20 



crystals was associated with the aging of storage batteries with con- 

 sequent loss of efRciency.^ Other favorable effects included an increase 

 in the porosity of the plate surfaces and a slightly lower temperature 

 of batteries both while charging and discharging. 



Uncertain composition of the battery additive AD-X2 " 



From the various documents in the case it is evident that the compo- 

 sition of AD-X2 was inconstant. According to Ritchie's testimony 

 in 1953: 



It is a secret formula. It contains sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate, but — 

 and this is important — they do not appear as epsom and glauber salts. There are 

 also seven trace elements and a pH of 7.9, if that means anything to you, Senator.'' 



The composition, he said, had not been changed since October 

 1947.^ 



Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, in the Senate hearings, vainly 

 sought more information about the material. Ritchie was carefully 

 uncommunicative, except to admit that some trace elements were 

 added, and that there was silver * * *_9 



In an exchange with Senator George A. Smathers, Ritchie ad- 

 mitted that Professor Randall had never made reference to any 

 "secret trace substance or element" in the additive, but that he had 

 said there was magnesium oxide in it.'° 



A memorandum "to all bureau managers," by Jack A. Harris, 

 general manager of the Oakland Better Business Bureau, February 

 21, 1949, reported the results of a chemical analysis of AD-X2 made 

 at his request by an "independent and disinterested chemical labora- 

 tory" that described it as follows: Sodium sulfate 60.16, magnesium 

 sulfate 28.64, magnesium oxide 6.95, combined water 3.82. Harris 

 added: "Mr. Ritchie, of Pioneers, Inc., states that this chemical 

 analysis is the most accurate he has seen."" 



In connection with the extensive NBS tests in June 1952 the 

 "manufacturer supplied an ample quantity of his additive." It was 

 analyzed by the NBS chemists and was found to contain 99.84 

 percent soluble materials (magnesium sulfate, anhydrous, 47.3, 

 sodium sulfate, anhydrous, 41.2, water of hydration, 11.5) and 0.16 

 percent insoluble material (mainly barium sulfate).^^ 



The report of the Academy Committee on Battery Additives, 

 October 30, 1953, cited as a "typical" composition for AD-X2 the 

 laboratory analysis by Squier Signal Laboratory of material supplied 

 early in 1948. It was reported to contain 48.5 percent of sodium 

 sulfate, 42.5 percent of magnesium sulfate, and 8.6 percent of water 

 of hydration. ("The remainder [0.4 percent] was presumably insoluble 

 material.") 



' Document titled "Aging of Lead Sulfate in the Lead-Acid Storage Battery," by Merle Randall. Sub- 

 mitted by Mr. Ritchie to the Senate Small Business Committee and identified as a paper that Dr. Randall 

 had delivered at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Francisco, 1941. In Hearings, 

 op. cit., pp. 72-75. 



6 Hearings, op. cit., p. 71, presents explanation by Mr. Ritchie: "AD is additive; X is the unknown portion 

 of the thing; [and the 2 signifies] 1 ion of sodium and 1 ion of magnesium." For a time the new additive 

 went under the same name, "Protecto-Charge," as had been used to designate the unsatisfactory and 

 partially satisfactory precursor additives sold by Ritchie's company. 



' Ibid., p. 18. 



8 Ibid., p. 20. 



» Ibid., p. 22. 



i» Ibid., p. 64. 



" Ibid., p. 76. 



'2 Ibid., p. 565. 



