ABSTRACTS 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. Each 

 of the scientific bureaus in Washington has a representative authorized to for- 

 ward such material to this journal and abstracts of official publications should 

 be transmitted thru the representative of the bureau in which they originate. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



METEOROLOGY. — Atmospheric humidity as related to haze, fog, and 



visibility at Blue Hill. A. H. Palmer. Bulletin of the Mount 



Weather Observatory 5: 231-246. 1913. 



This is a detailed account of the conditions under which haze, fog, 



and different degrees of visibility occurred during a period of ten years 



at Blue Hill, Mass., and is of special value to any one who wishes to 



know the minutia of the local climate. W. J. Humphreys. 



ELECTROCHEMISTRY.— £'fedro^//s?:.s in plain and reinforced con- 

 crete. E. B. Rosa, Burton McCollum and O. S. Peters. Tech- 

 nologic Paper No. 18, Bureau of Standards. 

 This paper treats of the problems arising out of the passage of stray 

 electric currents thru reinforced and non-reinforced concrete. The first 

 part of the paper describes and gives the results of a large number of 

 laboratory experiments. These experiments show that if iron is made 

 anode in moist concrete at a temperature of 45°C., or more, rapid cor- 

 rosion of the iron occurs. This is followed by cracking of the concrete 

 which is due to the pressure developed by the formation of the rust 

 on the surface of the iron. Below 45''C. there is almost no corrosion 

 of the anode. With continued application of the current there is an 

 enormous rise in the resistance of the specimen which greatly reduces 

 the flow of current and thus tends to protect the iron. The addition 

 of salt to the concrete completely destroys the passivity of the iron 

 at all temperatures. When the iron is made cathode the sodium and 

 potassium in the cement are concentrated ^bout the iron by the cur- 

 rent, resulting in disintegration of the concrete in the immediate vicinity 

 of the iron and destruction of the bond. The strength of non-reinforced 



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