December 19, 1919] 



SCIENCE 



575 



a condition that favored placing the blame for 

 defects in dyed goods on the dyer and the Ameri- 

 can Dye Manufacturers. It has been an easy way 

 for uninformed persons dealing in dyed finished 

 goods to avoid responsibility for defects in the 

 goods which they handle. It is necessary to show 

 these dealers in dyed goods that there are ways 

 of practical testing within their reach that are 

 comparatively safe in showing the color quality of 

 the goods they handle. This would be also great 

 value to the dyer and dye manufacturer as the 

 tests could be made by disinterested laboratories. 

 These tests should be simple and reliable and as 

 fast as passible standardized. The textile testing 

 department of the United States Conditioning & 

 Testing Co. has been making some investigations 

 along this line and have done enough to show that 

 it is quite practical to place the color quality of 

 dyed finished goods on as sound a basis of specifi- 

 cation as now obtains for steel and other alloys. 

 In the case of steel tihe specifications are in terms 

 of chemical analysis, micro-structure and physical 

 tests. In the case of dyed finished textiles the 

 specifications for color quaEty are in terms of 

 fastness in some form or other and hue, satura- 

 tion and brilliancy and are determined by empir- 

 ical tests under controlled conditions. These are 

 details of standardization of these empirical tests 

 that are important to consider from the point of 

 view of the manufacturer of dyes, the dyer and 

 the dealer in dyes and dyed finished goods. Team 

 work by all will lead to results that will insure the 

 future of the American dye industry. 



The quality of American dyestuffs: E. S. Lunt. 

 After a review of pre-war dyestuff conditions the 

 author spoke of the early attempts to produce 

 intermediates and dyestuifs in America. The first 

 dyestuffs produced for large tonnage though few 

 in variety. Indigo, only commenced in 1917, now 

 supplies the entire demand. The study and pro- 

 duction of alizarines and vat dyes required time 

 but these colors are now almost ready to put on the 

 market. Azo colors, forming the bulk of the pro- 

 duction, form a varied line. The Chemical Foun- 

 dation has provided access to German owned Amer- 

 ican patents. Present dyestuff industry now com.: 

 prises 215 concerns employing 26,000 hands, of 

 whom 2,300 are chemists. The great need of the 

 dyestuff chemist is pure standardized intermediates, 

 141 are now being made. Most manufacturing 

 problems are due to lack of experience. Stand- 

 ardization must rest on a basis of commercial 



products rather than on chemical purity. The 

 present productions are satisfactory but there is 

 a need of press cooperation and favorable legisla- 

 tion. The American chemists are now in control of 

 the situation. 



Application of dyes: E. W. Pierce. The author 

 first shows the earliest methods of coloring fabrics 

 by printing and dyeing, tracing the progress of 

 the art to the present high state of development. 

 It is shown that dyes must be more than mere 

 colors; they must have definite characteristics and 

 be practical in their applications. Many possible 

 dyestuffs are little used for lack of proper methods 

 of application. The uses and possibilities of any 

 dye determine its value more than any other fac- 

 tor. The importance of technical service is shown 

 in its relations to both the dye maker and the con- 

 sumer, also the future development of the indus- 

 try, dependent on the verdict of the technical de- 

 partment, which will determine which new dyes 

 shall be introduced and which ones are not capable 

 of practical development. 



Foreign dye patents : Robert E. Rose. The diffi- 

 culty of ascertaining the method of making dyes, 

 even those covered by patents, is much greater 

 than is appreciated, a fact which has never been 

 given publicity. The paper explains the reason for 

 this and shows that overcoming this difficulty is 

 one of the most important tasks before the dye 

 chemists of the country. 



Some stones in the foundation of a great na- 

 tional industry: Thomas H. Norton. The effort 

 to build up an American coal-tar dyestuff indus- 

 try, fully equipped to meet the rivalry of the Ger- 

 man industry, is outlined. The chief factor in 

 favor of the latter is its enormous capital of ac- 

 cumulated experience and perfect organization. 

 Details are given of the principles and methods 

 employed by the du Pont Company in seeking to 

 establish color works on American soil, equal in 

 extent and variety of product, to any of the giant 

 works on the Rhine. Emphasis is laid upon the 

 work of the "Intelligence Division" vpihich fur- 

 nishes prompt, accurate and full information on 

 any subject arising, to the numerous divisions en- 

 gaged in operation or research. 



The explosihility and inflammaMlity of dyes: 

 Burr Humiston, W. S. Calcott and E. C. 

 Lathbop. a presentation of the factors which 

 cause decomposition of dyes during drying grind- 

 ing and mixing with special emphasis on ex- 

 plosion and fire risk. Decomposition is due to 

 temperature effects, especially dangerous in exo- 



