CHEMICAL NEWS,

Jan. 3, 1919 after solidification it was probably in the form of a solid solution, and the nature of such solutions suggested that the gas was held in the supposed amorphous under-cooled liquid films bounding the crystals. These films played an important part in determining the properties of the metal. Touching on the absorption of carbon monoxide in iron, be ascribed the carbonisation of iron below the critical point to the diffusion of this gas.

Answering Prof. Porter, he said all liquids were brittle, and cobbler's wax was a liquid. He had evidence that a crystalline aggregate like steel became brittle when the viscosity of the inter-crystalline cement was altered.

Prof. C. V. Boys, F.R.S., found the brittleness of cobbler's wax a conundrum. He referred to the remarkable solubility of gases in liquid silver.

Dr. THOMAS BAKER read a paper on "The Occlusion of Gases in Steel."

The paper is a résumé of the results of an investigation into the nature and composition of the gases evolved from steel when heated in vacuo, and the relation, if any, which exists between the temperature and rate of evolution of the gases. Three types of steel were experimented with, in the cast condition, and also after having beeu subjected

to mechanical treatment.

From these experiments it appears that the composition of the gas is practically the same throughout the series (49 to 55 per cent hydrogen and 40 to 45 per cent carbon monoxide), but that the quantity varies considerably. It is greatest in the case of solid steel in the "ingot" condition, and least in the case where it has been submitted

to drastic mechanical treatment.

There appears to be, also, some relation between the critical points of the steel and the temperature of the maximum rate of evolution.

Whether the gases obtained by heating the steel in vacuo are the ones evolved from the steel, or are formed by interaction between those actually evolved, is a still unsolved problem.

Dr. W. H. HATFIELD, commenting on one of Mr. Johns' conclusions, said that steel metallurgists knew very wel the actual amounts of gases occluded in metals and alloys, on which so much work had been done. There was a tendency to exaggerate the amount present, which was usually estimated by volume. He thought that the effect of adding silicon, manganese, or aluminium to steel was not to prevent the occlusion of gases, but to cause the gases to be retained on freezing.

Sir CHARLES PARSONS, F.R S., speaking on the forma tion of diamonds, said it had been proved to be connected in some way with occluded gases. Coal gas or hydrogen at about 2 tons pressure produced a remarkable effect on molton cast iron; it appeared to permit the extremely rapid growth of graphite throughout the metal. There was some action between the hydrogen and graphite

we did not know what.

Dr. H. A. BUMSTEAD described the methods he had adopted to get rid of the last traces of absorbed gases in metals in a liquid-air vacuum. The presence of the layer was indicated by the amount and character of the delta rays emitted.

Dr. H. S. TAYLOR drew attention to the untrustworthiness of the data available for calculations of the kind made in Dr. McCance's paper.

Sir T. KIRKE ROSE spoke on the "Occlusion of Oxygen in Silver."

Following up the remarks of Dr. Rosenhain, he said that the compoands, for example the oxide of silver, were formed because they were endothermic compounds. This was in accordance with le Chatelier's law-the higher the temperature the more oxygen was absorbed by the silver. As the temperature fell, however, the oxygen was not Expelled until solidification, and then it all went off at once and a shower of metallic globules was thrown out. Hydrogen occluded in molten copper behaved similarly. He concluded with some remarks on brittleness.

9

Prof. H. E. ARMSTRONG, F.R.S., referring to the two views of occlusion that had been put forward, said be regarded dissolution as a chemical phenomenon. The compounds formed were incomplete conversions, excepting at some particular temperature. In the case of oxygen and silver, a definite oxide of silver was formed at a high temperature, when both elements must be regarded as being in different molecular forms having great affinity for one another. In the case of iron, carbonic oxide had a high affinity for it at some bigh temperature; hence the ease with which carbonic oxide passes through iron; and similarly in the other familiar cases of occlusion. The unexpected resolution of alcohol into aldehyde and hydrogen under the influence of copper follows from the affinity of the latter for hydrogen.

On Sir Charles Parsons' remarks he would repeat his heresy that graphite was not a form of carbon.

Dr. W. H. HATFIELD controverted the views of Dr. McCance that bydrogen was unlikely ever to be the cause of blow-hole formation in steel, seeing that 75 per cent of the gas from blow holes was hydrogen.

Mr. E. H. RAYNER supported the view that an oxide of silver stable at a red heat, but not at a low heat, best explained the phenomena connected with the absorption of oxygen in silver.

Sir GEORGE BEILBY, F.R S., illustrated an effect of occluded gases by reference to the dependence of the recrystallisation temperature of cold-worked gold on the presence of minute quantities of hydrogen. from silver, even with slow cooling, was to be expected from the cooling curve of silver and silver oxide.

