Industrial and Engineering Chemistry : industrial edition, Vol. 36, No. 5

Industrial and

Volume 36 • Number 5

M A Y , 1944

R E P R IN T E D IT IO N A D V E R T IS IN G O M IT T E D

Published by the American Chemical So ciety at Easton, Pa. Editorial O ffic e : 1 1 5 5 16th Street, N . W ., Washington 6 , D. C ./ telephone, Republic 5 3 0 1 ; cable, Jiechem (W ashington). Business O ffic e : Am erican Chemical S o cie ty, 1 1 5 5 16th Street, N . W ., Washington 6 , D. C . A dvertising O ffic e : 3 3 2 W est 42nd Street, N e w Y o rk 1 8 , N . Y ./ telephone, Bryant 9 -4 4 3 0 .

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ED IT O R : W A LT ER J . M URPHY Associate Ed ito r: F. J . V A N ANTWERPEN Assistant to E d ito r: N . A . PARKINSON M anuscript Ed ito r: HELEN K. NEWTON M ake-up E d ito r: BERTHA REYNOLDS M an uscript‘Assistant: STELLA ANDERSON

A d v iso ry Board W . L. B a d g er H . R. M u r d o c k H . E. B a r n a rd

W . H . D o w G a s t o n D uBois C . F. K ettering W . S. L andis C . S. M iner

A . S. R ic h a r d s o n W . A . Sch m idt R. N . S h rev e L. V . Steck C . M . A . Stine

E. C . S u l l i v a n E. R. W eidlein

The Am erican Chemical So ciety assumes no re- sponsibility for the statements and opinions ad­

vanced by contributors to its publications.

Copyright 1 9 4 4 by Am erican Chem ical Society

3 0 ,0 0 0 copies o f this issue printed

ih * photograph above shows a view In the plant of The Magnolia Petroleum Company, at Beaumont, Texas. The first commerclal-scalz Thcrmofor catalytic cracking unit was constructed there.

ISSUED M A Y 6, 1944 V OL. 36, NO. 5 C O N SEC U T IV E NO. 9 E D I T O R I A L S ... 385 T H E P O S T W A R C H E M IC A L O U T L O O K :

In t r o d u c tio n ... Law rence W . Bass 387 Some Trends in R e se a rc h ... Raymond Stevens 388 The Future of Technical E d u c a t i o n ... H . S. Rogers 391 O utlook for Foreign Trade... John B. G lenn 394 Prospects for Engineering Developments ...W . L . Badger 397 Technology and Industrial M a n a g e m e n t...Ralph E. Flanders 4 0 0 Accounting and Financial P ro b le m s ... Daniel M . Sheehan '401 W heat Starch M a n u fa c t u re ... Richard L. Slotter and C e c il T. Langford 40 4 Ternary Solvents for Z e i n ...C y ril D. Evans and Ralph H . M anley 408 U N IT P R O C E S S E S :

Introduction. Inorganic A s p e c t s ... R. N orris Shreve 411 Extraction of Potassium Carbonate from W y o m in g ite ...

Stanley I . G reen and Charles E. M cCarthy 41 2 Separation of Sulfate and Chloride from A lk a li Carbonate B rin e s ...

G u y Ervin, J r ., and Charles E. M cCarthy 415 Removal of Dissolved Silica from A lk a li Carbonate Brines...

E. G erald M eyer and Charles E. M cCarthy 42 0 Process for A m in o g u a n id in e ...R. N orris Shreve and R. P. Carter 423 A x o Dyes from Am inoguanidine . R. N orris Shreve, R. P. Carter, and J . M . W illis 42 6 Tall O i l ...G eorge Papps and Donald F. Othmer 4 3 0 Fused Salt M ixtures as Reaction M edia . . . H . F. Johnstone and W . E. W insche 435 Radio Power for Processing Chemical M a t e r ia ls ... John W . Robertson 44 0 Nitration of T o lu e n e ...Donald F. Othmer and Hugo L. Kleinhans, J r . 447 Factors in M olding Cellulose D e riva tive s... W . O . Bracken and F. E. Piech 45 2 Ammonium Ferrous Phosphate . A . M . Erskine, G od frey Grimm, and S. C . Horning 45 6 Physical Structure of P h e n o p la sts... R. A . Barkhuff, J r ., and T. S. C arsw ell 461 Flammability Lim its in A i r ... Karl S. W illso n and W alter O . W alker 46 6 Preparation of M eth yl A cetoxypropionate:

Reaction of Lactic A c id with M eth yl A c e t a t e ...

C . E. Rehberg, W . A . Faucette, and C . H . Fisher 4 6 9 Preparation from Lactic A c id , A c e t ic A c id , and M e th a n o l...

E. M . Filachione and C . H . Fisher 47 2 Classification of T o b a c c o ... C . V . Bowen and W . F. Barthel 475 O xidation of Lubricating O i l s ... G . H . Denison, J r . 477 A p ril H e a d lin e s ... 483 I. & E . C . Report, 5. A s W e See It, 4 9 . Last-M inute Flash es. . (A d v t. Sect.) 126

INDUSTRIAL

E NGI NEERI NG C H E M I S T R Y

ON THE CHEMICAL WORLD TODAY

* 7 ecJtMUXKfif'

T h e W h y o f R u s t R e s is ta n c e . H e rb e rt H . U h lig , a m eta llu rg ist o f G en era l E le ctric, r e c e n tly p r esen ted a n o v e l e x p la n a tio n o f w h y certa in m eta ls d o n o t “ r u s t” . S p e a k in g b e fo r e th e E le c tr o c h e m ic a l S o c ie ty , h e r e p o rte d th a t v a c a n t e le ctro n s p a ce s in the a to m s o f n ick e l are responsible for its resistance to corrosion . I n earlier re­

searches he fou n d that th e stainlessness o f stainless steel is n o t du e prim arily to the form a tion on the surface o f a film o f oxide, as form erly supposed. In stea d it results from elec­

tron ic arrangem ent in the atom s o f the a lloy . H e finds the sam e to b e true fo r tw o oth er w id ely used corrosion-resistant a l l o y s — c o p p e r - n ic k e l ( M o n e l ) a n d

m olyb den u m -n ick el-iron (H a s te llo y ).

A n a tom m a y b e th ou gh t ot as a nucleus around w hich revolve, som e­

w hat in the m anner o f planets around the sun, from 1 to 92 electrons. T h e y m o v e in on e to seven different orb its or shells. O rdinarily on e shell is filled with electrons b efore the n ext on e begins, al­

th ou gh in the case o f certain “ transition”

elem ents there are vacan cies in the shell

n ext to the ou ter on e. In nickel, for exam ple, there are o n ly 8 electrons in the third shell instead o f the 10 it cou ld h old, despite the fa ct th a t there are 2 electrons in the fou rth and ou term ost shell. W ith inner shells com p letely filled, a m etal is m ore s u b je ct to corrosion.

