Π PROCESSING O F THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS edited by E. C. Bernhardt, Sponsored by The Society of Plasttcs Engineers, inc . Here is the most extensive infor­mat ion ever publ ished on the engineering problems involved in extrusion, injection mold ing , calendering and other thermoplastics processing operations. Over 19 out­standing contributors wr i te from first-hand experience.

1 9 5 9 , $ 1 8 . 0 0

Π STATISTICAL Q U A L I T Y CONTROL: An Introduction for Management by D. H. W . Allan. Here a re complete answers for management personnel on qual i ty control: what if is, what it w i l l do, how much it costs, and who does it. The book broadly covers the subject in non-mathemat ica l terms to enab le management to ossess the potentials of SQC. 1 9 5 9 , $ 3 . 5 0

• WORK M E A S U R E M E N T by Virgil H. Rotroff. Acquaints management with the benefits and procedures of work measurement. Stresses the need for better p lanning, and how it's accompl ished. The book also presents essential informat ion on a l l phases of a work measurement program. 1 9 5 9 . $ 4 . 8 5

Π ROCKET PROPELLANTS by Francis A. Warren. Con­tains the composition, manufacturing methods, ond performance details of both solid- and l iquid-propel-lants used in rockets, from small signal units to the largest missiles be»"2 teunched today. Also includes chapters on propel lent burning, ignition and igniters, safety in propel lant manufacturing plant, and quali ty control . 1 9 5 8 , $ 6 . 5 0

Π SCALE-UP I N PRACTICE edited by Richard Fleming. Includes reveal ing chapters on the factors justifying the operat ion of pi lot plants; a brief review of scale-up theory; simulat ing operat ion of processes end equipment w i t h computers; the harards involved in scale-up; the process and business economics of scale-up; and organ­iz ing for scale up . 1 9 5 8 , $ 4 . 5 0

Π V A C U U M METALLURGY edited by R.F. Bunshah. Encompasses v i r tual ly the entire field of vacuum meta l lurgy—product ion and measurement of vacuum; vacuum melt ing techniques; degassing of metals; and the metal lurgical applications of vacuum processing to powdered and electronic materials,, castings, and high temperature a l loys. 1 9 5 8 . $ 1 2 . 5 0

Π PUNCHED CARDS, 2 n d Edit ion Edited by Robert S. Casey, James W . Perry, Allen Kent and Madeline Berry. Thoroughly revised and enlarged, this new second edi t ion surpasses even its classic predecessor in clearly describing every aspect of punched card systems. Al l who handle large masses of data wi l l find here the principles which apply to small files or the largest, and the entire range of equipment and cards now avai lable.

1 9 5 8 , $ 1 5 . 0 0

Π OPERATIONS RESEARCH FOR INDUSTRIAL M A N ­A G E M E N T by Dimitris N. Chotafas. The first book de­voted to a detai led explanation of the most recently developed operations research techniques used for executive decision-making, with emphasis on so-called simulation studies. Extremely helpful to those interested in the applications of statistical theory to business problems. 1958 , $ 8 . 7 5

Π CATALYSIS, V o l u m e 6 , edited by Paul H. Emmett. The newest volume in the most thoroughgoing treatise on the physical chemistry of catalysis and catalytic processing ever publ ished. Covers hydrocarbon catalysis.

1 9 5 8 , $ 1 9 . 5 0

| FREE E X A M I N A T I O N ^ ! RE1NHOLD PUBLISHING CORPORATION

Dept. M - 3 8 8 , 4 3 0 Park Ave. , N e w York 2 2 , Ν. Υ.

P l e a s e send mo the bi»oks checked abrne fur 10 d a y s ' F R E E E X A M I N A T I O N .

Ν Α Μ Ε ( P l e a s e Pr int )

A D D R E S S .

SAVE MONEY: Enclose payment with order and Reinhold pays all shipping costs. Same return privi-

DO ~N0T "ENCLOSE CASH! -"*""' ~ "*

A Tale of Atomic Weights John DdltoiK a Quaker, probably did

not intend to start an argument when lie formulated his atomic theory {circa 1805). He did start one, though—over atomic weights—and it's still going on. A recent exposé (C&EN, Sept. 8, 1958, page 76) put Arthur F. Scott and Jane G. Shell of Reed College hot on the trail of earlier chapters in the story.

From the beginning, two points have been at issue: the standard reference element and its atomic weight. There has never been any lack of standards; H = 1, Ο = 100, Ο = 10, Ο = 1, and Ο = 16 had all been proposed by 1860.

The ^'ears wore on, and in the 1890's both the American Chemical Society and die German Chemical Society set up committees on atomic weights. The ACS committee's early reports gave four sets of atomic weights, one based on Η = 1, and three based on Ο = 16.

In 1900, the Germans spurred the formation of an International Commit­tee. That body asked each of its 57 members by mail: "Shall Ο = 16 be fixed as the future standard for calcula­tion of atomic weights?" Eight mem­bers never replied; possibly they were offended by the loaded question. Of those who did answer, 40 went along with Ο = 16, seven held out for Η — 1, and two fatalists were willing to ac­cept either standard.

But some chemists still opposed abandoning Η = 1. So the Interna­tional Committee set Lip another com­mittee to review new work on atomic weights and report conclusions. This committee was a step forward; it had three members instead of 57, and its 1903 report gave only two sets of atomic weights.

For a time, life and ehcrniistry went on routinely (based largely on Ο = 16.00000), but things started coming unstuck again in iilxjut L 925, when Giauque and Johnston discovered oxy­gen isotopes. I'rev and Greiff pre­dicted in 1935 that tlfcese isotopes were not distributed uniformly, and Dole supported their views experimentally.

So now we have true chemists' scale (average relative mass of the oxygen isotopes is 16), the physicists* scale (relative mass of O10 i s 16) ^ and a pro­posed scale based on carbon-12.

Says the latest report ο€ the Inter­national Commission o f At ;mic Weights: " A decision to adopt the carbon-12 scale should not be made unless it can be expected to displace both of the oxygen s<~*ales i n a reason­able time . . ."

Some Things Take Tim& The history of glass fibers is a long

one. dating back as £ar as the ancient Phoenicians, who had learned the art of glassmaking froira the Egyptians. Some 3000 years ago, the Phoenicians were using ornaments of glass fibers made by heating glass balls until they were pliable, then stretching them into crude strings.

However, the gkss fiber industry didn't come into its own until World War II, when glass -wool -was used to insulate Victory and Liberty ships. Between 1939 and 1944, glass fiber sales tripled, paving the way to further industrial research nmd development­a l ^ today's near $300 million annual sales figure. All of this comes from Johns-Man ville, whieli evidently took a thorough look at çliiss fibers before going ahead with its purchase of L.O.F. Glass Fibers (C&EN, Jan. I 2, page 30).

C O M 5 N G N E X T W E E K

Progress in Stable isotopes The stable isotopes p rogram at Oak Ridge, now more than a decade o ld , wi l l pass a milestone soon when ORNL winds up its First cycle of separat ions by isolating the isotopes of osmium. A C&EN Feature

9 2 C & E N J A N . 2 6, 1959