Dr. R. E. SLADE explained that the sudden issue of gas

Captain L. AITCHISON adduced reasons against the view that carbon monoxide formed a compound with iron. He stated that the addition of a very small amount of ammonia increased the rapidity of absorption of carbon monoxide in the case-hardening of steel. This was contrary to the idea that the intercrystalline cement was conthe partial pressure theory of absorbed gases stated by cerned in the absorption of the gas. He was critical of Mr. Johns.

Mr. C. R. DARLING spoke of the effect of the absorption of gases on electric welding. The pickling of the iron rod cited as negative in an acid produced a defective weld, in an alkali a sound weld. Again, under certain circumstances the weld absorbed a large amout of nitrogen and was sometimes sound, sometimes brittle. These and other phenomena were most obscure and called for investigation.

Another curious observation was the apparent boiling and bubbling of antimony far below the true boiling point.

Lieut. H. C. GREENWOOD draw attenton to the formation of blisters on iron by the occlusion of hydrogen, perhaps caused by the reduction of entangled oxide.

The action of caustic soda liquor on steel at high temperatures was to increase its strength and reduce its impact figure, and the action was roughly proportioned to the strength of the alkali.

Dr. N. T. M. WILSMORE said that the decrease of gas solubility in ordinary solutions with rise of temperature was only true of water. Other solvents behaved in the way molten metals did in this respect.

Dr. A. G. P. GWYER spoke on occlusion by aluminium and its alloys. Some blisters in cast metal, which developed when it was rolled into sheet, contained from 1/10 to of their volume of occluded gas, principally hydrogen, and also carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen, and oxygen. It was noteworthy that hydrogen was the chief gas occluded by non-ferrous metals and alloys, and the matter called for further study. Dr. J. A. HARKER, F.R.S., said that in determining the melting-point of silver he had found that when the metal was cooled in a reducing atmosphere a definite, clean halt in the cooling curve appeared, but if the atmosphere was oxidising no such definite point was noticeable.

Nearly all metals which absorbed oxygen gave at the

moment of melting a large emission of gas, accompanied by a greatly increased electric emission. The predominating sign of the current was positive, but it always changed over to negative at the moment of melting oxidisable metals like tin or brass.

Mr. P. PEAKMAN referred to the importance of occluded gas in cast iron.

The PRESIDENT, in referring to this matter, spoke of the great difficulties the old iron and steel founders laboured under in getting sound castings before science came to their aid.

Dr. W. H. HATFIELD said that the high percentage of silicon normally present in cast iron enabled it to take care of the gases. No blow-holes should occur if over 0.3 or 0'4 per cent silicon were present.

Dr. H. BORNS, in a written communication, drew attention to the discrepancies between the results of different experimenters on the nature and quantities of occluded gases. One source of error was often caused by gas evolved from the heated apparatus used in the experiments, and this suggested direct electric heating of the metal as being the best method to employ. Methods of experimenting and of analysing the gases called for study before much progress could be made.

Dr. R. S. WILLOWS, in a written communication, touched on the subject as it concerned X-ray apparatus, and he indicated points ou which information was needed before the highest possible vacua could be produced in such apparatus rapidly and efficiently.

Prof. A. W. PORTER, replying to the discussion, said the difficulty of understanding how a very small quantity of hydrogen could contribute such brittle qualities to any metal remained unsolved. Later he hoped to suggest an explanation.

Mr. COSMO JOHNS reiterated the desirability of making experiments to see whether strained or unstrained metals showed any preferential capacity for absorbing hydrogen. It was important to realise that we knew nothing about the properties of pure metals and alloys. All the data available referred to commercial metals containing unknown quantities of gases.

Council-G. S. Albright; W. R. Cooper; Dr. C. H. Desch; Dr. J. A. Harker, F.R.S.; Emil Hatschek; Cosmo Johns; Harold Moore; E. H. Rayner; Dr. George Senter; Cav. Magg. E. Stassano.

The Report of the Council states that a further grant of £190 was made during the past year in aid of the research on "The Setting and Disintegration of Salts and other Crystalline Substances," which was carried out under the auspices of a special Committee appointed by the Council. The Society has been affiliated to the Conjoint Board of Scientific Societies, and is represented thereon by Mr. W. R. Cooper.

It is stated that no fewer than five members of the Organising Committee of the British Scientific Products Exhibition recently held at King's College, London, were members of the Society, while the Organising Secretary of the Exhibition was Mr. F. S. Spiers, Secretary and Editor of the Society.