B ecau se o f the vacan cies nickel is v ery resistant to co rro ­ sion, b u t it is to o expensive fo r m an y application s a n d so is a lloyed w ith cop p er w hich is low er in cost. T h e a to m o f cop p er has on e m ore electron than th a t o f nickel. I n the a lloy these extra electrons tend to fill the vacan cies in the nickel a tom . H ow ever, as lon g as a n y vacan cies rem ain in the nickel, the a lloy still resists corrosion as well as pure nickel.

F in ally, w hen th e p rop ortion o f 6 0 % c o p p e r -4 0 % nickel is reached, all the nickel vacan cies h av e been filled. Further increasing the prop ortion o f cop p er makes the a lloy less resist­

ant until pure cop p er is reached, w hich corrodes m u ch m ore than pure n ickel. In the a lloy o f nickel w ith m olyb d en u m and iron a sim ilar effect occu rs, says Uhlig.

V a st quantities o f va lu a ble metals are lost annually b y cor­

rosion. Such studies as these are h igh ly im p orta n t b eca u se kn ow ledge o f th e exa ct w a y in w hich corrosion occu rs m a y lead to m ore effective w ays o f ov ercom in g it.

Readers w ill find tw o in no vation s Introduced In t h is Issu e : (1) th e

" M o n th 's Head lin e s " , events during th e past m o n th of In terest to c h e m ­ ists, c h e m ica l en gin eers, and exec­

utives, as reviewed by th e Ed ito rs, page 483; and (2) " L a s t - M in u t e Fla sh e s fro m th e E d ito r’s D e s k " , on page 126 of t h e advertisin g section .

A T r u e ‘ 'F la s h o f G e n iu s ” . I t is n o s e cre t th a t h ea rt­

breaking d a ys a n d even m on th s w ere spen t b y the technical staff o f K a iser’s Perm anente m agnesium plan t in a ttem p tin g to ob ta in the m etal in th e pure state and still preven t explo­

sions and fires. O ne d a y it occu rred to a chem ist that, if the m ixture was so difficult to con trol, it w ou ld p ro b a b ly b e the ideal m aterial for b om b s. C h em ica l W a rfa re S ervice took u p the idea, and the M 7 6 o r P T b o m b , m ore fam iliarly know n as the g oop , is on e o f the later d ev elopm en ts. I t is a 600- pou n d b o m b , con tain ing the m ixtu re o f jellied oil, finely p ow d ered m agnesium p rod u ced in the P erm anente p roc­

ess, and oth er ingredients. This b o m b , w h ich is th e m o s t recen t ty p e of in cen d ia ry to fall o n G erm an installa­

tions, is difficult to extinguish.

T h ree w h olly unrelated* b u t equally illum inating queries can b e p osed on this d ev elop m en t: (1) W o u ld Th urm an A rn old, W en d ell B erge et al., consider the idea patentable? (2 ) W o u ld the chem ist serve the w ar effort b etter b y d rivin g a jeep ? (3 ) W a s n o t this chem ­ ist’ s “ flash o f genius” a rather novel w a y o f solvin g a pro­

d u ction h eadache? F o r the tim e being, H itler has more cause to w orry a b ou t w h y Perm anen te experienced difficulties in distillin g o ff pure m agnesium , th an does K a iser’ s technical staff, for quantities o f g o o p b om b s h av e been sold .

A n interesting y a rn cam e o u t in co n n ection w ith the goop b o m b p u b licity . T h e principle, a solidified or jellied oil ignited b y a m eta l m ixture, was perfected in W o r ld W a r I b y Arthur R a y , th en w orkin g in C W S . T h e ch em ical grou p k e p t it

“ hush-hush” u n til a R epresen tative p u t it in to Congressional Record. W e look ed it up, a n d o n page 1023 o f the Record for 1918 is the s to ry o f th e b o m b , called in th ose d a ys “ M a rk I I ” . T h e m etal used was th erm ite a n d th e con tra p tion was set o ff b y disch arge o f a service cartridge.

2 0 th C en tu ry A lc h e m y . M e t h y lo lu r e a tra n s m u te s or­

d in a r y w o o d in to a w h ole n e w ra n g e o f u sefu ln ess, now a v a ila b le fo r w a r p u rp o s e s a n d o ffe rin g m a n y p o s tw a r ap­

p lica tio n s, a c c o r d in g to a r e ce n t D u P o n t a n n o u n ce m e n t.

I t perm its con stru ction , fo r exam ple, o f doors, w indow s, and draw ers th a t will n o t sw ell, stick , (Continued on page 8)

/le t ¿ntenpJietaiioe monthUf. d icjeit frw. ch em iili., chem ical e+vfineesil, and.

execu tivei in th e chem ical fiAoducintf. and chem ical conium intf. induilsuei.

32 S & £ k _Today

con tract, or b ecom e loose. I t recon stitutes w o o d to order, even m akes it stron g enough to substitu te for steel in certain m achinery parts. I t enables in du stry to create in a few da ys w oods harder th an the e b o n y th a t takes a cen tu ry to grow naturally. P op la r becom es harder than hard m aple w hich, in turn, can b e m ad e harder than eb o n y . T ran sm u tation o f w ood enables m ore available, cheaper species o f w oods to com pete in fields h ith erto op en o n ly to costlier, scarcer varieties from afar. D u P on t chem ists dev elop ed this treat­

m en t from research th a t has paralleled studies con d u cted for years b y F orest P rod u cts L a b ora tory .

C olor also m a y b e im parted perm anen tly to the w o o d b y m ixing a d y e w ith th e im pregn atin g ch em ical. V eneers suf­

ficiently treated b ecom e self-b on din g. T h e y require n o ad­

hesive to b e form ed in to p ly w ood s, since h eat and pressure fuse the p r o d u c t in to a hard, dense substan ce. E v e n saw­

dust, shavings, and oth er w o o d w astes m a y b e m old ed in to articles, and d y es or pigm ents m a y b e in corp ora ted . O ther cellulosic m aterials lend them selves to th e treatm ent.

N e w S y n th e tic R u b b e r . H o p e th a t th e p r o b le m o f h eat b u ild -u p in tires m a d e o f s y n th e tic p r o d u c ts m a y b e solved was in d ica te d in th e re ce n t a n n o u n ce m e n t b y M ath ieson A lkali W ork s o f a new ru bber th a t w ithstands elevated tem peratures. C h ief com p on en t is b u ta d ien e; b u t the cop oly m er is u nder s ecrecy orders, fo r th e G erm ans a p ­ parently are still w orryin g a b o u t h eat b u ild-u p in their tires, and revelation o f the com p osition w ou ld b e o f definite com fort to the en em y. D eta ils are sca n ty but officials o f the com pa n y say th a t the cop oly m er ca n easily b e m a d e from available raw m aterials. T h e a m ou n t o f co p o ly m e r a d d ed is a b o u t the same percentage as styren e in G R -S .

