Lindberg Engineering Co.
1
24 A ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LI Ν D BERG Pot-Crucible Laboratory Furnace adapted to heat treating with controlled atmosphere This Lindberg Lab-Type Pot-Crucible Electric Furnace is now used to heat treat with controlled atmospheres . . . at heating chamber temperatures up to 2000°F.! The Sonofone Corporation of Elmsford, N.Y., for example, in- stalled three of them for bright anneal- ing diaphragms to U.S. Government specifications, with a hydrogen atmos- phere. Lindberg Pot-Crucible Furnaces can also be used for many other purposes: salt or lead bath immersion tempering, hardening and annealing, cyaniding and aluminum heat treating . . . to de- termine critical points of steel, to melt base metals, to calibrate thermocou- ples, etc. When equipped with gas- tight retorts, these furnaces are ideal for using atmospheres of a carburizing or decarburizing nature at temper- atures up to 1 800°F. Perhaps you, too, have a problem that can be solved by using this versa- tile Lindberg Pot-Crucible Furnace. Call your laboratory equipment dealer today! LINDBERG Lindberg Engineering Co., Chicago. Manufacturers of furnaces, hot plates and carbon determine for the modern laboratory. Views of Lindberg Furnaces in operation at Sonotone SOLD EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH LABORATORY EQUIPMENT DEALERS INSTRUMENTATION Training in Instrumental Analysis We have made a few observation^ on this subject in the past and more detailed suggestions elsewhere [Instruments, 19, 261 (1946)]. In some respects, the problem becomes progressively more diffi- cult. Since teaching is one of our duties, we may be permitted a few observations on this subject. Before doing so, we wish to set our credentials in the proper light. During the past year many industrial and academic readers of this column have asked us to recommend graduate students for responsible positions in analyti- cal laboratories, presumably under the impression that we "prac- tice what we preach". There is no institution in which what we have been discussing is taught, or for which the facilities are ade- quate. Some departments have acquired expensive commercial equipment in order to acquaint their students with modern meth- ods. In a few instances, the acquisitions have become museum pieces. With such equipment there is always the danger that the student will learn a few techniques which will be obsolete by the time he is ready to use them elsewhere. With respect to instrumentation, it would seem best to follow the practices which are used in sound teaching of chemistry itself —to stress fundamentals and to teach basic techniques. For in- strumental analysis, this might well include basic theory and experiments in optics and in electrical and electronic measure- ments. The customary general courses in physics must furnish the background, but as a rule, it will be necessary to select and correlate isolated portions of this subject for extensive review and amplification for the needs of the analyst. The principles of in- strumentation have been well defined and classified. As a well organized field of science and technology its rules can be learned in a reasonable time and their relationship to modern analytical practice can be explained and illustrated by specific examples. As we see it, it is simply a matter of a few cardinal principles, a few selected topics in physics, some electronics, and an elemen- tary knowledge of mechanisms. The correlation, for our purpose then requires the judgment and instinct of the analyst in apprais- ing their utility. Although this supplementary training for the analyst consists entirely of nonchemical subjects and therefore seems to be quite remote from the rest of his chemical training, it is interesting to note that instrumental analysis cuts across the arbitrary barriers which have been established in the teaching of analysis. Analyti- cal chemistry has usually implied inorganic analysis; and or- ganic analysis, and later, microanalysis were originally set up as necessary adjuncts to organic chemistry. A new instrumental method is likely to be equally applicable to the analysis of vita- mins or nonferrous alloys. One is likely therefore to come to the conclusion that the analyst in the near future will be well trained in (1) the fundamental chemistry of organic and inorganic analy- sis and (2) the broad principles of instrumentation. With the latter, he will be able to understand and use existing instru- ments, but what is more important, he will be able to perceive new needs and possibly aid in their design and development. We believe that the teachers of analysis cannot continue to neglect this responsibility. The notion that one can relegate these duties to his physics or engineering colleagues is untenable. They have their own problems and they must be forgiven if they regard them as more important than ours. A very interesting and instructive suggestion for "increasing the productivity of re- search" has been made by Paul E. Klopsteg [Science, 101, 569 (1945)] in which he envisions a division of "instrumentology" within a university. As such it would function as a service and advisory center on instrument problems for the various science departments. He has explained how this group could save the individual research man precious time and effort by assuming that part of his burden for which he is not particularly well trained. Presumably this idea could be extended to the assumption of some of the teaching needs which we have been discussing. Important Developments Our journal appears in this issue under a new title and its edi- tors have given much thought and effort toward its continued im- provement. It is gratifying and stimulating to witness the many important and fundamental contributions which are appearing in its pages. From our little corner it is equally exciting to witness the importaut developments which are coming from industrial, academic, and institutional laboratories. There is still much to be done and some of the isolated efforts to improve our instruments may well serve to accelerate a more general effort in this direc- tion. It may even be in order to make the customary seasonal resolutions to do better.