The Report also refers to the important progress made in the experimental work of the Nitrogen Products Committee of the Ministry of Munitions. The Society was largely instrumental in bringing to the attention of the Government the importance of the nitrogen problem.

In his Presidential Address the President, Sir Robert

Hadfield, referred to the success which had attended the General Discussions which were a feature of the work of the Society. During his term of office-since just before the war-11 Symposia had been held: on "The Hardening of Metals," "The Transformation of Pure Iron," "The Corrosion of Metals," "Methods and Appliances for the Attainment of High Temperatures in the Laboratory," "Refractory Materials," "The Training and Work of the Chemical Engineer," "Osmotic Pressure," "Pyrometers and Pyrometry," "Electric Furnaces," "The Co-ordination of Scientific Publication," and "The Occlusion of Gases in Metals."

FEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES.

THE Adjourned General Meeting was held at Connaught Rooms on Thursday, December 12, Sir VINCENT CAILLARD presiding, when the following resolutions wer unanimously passed :

Peace Aims.

The Federation of British Industries fully endorses the arguments which have been advanced in other quarters for compelling the enemy countries to make such reparation as is possible by paying the full cost of the War, on the grounds of abstract justice, as a preventive of future aggression, and as a warning to any nation which may ever be tempted to follow their example. They desire, however, to urge more particularly on His Majesty's Government the serious economic aspects of the question. Unless the enemy countries pay the burden will have to be borne by this country in the form of immensely increased taxation for many years to come. This taxation, however ingeniously its original incidence may be devised, must, like all other taxations, fall ultimately upon the industry of the country and form an element in the cost of production. A great increase in the total cost of production can only have three possible results-an increase in the price of the product, a diminution in sales ending eventually in national bankruptcy, or a reduction in the remuneration received by all classes engaged in production.

The first will be impossible owing to the competition of the countries who have taken no part in the War or who have taken a lesser part than this country, and whose total cost of production will consequently be lsss; the second means national disaster; the third will mean that producers of all classes-employers and employed alike— will have to work harder and receive less than they have ever done before. Capital will be driven away from British enterprises to those of less heavily burdened countries, and both the creation of new industries and the development of those already in existence will be seriously restricted.

Under such circumstances the general standard of living would inevitably be reduced, and it is even probable that the total national wealth would prove insufficient to provide simultaneously for the war charges and for the important but costly reforms in housing, wages, and hours of labour now contemplated.

The Federation therefore desires to urge upon His Majesty's Government the absolute necessity of transferring the burden of the War to those nations which are solely responsible for its creation.

They feel, however, that as much of the damage and loss caused by the War must necessarily remain beyond any possibility of reparation, that they must define clearly those items which they consider can be dealt with. These

are

i. All expenses incurred as a direct or indirect consequence of the War by the Allied Governments. ii. Complete compensation for any loss of Allied public property or of private property owned by Allied subjects, wherever situated, including ship. ping and invested capital, and for all damage to such property arising from the War.

iii. Compensation for all personal injuries, including a sum representing the capitalised cost of all pensions paid to disabled men and to widows and orphans. iv. An estimated sum to cover the loss in national power of production caused by the death or disablement of potential producers, and by the dis organisation of the means of production and transport.

v. All enemy debts and obligations on whatever

account.

vi. Interest on all these charges from the date incurred until the date of final payment.

If the enemy Powers are unable, as is possible, to meet this debt by an immediate capital payment, its collection will probably extend over a considerable period.

During this period it will be necessary to provide some means of enforcing continued payment and of preventing attempted evasion by real and simulated transfer of allegiance to other countries, or by other political manipulation, and above all to provide adequate safeguards against any sudden and treacherous attack until there is a definite assurance of a genuine and enduring change of political theory and practice upon the part of our principal enemies.

Prolonged military occupation of any considerable portion of enemy territory would be very burdensome to the Allies by withdrawing a large number of men from productive employment, even if the actual cost of such Occupation were borne by the enemy countries, while it might well impede the development of any stable and responsible democratic authority in the territory occupied. The Federation would suggest that the necessary safeguards might be provided with the minimum of interference with the free internal development, economic, social, and political, of the defeated nations, and the minimum of expense to the Allies by assessing an adequate minimum annual sum to be furnished by the enemy countries, and by placing specific revenues calculated to produce this sum at the disposal of an inter-Allied

Commission.

This Commission would be responsible for receiving this revenue and for paying the various Allies by instalments proportionate to the total amount owed to each Ally.

Should the specific revenues allocated for the purpose prove insufficient to produce the annual sum required, the enemy Governments should assign further revenue to the required amount.