T ests rep orted b y in depen den t laboratories show that the new ru bber has greater resistance to heat, m oisture, oil, kero­

sene, a n d less perm eability to gases th an G R -S . Present capacity o f th e pla n t to p rod u ce the new poly m er is reported to b e a b ou t 25 ton s per d a y b y m isinform ed newspapers.

M athieson is n ow p rod u cin g in small pilot-p la n t lots and hopes to get govern m en t a p p rova l for a pla n t to turn o u t 25 tons per d a y. M a th ieson is n ow in tw o new fields— syn th etic rubber a n d fertilizer.

C otton S t r ip -T e a s e . A llo c a t io n o f w a r -e m p lo y e d ch e m ­ icals has p ostp on ed m a n y ideas to ou r b ra ve new w orld o f tom orrow , b u t few plans we h ave listened to com e closer to U topia th an th e new schem e for causing K in g C o tto n to lose its foliage at th e w ill o f th e chem ist. F ru ition is postpon ed b y chem ical scarcities u ntil w ar’s end.

In action, the plan ter will decide th a t co tto n is ready for picking. H e w ill call th e loca l a irport, and a g en tly h overing h elicopter will appear o v e r th e field to spread A erod efolian t (m anufactured b y A m erica n C ya n a m id ) at th e rate o f 3 0 -1 0 0 pounds per acre. I n a few d a ys the leaves w ill fall from the plant and expose the rip e bolls. A n oth er a dvan tage is gained through d efolia tion , because co tto n b olls h eretofore shaded b y leaves are p erm itted to lose undesirable m oisture. Th en will com e the m echan ical picker, and , w ith clanging o f gears and no sw eat, th e crop is picked. (Continued on page 10)

on the c.

Chem ical World n Today

F u tu re o f 1 0 0 -0 c t a n e P la n ts. E ig h ty -t w o p er ce n t o f th e u ltim a te c a p a c it y o f 1 0 0 -o cta n e p la n ts in th e U n ited S ta tes w ill-b e p r iv a te ly o w n e d . P r o b a b ly n o o th e r m a jo r war in d u s tr y h as so sm a ll a p r o p o r t io n o f g o v e r n m e n t p a r­

ticip a tio n in p la n t co n s tr u c tio n . In term s o f in v e s tm e n t, p r iv a te c o m p a n ie s w ill h a v e o b lig a t e d a p p r o x im a te ly 550 m illion d olla rs o f th eir o w n m o n e y in th e e x p a n sion o f 100- o c ta n e fa cilities b e tw e e n P ea rl H a r b o r a n d th e en d o f 1944.

G o v e r n m e n t in v e s tm e n t in th e sa m e p e riod w ill c o m e to a p p r o x im a te ly 210 m illion .

T h ree fou rth s o f the govern m en t ou tla y, w hich cam e from D efense P la n t C orp ora tion , was for equip m en t for small refineries. P etroleu m A d m in istra tion for W a r has pro­

ceeded from the ou tset on the principle o f a p p ortion in g re­

spon sibility fo r w ar p rod u ction as far as possible am on g b o th large and sm all refiners. In all, 161 different com panies are engaged in the present 100-octane program .

V hile p rod u ction figures on 100-octane rem ain secret, it can b e said th at in the first tw o years after Pearl H a rb o r the ou t- p u t was m ultiplied several tim es; indeed, p rod u ction is nearly nine tim es as great as it was in the pre-P earl H a rb o r period and sh ortly will be tw elv e tim es as great. S ixty-fiv e per cen t o f this increase cam e from such m easures as con vertin g prewar ca ta ly tic crackin g equipm en t, em p loyin g new ty pes o f blend­

ing agents, increasing tetraeth yllead con ten t, and tech n ologi­

cal im provem ents w hich m ad e for greater efficiency in the re­

fineries. T h is was ach ieved w ith ou t govern m en t financing.

A large expansion on 8 7- and 91 -octa n e gasoline produ ction (for training purposes) was a ttained also.

Because o f th e flexib ility o f m od ern petroleu m refining equipm ent, the postw ar ou tlo o k o f th e in du stry is far differ­

ent from th a t o f m a n y w ar industries w hose pla n t facilities w ill b e largely “ w hite elephants” in peacetim e. In this cate­

g ory , o f course, m un ition s and explosives are ou tstan din g exam ples. E xp a n sion in b o th com m ercial and private flyin g is expected to p rov id e a con tin u in g m arket fo r large q u a n ti­

ties o f aviation fuel. M a n y o f the new ca ta ly tic crackin g, units can b e con v erted easily to peacetim e use to increase b o th the q u a n tity and q u a lity o f postw ar m o to r fuel. T o a certain exten t the sam e is true o f facilities for m aking the b lending agents used in 100-octane gasoline. T h e problem will give a num ber o f headaches, b u t the petroleu m industry appears to have been o n sound grou n d w hen it determ ined to finance a large part o f the 100-octane p rod u ction facilities.

3 5 . 5 % N ew facilities 2 2 . 8 % C u m en e as blen d in g

agen t

1 4 .0 % M e ch a n ica l and oth er im p rov em en ts 1 3 .8 % C on v ersion o f ca ta ­

l y t ic cra ck in g units 9 . 1 % C o d im e r as blen din g

agen t

3 . 5 % A d d itio n o f 0.6 cc.

tetra eth yllead 1 . 3 % T olu en e an d oth er

blen din g agents 100.0%

S o u r c e s o f I n c r e a s e d P r o d u c ­ t io n o f 1 0 0 -O c ta n e A v ia t io n F u e l ( J a n . 1, 1942, t o D e c . 3 1, 1943) A c c o r d i n g t o P A W

(<Continued on page l/t)

I. & E

Reports

I. & E. C.

Reports on the Chemical World

Today

a m A

P a iiw -a A ,

I. & E. C.

Reports on the Chemical World

Today

W a n . a n d P o ¿ ÍiA A G S l

S w o r d s in to P lo w s h a r e s . T h e U . S. D e p a r tm e n t o f A g ricu ltu re is said to b e m a k in g a d eterm in ed b id to o b ­ tain p erm ission to r e c o n v e r t th e ferrosilicon p la n t a t W en a tch ee. W a sh ., in to p r o d u c tio n o f trip le s u p erp h os ­ p h a te. P resen t o p e r a tio n s are e x p e cte d t o en d s h o r tly as a re s u lt o f th e c u tb a c k in m a gn esiu m . A d v o c a te s o f th e p la n in sist th a t th e h u ge e le ctric fu rn a ces are sp e cia lly a d a p te d fo r tr e a tm e n t o f p h o s p h a te r o c k . T h e y fu rth er p resen t as a rg u m en ts th a t th e p la n t is lo c a te d n ear p h o s ­ p h a te r o c k d e p osits, a n d th a t W e s t C o a s t farm ers h a v e b een s h o rt o f trip le p h o s p h a te . O ne plan b e in g discu ssed is to m ov e the plant closer to raw m aterial supplies (Id a h o and M on ta n a ), b u t the question is, w ill enough pow er be available? In som e quarters this b id o f the D ep a rtm en t o f A griculture is view ed as the forerunner o f a m a jor p olicy of seeking idle govern m en t-ow n ed plants for produ ction o f agricultural products.

