w ith G e rm a n y b efo re th e w a r a re p re p a r e d to s u p p o rt th is a rg u m e n t, fo r u n f o r tu n a te ly n o t a ll h a v e y et re a lis e d th a t fa r la r g e r p u b lic issu es a re a t sta k e . A re -in d u s tria lis e d G e rm a n y , o c c u p y in g a key p o sitio n in E u ro p e , rich in n a tu r a l re s o u rc e s a n d h u m a n s k ill, a n d p o p u la te d by som e 70 m illio n s , is b o u n d so o n er o r la te r to re tu rn to a rm a m e n ts p ro d u c tio n a n d to th e p a th of a g g re s sion. T h is p o in t of view is o pposed by th o se w ho, w ith M r. S e c re ta ry M o rg e n th a u , a d v o c a te a w h o le sa le co n v ersio n o f G e rm a n y in to a n a g r i c u ltu ra l c o u n try . D e sp ite a ll se c tio n a l o p p o sitio n to th is p la n , th e n a tu r a l tre n d o f e v e n ts is m o v in g in th is d ire c tio n , a s m o re a n d m o re G e rm a n s w ill h a v e to ti ll th e la n d o r sta rv e .
Policy or Drift ?
A
N O T H E R step a n n o u n c e d by our A m erican A llie s, w ho seem to h a v e done m o st o f th e a c tiv e p la n n in g on th iss u b je c t, h a s been ta k e n by G e n e ra l C lay
—G e n e ra l E is e n h o w e r’s a d m in is tra tiv e d e p u ty in G e rm a n y — w ho s ta te d th a t a ll w a r in d u s trie s th a t c a n n o t be sw itch ed o v e r to th e p ro d u c tio n of e s s e n tia l co n s u m e r g o ods s h a ll be d e stro y e d , w h ile la b o ra to rie s a n d re s e a rc h in s titu tio n s w ill a lso be e lim in a te d . I t is re g r e tta b le th a t so f a r no ev id e n c e is a v a ila b le th a t G re a t B rita in , w h ich s till b e a rs th e scars in flicted by a e ria l a tta c k s la u n c h e d fro m G e rm a n y , h a s fo rm u la te d any c le a r-c u t lo n g -te rm p o licy . T h e need fo r th is is a ll th e m o r e p a ra m o u n t in view of th e lik e lih o o d th a t th e U .S .A . m ay n o t m a in ta in its o c c u p a tio n in E u ro p e fo r v ery lo n g . In a tw e n tie th - c e n tu ry w o rld , a p o lic y of ad hoc d e c i
sions is b o u n d to le a d to d is a ste r.
S im ila rly , an y a tte m p ts to d iffe re n tia te b etw een th e “ W e s te rn ” a n d “ E a s te r n ” m e th o d s—w h a te v e r is m e a n t by such n e b u lo u s e x p re s sio n s—m ay o n ly p ro v id e a p la tfo rm fo r a th ird G e rm a n a tte m p t a t w o rld d o m in a tio n .
France’s Fuel Troubles
A
S E V E R E fu e l s h o rta g e is b a r r in g th e ro a d to ra p id re c o n s tru c tio n in th e F re n c h ch e m ic a l in d u s trie s , w hich a re p ro d u c in g v e ry slo w ly in c o n seq u en ce. T h e p o sitio n is p a r tic u la r ly se rio u s, sin ce F r a n c e h a s n e v e r b een ab le to s u p p ly h e r ow n n e e d s in co al. l ast m o n th th e .M in is te r of N a tio n a l E c o n o m y a n d F in a n c e , M o n sie u r P le v e n , on his re tu rn fro m th e U n ite d S ta te s, to ld a P re s s co n fe re n c e th a t h e h a d discu ssed th is q u e stio n in A m e ric a a n d i t h a d been a g re e d th a t th e S a rre m in e s sh o u ld s ta rt p ro d u c in g w ith a ll p o ssib le speed- A m e ric a n a n d F re n c h e n g in e e rs w ould o rg a n is e th e m in es a n d it w as h o p ed th a t b e fo re lo n g p ro d u c tio n w o u ld r e tu r n to n o rm a l. A lre a d y G erm an p riso n e rs w ho a re m in e rs w e re b e in g d ire c te d to th e S a rre . M e a n w h ile , F ra n e e m u s t m a k e th e m o st of h e r own re so u rc e s. T h e r e tu rn o f A lsace h as g iv e n th e c o u n try a n a n n u a l p ro d u c tio n of 75,000 to n s of c ru d e o il, w h ile in th e H a u te G a ro n n e th e re a re n a tu r a l g a s s u p p lie s a m o u n tin g to 50,000,000 cu. m ., w hich a re b e in g u s e fu lly h a rn e s se d to lo c a l in d u s try . In v e s tig a tio n s a re also b e in g c a rr ie d o u t in th e P e tite s -P v rd n ie s a n d it is b e lie v e d th a t b e fo re lo n g an a p p re c ia b le oil su p p ly w ill a lso com e
476
fro m th e re . F ra n c e a lso h a s a n u m b e r o f' fa c to rie s in th e n o rth c a p a b le of an a n n u a l p ro d u c tio n o f 1 5,000-20,000 to n s of o il, as w ell as a n u m b e r of o th e rs for th e p ro d u c tio n of s h a le oil. R efin eries in th e M idi a re in ta c t a n d w o rk ca n go a h e a d , s u p p le m e n te d , in a d d itio n , by s u p p lie s fro m Ir a q .