Payment in kind, either by raw materials or in the form of replacemert of property damaged or destroyed should only be permitted under safeguards which would effectually prevent any possible injury to the develop. ment of industry and employment in the Allied countries or any misrepresentation as to the value of such pay.

ments.

Payments in kind should therefore be made to the Inter-Allied Commission, which would dispose of the goods and credit the sums they received for them to the The Commission should be emenemy Governments, powered to refuse any manufactured articles which could be supplied by Allied countries.

The institution of such a Commission, if accompanied by a complete disarmament of the enemy forces, and by any necessary restriction on the development of aircraft or other means of sudden attack, would enable extensive military occupation to cease at an early date, and would probably enable the Allies, while occupying a few points of strategic importance from a military or naval point of view, to reduce their own armaments to an extent which would be impossible under any other conditions.

At the same time, by providing a common interest and responsibility, and a definite object for continued association and discussion, it should prove a valuable influence in constituting the Allies and Associated nations the nucleus of a League of Nations, into which the enemy countries themselves when their debt has been paid and

II

their period of atonement and probation completed, could in due course be admitted. Such a course would probably be preferred even in the enemy countries themselves to the constant interference and friction caused by a prolonged and extensive military occupation.

Trade Restrictions. It has been necessary for the Government to control the prices and markets of certain commodities in the past, but where this has been done there has been an understanding that imports of these commodities from abroad should be prohibited. This bas not been carried out in the case of cotton hosiery goods, as American cotton hosiery goods are now appearing in this country at a lower price than is possible for the British manufacturers. It was accordingly decided that urgent representations should be made to the Government requesting them in no case to remove the embargo on imports of these manufactured goods except after consultation with the Federation, who would approach the Association or Associations of the Trade concerned, and if necessary put them in direct touch with the Department. Coal Supply." That the position of industry in regard to priority of Coal Supply is a serious menace to em loy. ment and the speedy conversion from War to Peace Production. And that the War Cabinet should take the matter into consideration immediately."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Disabled Soldiers. A duty devolves upon every one of us to do our utmost to find employment for those who have been disabled in the war. This remark should therefore be a direct appeal to all our readers to seriously consider if they cannot possibly find a job for at least one of Committee will gladly answer inquiries and assist in our heroes. The Secretary of the Local War Pensions finding a suitable man or men.

Award of the John Scott Legacy Medal and Premium.-The City of Philadelphia, acting on the rethe Franklin Institute, recently commendation of awarded the John Scott Legacy Medal and Premium to Ernest J. Sweetland, of Upper Montclair, N.J., for the Sweetland Filter Press. This invention is to provide a self-dumping filter press, which will reduce to a minimum the labour involved in discharging the solid residue left in the press after filtration and also the labour of cleaning the press by band.

Chemical Society Library.-With a view to meeting the growing demand for technical literature, the Council of the Chemical Society decided early in 1917 to increase the scope of the Library of the Society by a more liberal provision of suitable technical works and journals. It was also thought that by placing the existing library of 23,000 volumes, and the proposed extension at the disposal of other Societies and Associations, they might relieve themselves of the necessity of collecting and maintaining the literature relating to their special subjects and assist in the formation of a representative library of Chemical Literature, such as would be difficult to obtain by individual effort. A Conference of Representatives of Societies and Associations connected with Chemical Science and Industry was held to consider the means by which other Societies, &c., might co-operate in this extension, and financial assistance was subsequently offered by the following Societies, &c. :-Association of British Chemical Manufacturers, Biochemical Society, Faraday Society, Institute of Chemistry, Society of Dyers and Colourists, and Society of Public Analysts. Members of these contributing Societies, &c., will be permitted to consult the Library and borrow books from January 1, 1919. The hours of opening the Library will be as follows:-Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 am, to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ministry of Munitions announces that the suspension of the operation of Regulation 30a of the Defence of the Realm Act on acetic acid, grey acetate of lime, and acetone covers in addition products associated with acetone which have also been restricted under the Acetone Order, including methyl acetone, methyl-ethyl-ketone,

and acetone oil. Trading in all of the above mentioned

articles abroad as well as at home is now entirely free with the exception of those cases where export licenses have still to be obtained from the War Trade Department. No formalities are now necessary in connection with the import of these materials from America.