W a r P rod u ction B oa rd is said to b e against con vertin g the W en atch ee p la n t during the war p eriod ; although sufficient ferrosilicon can now b e turned o u t a t eastern b la st furnaces, the co a l situ ation is so precarious th a t it is desirable t o m ain­

tain the W en a tch ee plan t a t least in s ta n d b y con dition.

T h ose op p osin g the D ep a rtm en t o f A gricu ltu re’s plan poin t o u t th a t the furnaces at W en a tch ee are n ot specia lly adaptable to vola tilizin g phosphorus, and th a t the principal value o f the p la n t for such a pu rpose w ould b e restricted largely to the electrical equip m en t u p to, and including, the bus bars.

V e te r a n E m p lo y m e n t. W ith disch a rges fr o m th e arm ed fo rce s to ta lin g so m e 100,000 a m o n th , e m p lo y m e n t o f v etera n s is an im m e d ia te p r o b le m — n o t o n e m erely w ith p o s tw a r sign ifican ce. R e c o g n iz in g th e m ora l a n d legal obligation s o f p riva te in du stry, as w ell as oth er desirable econ om ic angles tied to full em p loym en t for returning veter­

ans, the N a tion a l A ssocia tion o f M a n u fa ctu rers’ C om m ittee on Veteran E m p loym en t, headed b y H arry L . D e rb y , presi­

den t o f A m erican C ya n a m id & C hem ical C orp ora tion , has prepared a practica l ch eck list for m anagem ent. I t is in­

ten ded solely for in -p lant use b y individual com panies and, b y the n ature o f the poin ts it highlights, will serve to p rov ok e the fullest con sideration o f w ays and m eans b y w hich in du stry m a y m axim ize veteran em p loym en t. Questions a pp ly eq u a lly to ex-service m en and w om en.

M a r k e t in g S u rp lu s e s. E a s ily u n d e rsta n d a b le is the n e ce ss ity fo r crea tin g h u g e reserves w hile a g lo b a l w ar is b e in g fo u g h t. A n a tion w h ich fo r m o n th s saw its arm ed fo r c e s g o d o w n to ig n o m in io u s d efea ts s o le ly b eca u se o f

“ t o o little a n d t o o la te ” sh ou ld in no w a y criticiz e th e all- o u t p rod u ction program requested b y m ilita ry officials.

F ew in dividuals had a n y com preh ension o f w h a t A m erica cou ld turn o u t under the pressure o f a war for survival. N o w the specter o f surplus stock s is beginning to plague in du stry.

M an ufactu rers o f drugs and pharm aceuticals h ave on ly u n h ap p y m em ories o f w h a t h appen ed after W o rld W a r I . T h ere are differences o f opin ion as to h ow serious surpluses are a t this poin t. N a tion a l W holesale D ru ggists A ssocia tion has suggested a program based on (Continued on page SS)

three principles: (1) W h ere feasible, surpluses should be tu rn ed over to L en d-L ease and to relief and re­

h abilitation agencies for distribution a m on g pop u la tion s in liberated areas; (2) supplies n o t so distributed shou ld be offered to m anufacturers o f the p rod u cts for m arketing through regular distribution channels; (3) the F ederal F o o d and D ru g A d m in istra tion shou ld in sp ect all repackaged m aterials sold from surplus govern m en t stock s t o p r o te ct th e p u b lic health.

Several legislative proposals have been m ad e to set u p a federal adm inistrator w ith th e a u th ority to determ ine how and when w ar-develop ed properties and surpluses shou ld b e sold. A tto r n e y G eneral B id d le step ped in to this rin g w hen he appeared last m on th b efore the Senate M ilita ry A ffairs C om ­ m ittee. T h ese proposals m a y lead to dangerous results, a ccord in g to B iddle. H e poin ted o u t th a t som e pending bills w ou ld h ave C ongress stipulate th a t w ar properties m a y b e sold on ly where such sales w ou ld n o t "u n d u ly dislocate”

m arkets or inflict “ substantial in ju ry ” on in du stry, “ T h e pu rpose o f these declaration s o f p o licy ,” he testified, “ is to preven t indiscrim inate du m p in g o f surplus war p rop erty on the m arket. T h a t is dou btless a desirable o b je ctiv e . B u t the language I h ave q u oted m a y lead to dangerous results.”

T h e A tto rn e y G eneral m ad e a ęountersuggestion th a t the adm inistrator b e instructed sim p ly to dispose o f p rop erty on the basis o f a “ fair return” t o th e G overn m en t. Th is

“ fair return” w ould b e based n o t alone on original cost b u t on the valu e o f p rop erty in the prevailing m arket, on the basis of its general usefulness.

A t the m om ent, a t least, there is little u n a n im ity o f think­

in g in W ash ington on the su b ject o f w ays and m eans o f dis­

posin g o f war plants and surpluses. Y e t, unless such proper­

ties and m aterials are dea lt w ith in a forth righ t m anner, fair to G overn m en t, the p u b lic, and m anufacturers, the present deluge o f postw ar plan nin g is ju s t so m u ch ta lk and little else.

T h e p roblem is fast bein g recogn ized as W a sh in gton ’ s num ber on e headache.

R id e f o r L ife . T h is is in th e “ n o w it ca n b e t o ld ” d e ­ p a rtm e n t. W h e n A . L . E ld e r w as a p p o in te d p en icillin c o o r d in a to r , an im m e d ia te ta sk w as to in sp e ct, co rrela te, an d r e p o r t on the a c tiv itie s in th e v a rio u s esta b lish m en ts produ cin g the drug. T h e A rm y, anxious to ob ta in action, asked E ld er h ow lon g it w ou ld take h im to com p lete the investigational trips to the producers. A p p a ren tly th e esti­

m ate was to o lon g, a n d E ld er was asked w hat the A rm y cou ld d o to expedite m atters. U p sh ot o f th e con feren ce was a private plane for E lder, m anned b y the A rm y , w hich en­

abled the chief o f the penicillin progra m to inspect, in various parts o f the con tin ent, sixteen plants in fourteen days. T h e tim e sa ved b y this p rom p t a ction was invaluable in rushing ou tp u t. N o on e w ho heard R o b e r t D . C ogh ill a t the A .C .S . m eeting a t Clevelan d ( Chem. & E n g. N ew s, A pril 25, page 588) on the blessings con ferred b y this drug w ill d o u b t th a t any p r ice 'in gasoline o r planes can b e to o great in speeding this d ru g to m ankind.

F o r our "d ep a rtm en t o f in consisten cies” , sa d ly are we forced to rep ort th at m a n y o f th e im portan t y o u n g scientists engaged in the penicillin program are n ow bein g d rafted .

