Researches at Mellon Institute z941-42.--Outstanding at Mellon
Institute during the fiscal year ended February 28, 1942, has been the growth of the industrial research staff to 205 fellows (from 187) and 15o fellowship assistants (from 114). The services of these scientists and engineers have been required on the 95 industrial fellowships in operation. The investigational exigencies of the emergency have in fact caused a considerable expansion in the activities of certain fellowships, particularly those concerned with coke by-products, and have resulted in many special studies for Federal Government agencies by various fellowships, such as those pertaining to heat-insulation, petroleum, plate glass, protective coatings, synthetic organic chemicals, and tar synthetics. Of special interest is the information set forth regarding continued industrial fellowship researches. Anthrafloss is a high-grade mineral wool for insulating purposes made from anthracite by-products by the multiple fellowship of Anthracite Industries, Inc. The multiple fellowship on heat insulation and roofing has aided in the development of an efficient insulating material suitable for temperatures up to and including 15oo ° F. A prominent consequence of the research program of the multiple fellowship on plastic metals has been the construction of a large commercial sponge-iron plant. The activities of other fellowships have benefited gray cast-iron and steel production. Of pertinence here is the research of another fellowship on the refining of chromium. The multiple fellowship of the American Iron and Steel Institute has pursued steadily the utilization of waste pickle liquor. Research initiated by this fellowship has beenconducted on five potential processes for the recovery of values from this industrial waste; the investigational work includes the recovery of free sulfuric acid and copperas, the manufacture of iron carbonate and ammonium sulfate, the production of magnesium from low-grade ores by leaching with waste pickle liquor, and the preparation of sodium sulfate and ferric chloride. In the realm of ceramics, cast-iron enameling, hollow-ware enameling materials, flat glass, and waste grinding sand from plate-glass manufacture arc the projects of various fellowships. R. H. O.