Rations over the Pole
W
H E N m en ta k e g r e a t ris k s in the c au se of scien ce, it is o n ly ju s t th a t th e ir w e ll-b e in g sh o u ld be a s s u re d so fa r as science p e rm its. I t is goo'd to le a r n , th e re fo re , th a t m a n y of th e n ew est d e vices of c h e m istry a n d p h y sic s w ere d e p lo y ed on b e h a lf o f th e crew of the a ir c r a f t A rie s , w hose s e n s a tio n a l d is co v ery of th e tr u e site o f th e N o rth M a g n e tic P o le h a s been a n n o u n c e d th r o u g h o u t th e P re ss. F o o d a n d w a rm th w ere w h a t h a d to be a ss u re d , a n d , fo r th e first, th e c re w ’s ra tio n p a c k s w ere d e sig n e d m a in ly in th e fo rm of b lo c k s of c o m p o u n d ed d e h y d ra te d foods. T h o a ir c r a f t c a rrie d e m e rg e n c y ra tio n s fo r a crew of n in e , sufficient to la s t 2S d a y s ; an d th ese w ere d ev ised an d p r e p a r e d by th e ¡Low T e m p e r a tu re R e se a rc h S ta tio n of th e D .S .I .R . in c o n su lta tio n w ith th e a p p ro p r ia te R .A .F . m e d ic a l a u th o ritie s.F o u r d iffe re n t m e n u s a llo w e d 3380-3550 c a lo rie s p e r m a n p e r d ay . E a c h tw o d a y s ’ ra tio n w as p ac k e d in a s ta n d a rd 4-g a llo n c a n , a n d th ese w e re g a s-p a c k e d to e n su re m a in te n a n c e o f co n d itio n . T h e to ta l w e ig h t of th e 14 c an s w as 435 lb ., a m o st m o d est a m o u n t c o m p a re d w ith u s u a l em e rg e n c y ra tio n s , a n d th e y m ad e a p ile m e a s u rin g 66J in. by 19 in.
by 14 in. M any o f th e food b lo c k s w ere m ad e by h y d ra u lic p re s s u re in h ea v y ste e l m o u ld s, a n d th is w o rk w as d o n e by a s m a ll p a rt-tim e staff o f C a m b rid g e housew ives. F o r c o o k in g , a stove w as d e sig n e d to b u rn 100-o ctan e s p irit, as it w as a ssu m e d th a t if th e A rie s w as forced dow n som e of th e a v ia tio n s p ir it m ig h t be s a lv a g e d . M elted snow o r ice w o u ld be a v a ila b le fo r re c o n s titu tin g th e d e h y d ra te d food ; b u t a c tu a lly m a n y of th e b lo c k s w e re of su ch a te x tu re as to be p a la ta b le w h en e a te n u n c o o k ed , as sw eets. As it tu r n e d o u t, th e flig h t w as w ith o u t se rio u s m is a d v e n tu r e ; b u t the a s s u ra n c e of a m o n th ’s iro n ra tio n s “ in th e b a g ” m u s t h a v e g iv e n th e c rew an e x tr a fe e lin g of secu rity .