I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y 49

This Month

\ y / h e n this war reaches its agonized end, the rebuilding of a W new world in which men can live and work will becom e the stupendous immediate task. T h at needs much planning in ad­

vance, and the profession and industry o f chemistry must be pre­

pared to perform im portant functions in accomplishing the neces­

sary readjustments. Thus special interest and importance at­

taches to a broad view o f prospects set before us in this issue in seven forward-looking pa p er' b y as m any able thinkers in their several fields. Bass (page 387) introduces the subject and the series. Stevens (page 388) capably surveys trends in research against a background of long and intimate experience in this field.

Rogers (page 391) with equal care goes into the probable effects of technical education on future events in our world. Badger (page 397) suggests the solution o f some o f the relatively elemen­

tary problems o f engineering necessary to get us away from the present empirical phase and into a more logical and fundamen­

tally sound engineering tom orrow. Financial and accounting phases of the future of chemical operations are discussed b y Sheehan (page 401) to supply an obvious gap in custom ary chemi­

cal thinking. Glenn (page 394) integrates the problems of for­

eign markets and their postwar needs w ith American chemical industry and presents significant facts on this prospect. Prob­

lems of management are discussed b y Flanders (page 400) to round out the picture.

Unit processes, the fundamental chemistry of manufacture, are carried farther in a symposium presented in this issue. The developm ent o f this phase o f chemistry and chemical production has been particularly fostered b y R . Norris Shreve (page 411), who introduces the eighth symposium on the subject, held under his chairmanship. Particular emphasis is placed on inorganic unit processes, typified b y base reactions as applied to the recov­

ery of potassium salts in usable form wyomingite. T h e three phases covered are base exchange between wyom ingite and so­

dium carbonate b y Green and M cC arthy (page 412), separation o f chloride and sulfate from the resulting alkaline brines b y Ervin and M cC arthy (page 415), and removal o f dissolved silica from the alkaline brines b y M eyer and M cC arthy (page 420). These processes, simple in the laboratory, becom e im portant when their econom y is emphasized b y large-scale operation. Fused salts provide convenient media for chemical reactions under some con­

ditions encountered in industry, according to Johnstone and Winsche (page 435), v,*ho describe this technique as applied to several high-temperature reactions in fused baths of sodium chloride-ferric chloride. Organic processes are represented b y production o f aminoguanidine b y Shreve and Carter (page 423), its elaboration to dyes b y Shreve, Carter, and Willis (page 426), and a continuous partial-pressure process for nitration of toluene b y Othmer and Kleinhans (page 447).

R adio power offers advantages in m any chemical process appli­

cations and is sufficiently new to need fuller explanation at this time. R obertson (page 440) describes characteristics o f the sev­

eral systems for applying heat directly to the reaction z.one b y high-frequency electrical circuits. H e views this technique as one o f growing im portance in the field.

Am monium ferrous phosphate is suggested b y Erskine, Grimm, and Horning (page 456) as a new pigment for metal protective paints. T est results o f the use o f the new pigment in primer coats as compared with other familiar pigments are given.

Lactic acid offers advantages as a raw material in a number of syntheses; and since the acid itself can be readily produced b y fermentation, these becom e o f timely interest. M ethyl acetoxy- propionate is derived from lactic acid and methyl acetate by Rehberg, Faucette, and Fisher (page 469) and from methanol and lactic and acetic acids b y Filachione and Fisher (page 472).

The im portance of the ester lies in its easy conversion to methyl acrylate, valuable in synthetic elastomers and resins.

N ext Month

A g i t a t i o n and mixing are to be featured for the m onth of / \ roses when we print most o f the 10th Annual Chemical Engineering Symposium, held this past Christmas at the Uni­

versity of Pennsylvania by the A .C.S. D ivision o f Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. There will b e a review of the state o f the mixing art b y Hixson of Columbia University.

H e has been investigating the phenomena of agitation and mixing for m any years and sums up progress to this eleventh hour. This particular phase of chemical enginering art was thought by many to be a sadly neglected subject. T h e Philadelphia meeting, however, brought out that m any first class investigations were underway, and the future seems to hold great promise that much of the unknown in mixing will be soon unmixed. F or those con­

templating setting up a research program in mixing, there will be an im portant message on the basic problems involved. Rush- ton and co-workers gave a mass velocity theory which was well received by the engineers, and we suggest that the engineering fraternity will soon be well acquainted with what he proposes.

O f interest to those in the drug and pharmaceutical industries will be the paper from the Eastern Regional Research Labora­

tory on the catalytic oxidation o f nicotine, picoline, and quino­

line to nicotinic acid; the latter material is one of the required additives to enriched flour. N o t many years ago this vitamin, the antipellagra factor, was a laboratory curiosity, the total pro­

duction amounting to only grams. T od a y the manufacturers will make about 300 tons during the course of the year. N ot much when considered on the usual scale o f chemical production, but only a few milligrams are needed to fortify a loaf of bread.

This column has lost ite originator, D . H . Killeffer, who started this page back in 1932. H e has now entered the adver­

tising business, recently becom ing associated with Hazard Adver­

tising Com pany. T h e mantle o f interpreter descends upon the shoulders o f the Associate Editor, and I know it will be years before I fill all the folds o f m y inheritance which now fits me so swimmingly. I f Goldsm ith will pardon:

And still I gase, and still m y wonder grows How one small body filled out all these clothes.

INDUSTRIAL ^{a n d} EN G IN EERIN G CHEMISTRY

f * * * P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E A M E R I C A N C H E M I C A L S O C I E T Y

D eferm en t C o n fu sio n C om p ound ed

O U R military oflicials and those directing or cur­

rently misdirecting Selective Service policies respectfully are referred to page 148 o f H. L. Mencken’s

“ A New Dictionary o f Quotations” where they will discover in “ Outlandish Proverbs” by George Herbert (1640) the following: “ For the want o f a nail . . . the kingdom is lost.”

Deferments for chemists, chemical engineers, physi­

cists, other scientists, and skilled chemical operators in the 22 to 26-year-old age bracket engaged in essential research and production would mean in terms o f mili­

tary elfectiveness less than one division o f infantry.

Is our high command ready to trade inevitable decline in production o f vital materiel and the dissipation of America’s irreplaceable development organizations for a paltry few thousand foot soldiers? I f it is, it not only is gambling unnecessarily with the successful prosecution o f the war, but is bartering away our birthright for a mess o f pottage.

England in World War I permitted patriotic, but nevertheless misguided, youthful scientists to die on the fields o f Flanders and has never ceased to regret such folly. She is not making the same fatal mistake in World War II, but we are!

