Industrial Research 



99 



new cellulose derivative and the evaluation of its prop- 

 erties, the next step might be actually to manufacture 

 it, whereupon the investigation assumes the complexion 

 of ordinary applied research. 



The investigation of monomolecular fdnis by a pro- 

 ducer of electrical equipment might he fundamental 

 research, whereas the investigation of monomolecular 

 films by an oil refiner engaged in the production of 

 lubricants might be largelj' in the field of applied re- 

 search. Thus, the classification of the research depends 

 upon the character of the problem and the nature of the 

 agency carrying on the investigation. 



Reasons for Fundamental 

 Research in Industry 



Why fundamental research? The answer is clear; 

 industry should learn today in order that it may be 

 prepared for tomorrow. Thus, there is an implied 

 monetary motive for fimdamental research in industry. 

 To put it another way, fundamental research in the 

 technical laboratory is not a labor of love. It is sound 

 business policy. It is a policy that should assure the 

 payment of futine dividends. More specifically, funda- 

 mental research in industry aids in achieving the follow- 

 ing thmgs: 



(1) Fimdamental research provides a basis for fu- 

 ture processes and products. For example, a sub- 

 stantial proportion of the operations of a certain 

 company is based on the raw material cellulose, and it 

 is likely that the company will continue to use cellulose 

 in large quantities every year. Consequently, such 

 studies as "chemistry of cellulose," "particle size of 

 cellulose derivatives," and "physical structure of cellu- 

 lose derivatives" are a part of the fundamental research 

 effort. It is believed that some of the discoveries being 

 made inevitably will lead to new cellulose products. 



(2) Fundamental research is a logical approach to the 

 more difficult or complex "practical" problems, such as 

 the design of equipment for chemical and physical 

 processes. After a process has been carried through 

 the laboratory stage, what then? Unless the process 

 is conventional — which it rarely is — the steps which 

 ensue comprise semiworks operation, followed by the 

 design of a full-scale factory, all of which require such 

 data as coefficients of heat transfer and empirical formu- 

 lae for absorption and fluid flow. If the plant operates 

 according to prediction, there is a general sigh of relief. 

 ^Yhile there is a body of knowledge called chemical 

 engineering, there are many open spaces in that knowl- 

 edge, as the designer of chemical factories will testify. 

 Therefore, in the hope and belief that guesswork in 

 plant design can be diminished, fundamental research 

 in chemical engineering should embrace studies in fluid 

 flow, distillation, absorption, crystallization and evap- 

 oration, heat transfer, and the like. 



321835 — 41 8 



(.'■!) FunchuiU'utal research assures continued leader- 

 ship in quality and economy of production. Paint, 

 for instance, is an old product, so old one might think 

 there is not much room for improvement in quality. 

 But research is destined to cause much more than con- 

 tinued improvement in present types of paint. New 

 types of paint will be evolved. Significantly, a paint is 

 judged partly by the way it fails; whether by chalking, 

 cracking, blistering, etc. Short life — from 1 to 5 years — 

 is an accepted quality. So, witli these facts in mind, 

 fundamental research especially on pigments is in 

 progress in the paint industry. Such properties as 

 particle size and size distribution are being studied, 

 using the ultracentrifuge as a tool. Fundamental 

 laws are being discovered, and these discoveries will 

 permit a control of the optical properties of pigments. 

 As a result, paints having vastly improved durability 

 may be expected. 



(4) Fundamental research creates specialists within 

 a company, readily accessible for consultation with 

 those engaged in applied research, or themselves to 

 undertake applied research with assurance of a broader 

 foundation than otherwise would have been laid. 

 Experience indicates that the consulting function does 

 not interfere seriously with the research function; on 

 the contrary, contact between the two research groups 

 is mutually beneficial. Or alternately, fundamental 

 research may be an excellent prelude to pioneering 

 applied research. 



(5) Opportunity for fundamental research attracts to 

 industry university graduates having marked aptitude 

 for research. This is important, because in a large 

 technical research organization, the recruiting of mem- 

 bers for the junior technical staff is a major responsibil- 

 ity. The research results of tomorrow depend upon the 

 quality of personnel employed today. Stated another 

 way, the scientific prestige of a company is a major 

 factor in attracting suitable men, and this prestige often 

 rests on the company's reputation for fundamental 

 attack. 



Organization for Fundamental Research 



In one company in which fundamental research has 

 been practiced a number of years, each of the oper- 

 ating departments and subsidiaries has a research 

 division. To that extent, research is decentralized. 

 Many problems, however, especially those of pioneering 

 applied research are of interest to two or more opcratmg 

 departments or for other reasons are handled most 

 effectively by an independent research staff. Conse- 

 quently, there is also a central research staff. The 

 fundamental research staff appears most logically to 

 be a part of the central research department and, in 

 fact, is administered therein. 



Actually, there is no sharp subdivision of organiza- 



