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Indestructible phenoplast
IO2
CURRENT TOPICS
[J. F. I.
The fact t h a t the boiling point of water decreases as t h e atmospheric pressure decreases is well known. It is also well known t h a t the atmospheric pressure depends largely upon the altitude. This new hypsometer was developed particularly for use in free balloons which are sent high above the earth, reporting automatically b y radio the weather conditions encountered. It looks like a radio tube, a n d was designed to replace the presently used bellowstype devices which expand and contract with changes in the air pressure. The instrument contains a small vacuum flask which holds a b o u t five thimbles-full of liquid. W a t e r is sometimes used, but a liquid with a lower freezing point, such as carbon disulfide, is usually chosen. Inserted in the open end of the liquid chamber is a thermistor, a delicate device for measuring temperature. I t is a device in which t h e electrical resistance changes as the temperature changes. The s t e a m from t h e boiling liquid causes the temperature changes. It is the changes in the electrical resistance of t h e thermistor t h a t are transmitted to the ground station by the balloon's radio. The greater accuracy of this instrument is due to the fact t h a t it is the temperature of the s t e a m itself t h a t is used as an index, not t h a t of the boiling water. Indestructible Phenoplast (Science Illustrated, Vol. 4, No. 6),--On its way from a modern factory in New Jersey is a new chemical product designed to ease the burden of the housewife, boat builder, carpenter or any person who looks at, touches or sits on wood, plaster or metal. Called Phenoplast, this chemical is a phenolic resin--an almost indestructible plastic. It is a clear, colorless, liquid finish which, when applied to a surface, works its way so intimately into it and coats t h e surface so thoroughly t h a t hardly a n y t h i n g can damage it. Applied t o a desk or table, it successfully resists demolition from even the metal wheels of a professional roller skater. Used as a glue, it joins two pieces of wood so perfectly t h a t even Charles Atlas, a well-known strong man, c a n n o t separate them. One of Phenoplast's most important applications t o d a y is in boat building. With a Phenoplast coat, a vessel becomes waterproof, sunproof, resists fouling, needs no varnish. A. J. Lockrey, the chemist who developed Phenoplast, claims his p r o d u c t is so waterproof t h a t an ordinary 60-ft. Phenoplast-covered fishing craft can carry two more tons of fish than a non-Phenoplasted boat. Although plastics exist which do what Phenoplast does, to be effective they must be baked, or pressure-molded into the surface. Phenoplast's secret is a small bottle of catalyst which comes with each can. You simply add the catalyst to Phenoplast before using, spread, wait four hours for it to harden. A second coat must be applied before the coating reaches full effectiveness. Because of its high gloss, a Pherloplast surface can be cleaned with only a damp cloth. Since it is so new, both Lockrey and Charles Roman, president of the Phenoplast Corporation of New York City, have not y e t explored all t h e possibilities of their new products. One thing they are now investigating is mixing Phenoplast with pigment to create a permanent color coat to walls a n d furniture. "Permanent" is used advisedly. For, once Phenoplast covers a surface, only hard work and tools can remove it.
CURRENT TOPICS
[J. F. I.
The fact t h a t the boiling point of water decreases as t h e atmospheric pressure decreases is well known. It is also well known t h a t the atmospheric pressure depends largely upon the altitude. This new hypsometer was developed particularly for use in free balloons which are sent high above the earth, reporting automatically b y radio the weather conditions encountered. It looks like a radio tube, a n d was designed to replace the presently used bellowstype devices which expand and contract with changes in the air pressure. The instrument contains a small vacuum flask which holds a b o u t five thimbles-full of liquid. W a t e r is sometimes used, but a liquid with a lower freezing point, such as carbon disulfide, is usually chosen. Inserted in the open end of the liquid chamber is a thermistor, a delicate device for measuring temperature. I t is a device in which t h e electrical resistance changes as the temperature changes. The s t e a m from t h e boiling liquid causes the temperature changes. It is the changes in the electrical resistance of t h e thermistor t h a t are transmitted to the ground station by the balloon's radio. The greater accuracy of this instrument is due to the fact t h a t it is the temperature of the s t e a m itself t h a t is used as an index, not t h a t of the boiling water. Indestructible Phenoplast (Science Illustrated, Vol. 4, No. 6),--On its way from a modern factory in New Jersey is a new chemical product designed to ease the burden of the housewife, boat builder, carpenter or any person who looks at, touches or sits on wood, plaster or metal. Called Phenoplast, this chemical is a phenolic resin--an almost indestructible plastic. It is a clear, colorless, liquid finish which, when applied to a surface, works its way so intimately into it and coats t h e surface so thoroughly t h a t hardly a n y t h i n g can damage it. Applied t o a desk or table, it successfully resists demolition from even the metal wheels of a professional roller skater. Used as a glue, it joins two pieces of wood so perfectly t h a t even Charles Atlas, a well-known strong man, c a n n o t separate them. One of Phenoplast's most important applications t o d a y is in boat building. With a Phenoplast coat, a vessel becomes waterproof, sunproof, resists fouling, needs no varnish. A. J. Lockrey, the chemist who developed Phenoplast, claims his p r o d u c t is so waterproof t h a t an ordinary 60-ft. Phenoplast-covered fishing craft can carry two more tons of fish than a non-Phenoplasted boat. Although plastics exist which do what Phenoplast does, to be effective they must be baked, or pressure-molded into the surface. Phenoplast's secret is a small bottle of catalyst which comes with each can. You simply add the catalyst to Phenoplast before using, spread, wait four hours for it to harden. A second coat must be applied before the coating reaches full effectiveness. Because of its high gloss, a Pherloplast surface can be cleaned with only a damp cloth. Since it is so new, both Lockrey and Charles Roman, president of the Phenoplast Corporation of New York City, have not y e t explored all t h e possibilities of their new products. One thing they are now investigating is mixing Phenoplast with pigment to create a permanent color coat to walls a n d furniture. "Permanent" is used advisedly. For, once Phenoplast covers a surface, only hard work and tools can remove it.