The most recent Selective Service expediency—

“ Critical List o f Activities for Occupational Deferment o f Men under 26” , issued by the W ar Manpower Com­

mission Inter-Agency Committee on Occupational D e­

ferments— is so restricted as to be nearly useless in holding adequate numbers o f chemists, chemical engi­

neers, and other essential chemical manpower in the Production Army. True, it does provide for the necessary needs o f the Office o f the Rubber Director, the Petroleum Administration for War, and a few other selected favored activities. But it fails to recognize that back o f such a highly selected group o f end-point occupations must come full support from numerous process industries.

It ignores the irrefutable logic o f maintaining a

“ reserve” o f educated young scientists and engineers with specialized training in new technical fields, im­

bued with a young point o f view and physical stamina, able to cope instantly with new technological problems that may confront us at any moment. Our leaders may choose to ignore such logic, but our enemies and allies alike are holding their technical reserves in readiness for any emergency.

One cannot turn research on and off like the spigot o f a barrel. W e cannot train technologists as we do welders in 60 or 90 days; indeed, we cannot turn them out fully trained in less than four to seven years.

N o other reasoning can be read into the latest decrees o f so-called “ Selective” Service but that the high com-

W A L T E R J . M U R P H Y , E D I T O R

inand is ready to accept the doctrine that we can win this holocaust without any new contributions from science. In so far as America is concerned our scientific knowledge largely has been “ frozen” as o f April 11, 1944!

We have served notice that the United States, the

“ arsenal o f democracy” whose production has turned the tide o f battle, has deliberately and knowingly stripped its laboratories o f its young and mentally virile scientists in order to add a division or so o f infantry to the invasion forces.

The most recent directives o f Selective Service not only will cripple output and seriously impede research, but will curtail most effectively the training o f future technologists badly needed in industry should the war continue for another year or two, and most certainly will destroy the life blood o f the postwar period.

The Selective Service has cancelled all deferments for students in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, etc., effective July 1. In strange contrast is its action o f deferring students enrolled in schools o f medicine.

We presume the same privileges are being extended to future dentists, osteopaths, theologians, and veteri­

narians.

All such medical students who normally would have registered on October 1, 1944, will be permitted to re­

main until they graduate, even though three or four years are necessary to complete such courses. T o add still further mystery to this compounded confusion, we are reliably informed that General Hershey has given his approval to the deferment o f future doctors, pro­

vided the medical schools arrange for matriculation o f students on or before June 30, 1944, to meet the letter o f the lawl

God help us if our enemies suddenly surprise us with some new and terrible weapon.

A D isto rted P ic tu re

/C H E M I C A L production as measured by the Federal v-J Reserve Board Index is declining. The unad­

justed index, recently revised, stood at 356, compared with 360 in January", and 362 in February 1943. Peak production was reached in August and October when the index registered 400. Taken alone, this gives a very distorted picture o f what is happening along the chemical production front. N ot properly analyzed, it gives the impression that we are over the peak in chemical production. It may be used as a forceful argument against further deferment o f technologists.

The picture is not only a distorted one, but a dangerous half truth in the hands o f the uninformed.

The Government, it is true, is slashing production at

ordnance and munition plants, and a few cutbacks in

other products have been placed in effect in the past

386 I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y Vol. 36, No. 3

few months. However, “ total” chemical production figures have been swollen tremendously for the past two years or more by explosives, their various ingre­

dients, etc. Actually the “ industrial” chemicals pro­

duction index is still rising and is far above the point reached two years ago. In February it reached a peak o f 399, as against 322 in the same period a year ago.

This, then, is the true barometer to watch. Misin­

formed individuals have pointed out that the man­

power situation is not critical in chemical plants, for the reasons that comparatively small working forces are employed, are highly efficient, and greatly assisted by liberal use o f automatic control devices. It is true the chemical industry is not a large employer o f help, when comparison is made with some other industries—

for example, textiles— but those employed in chemical plants are among the most highly skilled in the world.

Furthermore, skilled help is necessary in any setup where automatic controls are widely used. I f only a small fraction o f the total o f such help is taken in the draft, production will decline drastically. Few realize that cutbacks in munitions and explosives do not re­

lease large numbers o f chemists and chemical engineers, for the simple reason that relatively few graduate chemists and chemical engineers were required except at the start o f such operations.

Every indication points to the likelihood that the over-all need for chemists, chemical engineers, and skilled operators will grow rather than diminish. Not only is “ industrial” chemical production likely to in­

crease, but here and there sudden heavy demands will occur for certain old and new products. Unless an adequate staff is maintained, these demands will not be met, nor will it be possible to staff new projects. There is little doubt that many such new programs will develop in a technological war. Chemists and chemical en­

gineers are not completely interchangeable parts in the chemical production scheme. A rubber chemist with 15 years’ experience cannot be converted overnight to a food chemist, and vice versa. The need o f holding chemists and chemical engineers in the Production Army was never greater than it is right now. Tom orrow that need will be even more pronounced than it is today!

S c ie n tific C u r b s on th e R e ich

L ORD C H E R W ELL, British Paymaster General

■I and close friend o f Winston Churchill, told the House o f Lords on April 18 that science will be called upon to render Germany impotent to wage another war o f aggression and that His M ajesty’s Government had decided to invite a large number o f scientists to consider ways and means o f achieving this end.

This action raises two interesting points: (1) Will United States scientists have a voice in any such setup?

(2) W hat means will scientists employ to control Germany?

I. & E. C. Editors commented at length on this question in the January issue (see I. & E. C. Reports, January, page 5) and offered a specific amendment to the Sherman Antitrust Law o f 1890 which would make it lawful for this country’s technologists to participate in such international action. We cannot hope to do

anything o f a constructive nature, unless, and until, this or a similar amendment is passed. The time for action by Congress is now!

Control o f science in Germany will entail utmost watchfulness. Unless Germany and, indeed, most o f Europe is to be purposely permitted to revert to the dark ages, chemists, chemical engineers, scientists o f all kinds, must be allowed to function. Water, sanitation, medicine, electricity, fuel, clothing, transportation are just a few o f the many services and materials which require technical direction. Only well-informed tech­

nologists will distinguish between acts strictly eco­

nomic in their intent and those that are primarily directed toward rearmament. Indeed, such men will have one o f the most ticklish assignments ever devised.

They must not only be highly skilled in a scientific sense, but strong in character, and must have the sup­

port o f the political leaders o f the United Nations.

Let us not forget that hundreds o f the most prominent technologists here and in England sounded warnings in the early thirties, but to no avail.

R e -em p lo y m e n t of V e te ra n s

T H E Selective Service A ct requires that employers provide jobs for former employees following dis­

charge from military service. Returning veterans must be given positions o f like seniority, status, and pay to those they held prior to enlistment or induction into the Armed Services. There is, however, a proviso that an employee must apply for reinstatement within 40 days following his or her discharge from military service.

Few service men and women are aware, however, that they must act within a 40-day period, and no machinery has been set up by Selective Service to advise employers o f military discharges o f former employees.

