- Email: [email protected]
Modern petroleum technology
BOOK REVIEWS to follow (and perhaps e . g . D . E . Winkler should have been discussed more fully) but over 150 publications are considered or mentioned. Part II is distinctly informative and will be frequently referred to by those interested in the constitution, source, and essential performance of individual stabilizers and mixtures. Seven principal types of stabilizer are discussed in detail and synergistic combinations are exemplified. Over 350 references--mainly patents--are given. The third Part contains separate substantial chapters on electrical insulation, the fiexible calendered product, rigid PVC, plastisols and organosols, and coatings. These are preceded by a discussion of ageing tests and results, different types of PVC, plasticizers, lubricants, fillers, pigments. The section on types of resin is too brief (9 pages) but information on this important aspect is apparently scarce. As a whole the book may be warmly recommended. The translation from the French appears to be faithful, even over-faithful. The book is full of figures and tables, with printing up to the high standard expected of Richard Clay. In these circumstances the price is acceptable. R. R. SMITH, J. A. HORROCKS
Modern Peiroleum Technology E. B. EvANs (Hon. Editor) The Institute of Petroleum: London, 1962. 3rd ed. viii+873 pp.; 6 in. by 9¼ in. 45s to Members, 50s to Non-members PrmvIous ed.itions of this book appeared in 1946 (455 pp) and 1954 (691 pp); in the intervening eight years this subject has changed so greatly that the third edition has been almost completely rewritten even though it sets out to provide only an introduction to the subject. In addition, it is produced in modern format and aesthetically pleasing. The 27 chapters--~by different authors--deal successively with the occurrence and production of oil, with the physics and refinery chemistry of petroleum, with fuels and other petroleum products (including oils, greases, waxes and solvents) and finally very fully with the transport of oil. Only the chapter on the production of oil and gas has the same author as its counterpart i n the second edition, and even this is somewhat modernized. The biggest technological revolution since the book was first produced is undoubtedly the replacement by petroleum of all other sources of cheap large-tonnage chemicals, of which the extensive petroleum chemicals industry is the outcome. It is here that the new edition departs widely from the old; the fine chapter on 'chemicals from petroleum' is replaced by the quite differently slanted 'chemistry and physics of petroleum' in which the chemistry is dismissed in a few lines. The economic assessment of the industry has also been omitted. These are clearly deliberate changes which provide more space for discussions of refinery operations and of cracking, reforming and other catalytic processes: however, the range of the book is thereby limited and its interest largely confined to the petroleum technologist, to the exclusion of the chemist. Within this framework, the book provides a sound introduction and may frequently be consulted by the newcomer with complete satisfaction. It is pleasing that the price is modest in relation to the contents. H. W. B. REED
Industrial Plasticizers I. MELLAN Pergamon: Oxford, 1963. 302 pp.; 6 in. by 9 in., 70s THIS book is intended as a practical guide to the application of plasticizers and is a sequel to the author's earlier work The Behaviour of Plasticizers which described the more~theoretical aspects of plasticization. The first 76 pages describe the plasticization of the most widely used polymers, and the remainder is a catalogue of industrially available plasticizers. The book gives the impression of careless and hurried preparation. The first section is too restricted in scope being merely long abstracts of a few papers, from 312
Modern Peiroleum Technology E. B. EvANs (Hon. Editor) The Institute of Petroleum: London, 1962. 3rd ed. viii+873 pp.; 6 in. by 9¼ in. 45s to Members, 50s to Non-members PrmvIous ed.itions of this book appeared in 1946 (455 pp) and 1954 (691 pp); in the intervening eight years this subject has changed so greatly that the third edition has been almost completely rewritten even though it sets out to provide only an introduction to the subject. In addition, it is produced in modern format and aesthetically pleasing. The 27 chapters--~by different authors--deal successively with the occurrence and production of oil, with the physics and refinery chemistry of petroleum, with fuels and other petroleum products (including oils, greases, waxes and solvents) and finally very fully with the transport of oil. Only the chapter on the production of oil and gas has the same author as its counterpart i n the second edition, and even this is somewhat modernized. The biggest technological revolution since the book was first produced is undoubtedly the replacement by petroleum of all other sources of cheap large-tonnage chemicals, of which the extensive petroleum chemicals industry is the outcome. It is here that the new edition departs widely from the old; the fine chapter on 'chemicals from petroleum' is replaced by the quite differently slanted 'chemistry and physics of petroleum' in which the chemistry is dismissed in a few lines. The economic assessment of the industry has also been omitted. These are clearly deliberate changes which provide more space for discussions of refinery operations and of cracking, reforming and other catalytic processes: however, the range of the book is thereby limited and its interest largely confined to the petroleum technologist, to the exclusion of the chemist. Within this framework, the book provides a sound introduction and may frequently be consulted by the newcomer with complete satisfaction. It is pleasing that the price is modest in relation to the contents. H. W. B. REED
Industrial Plasticizers I. MELLAN Pergamon: Oxford, 1963. 302 pp.; 6 in. by 9 in., 70s THIS book is intended as a practical guide to the application of plasticizers and is a sequel to the author's earlier work The Behaviour of Plasticizers which described the more~theoretical aspects of plasticization. The first 76 pages describe the plasticization of the most widely used polymers, and the remainder is a catalogue of industrially available plasticizers. The book gives the impression of careless and hurried preparation. The first section is too restricted in scope being merely long abstracts of a few papers, from 312