Transcript of Lindberg Engineering Co.
24 A A N A L Y T I C A L C H E M I S T R Y
LI Ν D BERG Pot-Crucible Laboratory Furnace adapted to heat treating with controlled atmosphere
This Lindberg Lab-Type Pot-Crucible Electric Furnace is now used to heat treat with controlled atmospheres . . . at heating chamber temperatures up to 2000°F.! The Sonofone Corporation of Elmsford, N.Y., for example, installed three of them for bright annealing diaphragms to U.S. Government specifications, with a hydrogen atmosphere.
Lindberg Pot-Crucible Furnaces can also be used for many other purposes: salt or lead bath immersion tempering, hardening and annealing, cyaniding and aluminum heat treating . . . to determine critical points of steel, to melt base metals, to calibrate thermocouples, etc. When equipped with gas-tight retorts, these furnaces are ideal for using atmospheres of a carburizing or decarburizing nature at temperatures up to 1 800°F.
Perhaps you, too, have a problem that can be solved by using this versatile Lindberg Pot-Crucible Furnace. Call your laboratory equipment dealer today !
LINDBERG Lindberg Engineering Co., Chicago. Manufacturers of furnaces, hot plates and carbon determine for the modern laboratory.
Views o f Lindberg Furnaces in opera t ion a t Sonotone
SOLD E X C L U S I V E L Y T H R O U G H L A B O R A T O R Y E Q U I P M E N T DEALERS
INSTRUMENTATION
Training in Instrumental Analysis
We have made a few observation^ on this subject in the past and more detailed suggestions elsewhere [Instruments, 19, 261 (1946)]. In some respects, the problem becomes progressively more difficult. Since teaching is one of our duties, we may be permitted a few observations on this subject. Before doing so, we wish to set our credentials in the proper light. During the past year many industrial and academic readers of this column have asked us to recommend graduate students for responsible positions in analytical laboratories, presumably under the impression that we "practice what we preach". There is no institution in which what we have been discussing is taught, or for which the facilities are adequate. Some departments have acquired expensive commercial equipment in order to acquaint their students with modern methods. In a few instances, the acquisitions have become museum pieces. With such equipment there is always the danger tha t the student will learn a few techniques which will be obsolete by the time he is ready to use them elsewhere.
With respect to instrumentation, it would seem best to follow the practices which are used in sound teaching of chemistry itself —to stress fundamentals and to teach basic techniques. For instrumental analysis, this might well include basic theory and experiments in optics and in electrical and electronic measurements. The customary general courses in physics must furnish the background, but as a rule, it will be necessary to select and correlate isolated portions of this subject for extensive review and amplification for the needs of the analyst. The principles of instrumentation have been well defined and classified. As a well organized field of science and technology its rules can be learned in a reasonable time and their relationship to modern analytical practice can be explained and illustrated by specific examples. As we see it, it is simply a matter of a few cardinal principles, a few selected topics in physics, some electronics, and an elementary knowledge of mechanisms. The correlation, for our purpose then requires the judgment and instinct of the analyst in appraising their utility.
Although this supplementary training for the analyst consists entirely of nonchemical subjects and therefore seems to be quite remote from the rest of his chemical training, it is interesting to note that instrumental analysis cuts across the arbitrary barriers which have been established in the teaching of analysis. Analytical chemistry has usually implied inorganic analysis; and organic analysis, and later, microanalysis were originally set up as necessary adjuncts to organic chemistry. A new instrumental method is likely to be equally applicable to the analysis of vitamins or nonferrous alloys. One is likely therefore to come to the conclusion that the analyst in the near future will be well trained in (1) the fundamental chemistry of organic and inorganic analysis and (2) the broad principles of instrumentation. With the latter, he will be able to understand and use existing instruments, but what is more important, he will be able to perceive new needs and possibly aid in their design and development.
We believe that the teachers of analysis cannot continue to neglect this responsibility. The notion that one can relegate these duties to his physics or engineering colleagues is untenable. They have their own problems and they must be forgiven if they regard them as more important than ours. A very interesting and instructive suggestion for "increasing the productivity of research" has been made by Paul E. Klopsteg [Science, 101, 569 (1945)] in which he envisions a division of "instrumentology" within a university. As such it would function as a service and advisory center on instrument problems for the various science departments. He has explained how this group could save the individual research man precious time and effort by assuming that part of his burden for which he is not particularly well trained. Presumably this idea could be extended to the assumption of some of the teaching needs which we have been discussing.
Important Developments Our journal appears in this issue under a new title and its edi
tors have given much thought and effort toward its continued improvement. I t is gratifying and stimulating to witness the many important and fundamental contributions which are appearing in its pages. From our little corner it is equally exciting to witness the importaut developments which are coming from industrial, academic, and institutional laboratories. There is still much to be done and some of the isolated efforts to improve our instruments may well serve to accelerate a more general effort in this direction. I t may even be in order to make the customary seasonal resolutions to do better.