A great many employers are learning o f such releases by mere chance. Meanwhile, employers have main­

tained on their records definite commitments to these men and women and have gaged employment plans and procedures with such commitments in mind. Un­

certainties o f this nature are unfair to former em­

ployees, present employees, and to employers, and play havoc with postwar planning.

A uniform procedure should be established without further delay so that employers will be automatically informed o f military discharges o f former employees, thus permitting full compliance with terms o f the Selective Service A ct without jeopardizing the interests o f other employees and employers.

The present statute on re-employment o f veterans is badly in need o f clarification. N o official rules or regulations have been promulgated to guide employers.

0 . C. Cool, director o f the Labor Relations Institute, succinctly summarized the dangers attending the present state o f uncertainty when he told the Steel Founders Society:

“ There is more dynamite in the returning veteran problem than in any other which has confronted busi­

ness since the war began. It is filled with heartbreak for all concerned. It is a ‘hot potato’ that even Selec­

tive Service apparently deems too hot to handle.”

^ Ih c p jo A É

c h emic

0 _t 1 d /L I/C o Jl 2 _>

C C ïl

Papers on pagos 387 to 403 wore pre­

sented before th e Division of In d u s­

t ria l and Eng ineering C h e m istry a t t h e 107th mooting of th e A m erican C h e m ic a l Society w h ich was hold In C leveland, O hio . Law ­ rence W . Bass, directo r of th e New Eng lan d In d u stria l Research Fo u n d a ­ tio n , Boston, M ass., Introduced th e s y m ­ posium w ith th e rem arks w h ich follow.

j \ N E Y E to the future is second nature to both the chemical profession and the chemical industry. Their parallel de­

velopment during the past two cehturies is based on the concept that it is always possible to do things better, and that advances in science and its applications should not be left to chance but should be systematically encouraged. In brief, then, forward planning— today usually called “ postwar planning” — is nothing new to us; now we are merely placing greater emphasis on a basic philosophy to which we all subscribe.

The chemical industry in its many branches is and will con­

tinue to be at the heart of the war effort. T h e munitions pro­

gram, the gigantic synthetic rubber industry, the expansion of aviation gasoline production, and the developm ent of a host of wartime substitutes for other essentials leave no doubt that chemicals are the lifeblood o f our approaching victory over the Axis. These contributions are absorbing all our attention, technical manpower, and facilities.

The Nation, however, is convinced that industry must take seribus account of the problems to be faced when the war is won.

Victory will be hollow if management has not made preparations to the best of its ability for the readjustment of our econom y to a peacetime basis.

The manufacture of chemicals will play a vital part during the transition and postwar periods. Our im proved products will be the focus of new developments in other industries. During

the transition we will have to provide alternate materials to keep national production machinery turning. Our technical advice will be an indispensable help to small business. And, in the longer range future, we must spearhead the imagination which leads to better satisfaction of the consumer and hence to more jobs throughout the nation.

We are experiencing a critical shortage of chemists and chemical engineers in war production, and the situation is growing worse.

It is therefore particularly fitting that we should, through such discussions as this symposium, search for the best paths toward a rapid reconversion of this key industry when scientific and engineering manpower is available.

Because chemical manufacturing hinges on research, the nub o f factual advance planning, we can well start our look into the future in the laboratoiy. All agree there will be more and better research. Our experience in wartime emergencies should enable us to make a keener selection of problems, a more discriminating attack, and a more aggressive program of commercialization.

There will be an increased demand for chemists and chemical engineers, even after demobilization. These jobs will be found not only in the process industries but throughout the manu­

facturing world. The war has shown clearly the importance of the technical man in all fields of business and the lesson will not be forgotten. W e should therefore examine the educational developments which will make our profession still more useful in the world o f the future. The implementation o f new chemical discoveries to commercial scale will make increased demands on the talents o f our chemical engineers. W hat have we learned from the war that will help in the transition and postwar periods?

Chemical manufacturing involves large investment in equipment and heavy depreciation. W hat are the financial problems we will face in reconversion? W e must remember that postwar readjust­

ments are a world problem. W hat are the opportunities for the chemical industry in international trade? W e must be leaders.

Finally, the war has drawn management and technical men even closer together. The more intimate this cooperation, the more we can expect in the way of a concerted, aggressive effort toward a better tomorrow.

j H a u i t e n c e *l(J . B c M .

SOME TRENDS in RESEARCH

\ ' i - V . . ... ’ ‘ ■ . . ’ * . ■ ■ ‘ / • . i ' ■ • . ’ , • i R A Y M O N D S T E V E N S A R T H U R D. L I T T L E , IN C .. CAM B R I D<3E,-MASS.

A

gineers to research workers. D octor Little smiled and then suggested “ The R oad to X anadu” . I t appears on investigation that “ The R oad to X anadu” , o f John Livingston Lowes, dis­

cusses the source material from which Coleridge synthesized the

“ Rhym e o f the Ancient Mariner” . T o a degree it displays the working of the poet’s creative mind.

There are no texts on research. Describing research is like describing religion. Everyone knows roughly what is meant, but there are no satisfactory and universally accepted definitions.

Certainly there is no universal acceptance o f what is meant b y fundamental research. The head o f a great industrial laboratory once objected strenuously that, unless research is fundamental, it is not research. In the absence o f satisfactory terminology, we m ay assume that fundamental research seeks primarily to extend the knowledge o f natural law w ithout other direct ob­

jectives. Applied research, on the other hand, is aimed pri­

marily at a specific objective o f im proved health, wealth, or happiness.

W O R L D R E S E A R C H

Some factors bearing on thfe future o f research lend themselves to present examination. The first over-all view is one o f com ­ plexity and confusion, but o f great activity. Instead o f a calm fog in the gazing crystal we find a mass o f whirling, intercepting clouds— and the greatest cloud takes the shape o f Russia. I t is possible that the unorthodox, uninhibited research policies o f the U.S.S.R. and the support of research there on an astronomical scale may have more effect on postwar research than any other single factor. It has been reported that in some o f their first laboratories able scientists were given splendid facilities and large staffs, and then shared with the staffs the choice and conduct o f their research programs. Awkward initially they m ay have been, but reports emphasize widespread interest and support o f science and conduct o f investigations on a scale that m ay dwarf that o f other countries. Russian scientists are able;

and with a multitude o f science-minded and science-trained youth to draw from, with almost fanatical public interest in scientific work, and with unbounded physical facilities, they may set a furious pace for the rest o f the world to follow. Techni­

cal schools m ay well start teaching Russian to scientists who would keep abreast o f future progress!

In England Sir Harold Hartley, vice president of London, M id­

land and Scottish Railway Com pany, and others continue success­

fully to urge increased support and more widespread use o f re­

search (#). Germany m ay be expected to continue research activity on a scale large in proportion to her means. She was once the leader in the volume o f applied research, although she lost that leadership to the United States well before the present war, for which we should all give daily thanks. Japan’s interest has been aroused and laboratories have been established. M uch o f her technical literature has been hard to comprehend even in translation, but there are those who refuse to subscribe to the cop yca t thesis. There are m any indications o f original Japanese

discovery o f significance. Some of the most brilliant scientists in our technical institutions have been Chinese, and we m ay be certain that once they throw off the threat o f Japanese domina­

tion, research in fundamental and applied science will be well established in China. Where once serious research was confinid to a very few geographical areas, the trend toward world-wide adoption continues (5).