J u n e 2 , 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E
Ju n e 2, 19 4 5 T H E C H E M I C A L A G E 477
I .C .I .’s W ar Record
Lord M cG ow an’s Review of Technical A chievem ents
L
OBD MCGOWAN, in his address last week at the annual general meeting of I.C .I., reviewed the company's achievements during the \far. The enforced silence, which left th e stage clear to those ready to seize any opportunity to attack the Concern as“ Big Business ” and as one of the most efficient and successful examples of free enterprise, could now be removed and a vista has been opened up, surprising even to those who expected developments of a spec
tacular nature. Some of the major achieve
ments of the company, such as Perspex, Gammexane, the weed-killer Methoxone, Mepacrine, and the company’s contribution to the development of penicillin, are familiar to the readers of this journal. However, there are other and no less im portant advances to record over the whole field of the chemical industry.
In the fertiliser sector, to begin with, pro
duction of sulphate of ammonia increased from 200,000 tons a year before the war to about 500,000 tons, while output of “ Nitro- Chalk ” and of complete fertilisers was stepped up from 160,000 tons to over 260,000 tons in 1914. A new factory with an annual capacity ôf 210,000 tons of sulphate of ammonia was erected at Prudhoc, Co,.
D urham ; the company’s agricultural organi
sation played a leading part in the distribu
tion of these products, while a national silage campaign brought about a five-fold increase in the production of cattle food.
E x p lo siv e s
Turning to I .C .I .’s vast output of explo
sives, Lord McGowan revealed th a t seven new factories were built and operated on behalf of the Government, and that since 1939 these factories had turned out some 400,000 tons of explosives besides hundreds of millions of detonators, fuses, etc., includ
ing the filling for 90,000,000 incendiary bombs. The practice of modern quarry blasting was applied to the uses of war by the development of a plastic explosive (used in the sticky bomb and the ’’ Flying D ust
bin ” ), but the I .C .I .’s greatest contribution in the field of special weapons was the
Projector, In fan try , Anti-Tank ”—better known as the P ia t—the most effective weapon yet employed against tanks* or for
tifications. Delay-action detonators for a ir
craft bombs and the well-known soup-heating cartridge, fitted to over 10,000,000 tins (in co-operation with H . .1. Heinz & Co., L td .), dem onstrate to what extent and in what variety I.C .I. has contributed to the success
Lord M cG ow an .
ful invasion of the Continent and the defeat of the enemy.
Three of the Governm ent's new small-arms factories were being operated and one was built by the company, which alone was responsible for building 17 major factories and several smaller ones, and for operating 110 fewer than 36. To these new plants- 3345 trained staff and workpeople were seconded from I.C .I.'s own plants. These new S.A.A. plants, together w ith the plant at W itton, had turned out, by the end of 1944, over 3J million rounds of ammunition.
The metals division manufactured more than 67 types of field S.A.A. and numerous types of components for assembly elsewhere. At its peak, the finished metal production at the W itton plant alone averaged over 3000 tons a week throughout the year.
C on d en ser T u b es
The cupro-nickel condenser tube repre
sented a notable contribution to the un
paralleled achievements of the Boyal N avy, as a large number of the bigger warships are fitted with these condenser tubes, while millions of tubes of aluminium brass—
“ Alumbro ”—were supplied to auxiliary ships and to the M erchant Navy. The Soviet Navy was supplied with 200,000 of them, and, between 1942 and 1944, I.C .I. shipped • to the U .S.S.It. thousands of tons of caustic soda, methanol bleaching powder, and other products, including Perspex. A new factory was built to manufacture metal fuel tanks, while flexible non-metallic fuel .tanks were m anufactured later by a subsidiary. Thanks to the company’s research facilities and tech
nical resources the company gained a lead
ing position in the field of light metals.
Three plastic products have made history during, this w a r: Perspex, polythene, and polyvinyl chloride, details of which have been given in our columns on previous occasions. Lord McGowan has now revealed th a t I.C .I. built two new Perspex plants for the Government with a combined capacity greater than th at of I.C .I.'s plants, although
47« T H E C H E M I C A L A G E Ju n e 2 , 19 4 5
their own output increased tenfold. After the fall of Malaya a large polyvinyl chloride plant was also built for the Government.