The Science of the Future.-Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton, F.R.S., in his address as Chairman of the Council of the Society of Arts, delivered at the opening meeting of the Session on November 20, gives quite a hopeful forecast of scientific development in the near future. Great advance is to be expected in the application of wireless telegraphy as a means for diffusion of the

world's news, and many suggestions are made for the

utilisation of the more recent advances in thermoelectricity and kindred subjects. Mr. Swinton suggests that the devastation due to the war can in time be repaired, while the world store of scientific knowledge is "stin intact"; this may be so, but the unfortunate devastation due to the war is not altogether confined to material property, which can of course be replaced; hundreds of our young men, with minds fully trained in scientific knowledge and method, have been sacrificed, and the

world has suffered irreparable loss thereby. Mr. Swinton discusses the possibilities of the utilisation of radiant energy for industrial purposes at some length, and numerous suggestions are made in a manner characteristic of the author. The Royal Society of Arts is to be con gratulated upon the energy of its chairman, under whose guidance a successful session may be confidently expected. Waste Products.-The Munitions Inventions Depart

ment of the Ministry of Munitions has instituted inquiries with the object of ascertaining whether waste products of various chemical manufactures can be utilised for industrial purposes, and the Waste Products Committee of this Department has carried out experiments on the waste products set out below. Particulars as to the results of their experiments will be furnished to chemical manu facturers interested upon application being made to the Controller of Munitions Inventions, 10, Princes Street, Westminister, S.W. 1.

1. Sulphide of arsenic residues from the purification of sulphuric acid.

2. Residues containing appreciable quantities of selenium.

3. Waste hydrochloric acid from pickling.

4. Waste chromium sulphate liquors resulting from the oxidation of organic substances.

5. Residue from the manufacture of acetic anhydride. 6. Residues suitable for, the purification of coal-gas from sulphuretted hydrogen.

7. Maize residues from the manufacture of butyl alcohol.

8. Chrome leather scrap.

9. Mimosa bark residues.

by

Uni

Cocoa manufacturers for Analytical and Research work. versity Graduate with experience in Food Analysis preferred.-Apply, stating age, qualifications, experience, and salary desired, to "Chemist," 25, Union Street, Bristol.

Chemist, University training and wide indus

trial experience, is now free to accept engagement as Chemist or Technical Adviser. Expert on Distillation Me hods and Recovery of Volatile Solvents, &c. Late Chemist-in-charge of one of H.M. Judd's, 97, Gresham Street, E.C. 2. Factories. Ex-Army. Near London preferred.-Write to Box 4'6,

Cher

hemist wanted, with first-class training and experience, for a Non ferrous Metals Laboratory (London), to organise and take charge, under Principal, of Laboratory employing tremely accurate analysis (Inorganic) and successful Research Work.-two or three Juniors. Preference given to man with record for exReplies, in confidence, stating full experience, references, and salary expected, to "Chemist," care of Crossley and Co., Ltd., 57, Coleman Street, E C. 2.

Ch
Chemist (46) desires Appointment, with
Partnership or Financial Interest, with Agricultural or Analytical
Chemist or Dairy Company.-Address, "C. 46," CHEMICAL NEWS

Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4.

Chemist (B.Sc., Lond.), Hons. in Chemistry,

and with Continental training, seeks Appointment as Laboratory or Research Chemist.-Address, B. R., CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C.4.

One

Works Analytical Chemist required. conversant with Soap Manufacture, Nicotine Extractions, and Agricultural and Horticultural Preparations. State full particulars and salary required.-Address, W. A, CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4.

Wanted, practical Chemist with Engineering

knowledge and Pharmaceutical experience, scientific education, and acquainted with Analysis. State age, experience, and salary reqnired. Address, Duncan, Flockhart, and Co., 104, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh.

Youth, 19 (Lond. Matric.), requires Situation

as Junior in Works Laboratory. Some experience in Public Analyst's Laboratory. Address, Peace," CHEMICAL NEWS Office, 16, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street, London, E.C. 4.

CH

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Russian or Fish Glue.-I should be greatly obliged for a recipe What I really for manufacturing Russian or fish-glue in liquid form. desire is a list of the various ingredients of which the glue is com. posed. I know, of course, that fish bones is one of the articles.-J. JOHNSON.

Manufacture of Bleaching Powder and Soda Ash - A correspondent, possessing large quantities of carbonate of lime and having at command 3000 h -p. surplus electrical energy, wishes for particulars of an electrolytic process for manufacturing bleaching powder and soda ash.-Address, "Bleaching Powder," care of CHEMICAL NEWS Office.

The

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM.

FACULTY OF SCIENCE.

PROFESSORSHIP OF CHEMISTRY.

he Council of the University invites applications for the CHAIR OF CHEMISTRY. vacant by the resigna tion of Professor PERCY F. FRANKLAND, F.R S. The stipend offered is £1000 per year.

Applications may be accompanied by testimonials, references, or other credentials, and should be received by the undersigned on or before FEBRUARY 8th, 1919.

Further particulars may be obtained from-

GEO. H. MORLEY, Secretary,