C H E M IS T R Y , P H Y S IC S , AN D B IO L O G Y

All branches o f physical science are active. Chemistry and research were once almost synonomous, so much so that one of our earliest and greatest industrial laboratories was organized and directed by a chemist, even though the field was entirely electrical. Research chemists still outnumber other research scientists (5). The field of chemistry is still expanding, with the chemistry o f m any o f the elements awaiting investigation and exploitation. B ut physics has at last taken its proper place and is currently so active that this war has been called a physicists' war. I t is easy to assume that physics will draw the limelight when censorship is removed, but there is one broad hint o f pos­

sible surprise. The head o f our largest applied physics labora­

tory, the dean o f American applied science, stated recently that peacetime applications o f war biological developments will outshine those based on creation of instruments and instru­

mentalities o f destruction (4).

In the face o f the current emphasis on applied physics this prophecy for biology seems startling; but nutritional and medi­

cinal advances, for example, have been significant, and recent bio­

logical work has expanded rather than exhausted the fundamental science on which it is based. W e find similar activity in bio­

physics and in many other fringes between various scientific and engineering disciplines. Classical mechanical engineering feels the im pact o f physics and the research method. The metallurgy o f light metals and o f rare metals and new alloys is under persistent scrutiny. Atom ic energy will some day have application. There is great laboratory activity and plenty o f new opportunity.

There will continue to be drama in research.

S O M E H A Z A R D S

B ut some o f the dense clouds in our crystal are storm clouds.

Possible misunderstanding between the research world and government in particular constitutes a hazard to the public benefit from research. Science could become a political football with frightening possibilities. Patent law might be so revised as to force greatly increased secrecy, a lack o f incentive, and other harm. Attem pts at coordination o f various types might permit support of mediocre research. The inadequacy o f such " c o ­ ordinated” research might not becom e apparent or its lethargy be shaken b y comparison with progress under ^competitive auspices. Simultaneous work in an active field in several labora­

tories is not necessarily an econom ic waste; the reverse is usually true.

Frank B. Jewett notes almost com plete stagnation o f progress in fundamental science during active warfare. He predicts a dearth o f highly trained men for fundamental science immediately 388

May, 1944

thereafter (4). There m ay, then, be a period in which funda­

mental research is being reformed, when the atmosphere in the universities becomes cleared. I t has been suggested that four years will elapse after the war before a normal freshman class will be received, even if the faculties and research groups could be­

com e established more quickly.

A F E W R E S E A R C H N E E D S

Wartime stagnation in fundamental research must be offset, and more than a casual return to prewar policy seems indicated, for some o f the sources of support have been weakened. The stream o f scientific youth should be exposed to fundamental research thought, activity, and m ethod; according to one leader in science, this inoculation can be accomplished only in the uni­

versity. W ith university endowment sources lessened, industry should increase its sponsorship o f fundamental research in its own interest. There are signs from the sugar and other food groups and from the coal industry and other sources that some o f this support is forthcoming.

Willis R . Whitney once told his associates how to choose be­

tween the pronunciation o f research and re-search. Research is done in laboratories, and research is done in libraries. With increasing frequence, however, as investigations extend and overlap, research can and must be based on a foundation of previous work. Otherwise it merely duplicates and does not advance. Properly compiled, indexed, and redistributed, the vast volume o f technical literature o f our great scientific libraries becomes a prolific source of new exploration. I t is probable that scientific libraries will have increased significance in the postwar period. Technical library staffs will include increasing numbers o f specialists in scientific literature. T h ey m ay well increase the efficiency o f utilization of our great storehouse of scientific data and accelerate the rate of postwar accomplishment in research.

Raymond Stevens

S C I E N T I F I C A N D T E C H N I C A L L I T E R A T U R E

The volume and diversity o f publication is such that more survey types o f publications are needed. More attention, better organized procedure, and greater support will have to be given the publication, indexing, abstracting, distribution, and re-use o f all scientific and technical literature. I f Russia fulfills her promise o f science on an astronomical scale and other coun­

tries attem pt to keep pace, the mere mechanical handling of the consequent publications will become a stupendous prob­

lem. Even now we need the mechanical literature catalog and reference mechanism once proposed b y Vannevar Bush (10). He visualized a research worker simply pressing keys, operating electronic selections at a thousand per second. Within one minute he would obtain a card catalog o f every article bearing on any given subject.

A bove all, we could use talented men who have been trained specifically for research, as contrasted with a training in past science. There is a need for more study o f methods in science, better knowledge o f how the mind works and how to use it properly. The “ Road to X anadu” should not be the best avail­

able text on creative thinking for research men. The psycholo­

gists, philosophers, and educators m ay yet find im proved means o f developing talent for it and preparing more men who can truly be called research scientists.

R E S E A R C H A N D W A R

Research in the United States has followed the wars. The Civil W ar saw the National Academ y o f Sciences established by Lincoln to enlist the organized help o f scientists. The Spanish W ar immediately preceded the establishment o f organized re­

search laboratories in industry. The first W orld W ar was im­

mediately followed by relatively great increase in the number and size o f research laboratories and in the recognition and use o f the research method by industry, particularly those industries in which chemistry and physics were o f dominant importance.

The progress of fundamental research is less readily measured, but there are some indications that its growth and sponsorship parallel applied industrial research in this country, that with applied research it has surged forward after war periods. M any factors are now present that caused great increase in research after previous wars, and some that are new or more significant.

We may expect precedent to be followed.

During the present war m any uncataloged industrial research laboratories have com e to light. After the last war there were three hundred industrial laboratories; in 1940, twenty-two hundred were known and cataloged by the National Research Council (8). There are now estimated to be some twenty-seven hundred recognized laboratories. There will be more research workers and m any more skilled technicians available for these and for new laboratories. From the National Roster o f Scientific Personnel we find that one in every tw o hundred Americans has some specialized technical or scientific training. N ot only have increasing numbers o f men become experienced in research practice, but during the war scientifically trained women o b ­ tained full recognition and for the first time laboratory demand exceeded the supply. There m ay soon be many to match Madame Curie’s singleness o f purpose, persistence, and trained ability.

M O R E C A P A C IT Y AN D A C C E L E R A T E D P A C E

New laboratories and more research workers mean a greater volume o f research, but we m ay also expect an accelerated pace.

During the war applied science research has been under great pressure for speedy attainment of objectives. There have been many instances o f new and constructive contact with other laboratory staffs. Some laboratory directors have learned how increased capacity and pace is possible, and this experience m ay have permanent result.