W ithout the large-scale provision of polythene as ■ an insulating m aterial, radioloca
tion could never have been developed so rapidly or so efficiently. This work was aided by the products of a subsidiary, Steatite and Porcelain Products, L td ., m anu
facturing low-loss radio ceramics.
O rg a n ic C h em ica ls
In the field of organic chemicals, I .C .I .’s .efforts have been go numerous and varied th a t the chairman found it difficult to sum
marise them ; lie singled out for reference, however, synthetic resins, and polymers, especially nylon. There were also, he said, chemicals which take the dy-e out of fabrics.
A further range of products increases the power of textiles to ab.sorb liquid, and others again render equipm ent proof against mildew or prevent the ropes used in arctic climates from icing up. In their dyestuffs division 300 full-time research workers were employed; in 110 other industry was there so high a proportion of trained scientists to workers.
Passing to what he called the "unpleasant side of organic chem icals," Lord McGowan revealed th a t his company acted as agent for the Government in making B ritaiu ready to engage in gas warfare if this had ever been forced upon us by the enemy. For this the general chemicals division, w ith its special knowledge and technique in th e pro
duction of chlorine, was chosen as the main in stru m e n t; enormous quantities of lethal gas had been m anufactured and arrangem ents made for underground storage and for filling depots. I t is a .high credit to the company's organisation and precautionary measures th a t th is programme was carried out w ithout a single fatal toxic accident.
A v ia tio n F uel
A large new oil refinery was built in L a n cashire, in co-operation w ith the Shell Group and T rinidad Leaseholds, and brought into operation w ithin two years. This Govern
m ent plant, together w ith the I.C .I. plant at BilUngham, produced hundreds of thousands of tons of aviation fuel annually.
A special fuel, known as Y ictane, was developed in 1914 at Billingham, which gave fighter planes up, to 25 per cent, more power than any previous aviation fuel. By the use of this fuel—full technical information of which was passed on to our American allies—B.A .F. pilots were able to catch and destroy flying bombs in the air. A particular organic chemical was found which would give still greater speed with existing engines, a practical process for its manufacture was worked out by I.C .I. chemists, and the sub
stance produced at a M.O.S. factory.
By no means the least satisfying feature
of this war record, which the chairman called “ fragm entary," was the virtually complete freedom from labour disputes, in spite of many new entrants. This is an indication both of the high standard of working conditions and of the harmonious relations with the trade unions, already referred to in the annual report.
Turning to the contribution made by the associated companies in the Dominions, Lord McGowan -referred to the work of Canadian Industries, L td ., notably the creation of the war-time subsidiary, Defence Industries, L td ., whose entire role was the m anufacture of explosives, S.A.A., and other munitions.
From 110 persons employed in September, 1939, the. staff increased to over 32,000 in the peak year of 1943. I.C .I.A .N .Z ., L td ., erected and operated for the Government of the Commonwealth of A ustralia four synthetic ammonia and nitric acid plants as well as other m ilitary explosive works, while a t the same time producing in its own fac
tories many types of ammunition and war chemicals, and operating Government-owned plants m anufacturing Cliloroscne (for a n ti
gas purposes) and sulphonamides. African Explosives & Chemical Industries, L td ., established on a considerable scale the m anu
facture of military explosives in Africa, and sent 50 of their own technical staff to the aid of th is country early in th e war.
T h e F uture
H aving concluded his account of this remarkable war record, Lord McGowan gave consideration to the future, and the sw itch
over from w ar to peace production. “ I am glad to be able to assure yo u ," he said.
“ that the process will involve little delay as far as I.C .I. is concerned. Although we have necessarily had greatly to extend our plants which have been making products of direct war-time use, the m ajority of our works have played their p art by continuing their normal peace-time production without which th e other industries of the country and agriculture would have been short of essential raw m aterials. I t is particularly fortunate th a t these plants are all intact and can revert to their civilian activities as soon as their output is no longer required for purposes of war. I must, however, make this reservation, th a t the operation of all our plants will depend on our ability to get the necessary raw m aterials. . . . The greatest of these is coal, and coal is the one product about which at the "present moment there is most, uncertainty as 'regards both supply and price. W e are continually being told by responsible M inisters th a t B ritain m ust export more and more if we are to import the necessities of everyday life, let alone meet the increased bill for social services.
But how can we do this in a volume and at prices which other countries will pay if we are uncertain first of our supplies of coal and, secondly, of the price a t which we can
