The National Bureau of Standards

A REPRINT from the annual report of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, 1935, describes briefly the more important of the developments of the Bureau of Standards during the last twelve months. Scientific workers and engineers are making increasing use of its facilities. The testing of supplies and materials has increased by 15 per cent over the previous year. This is partly due to the building activities of various Government agencies. Having received an exceptionally pure sample of the metal gallium, its freezing point was determined and found to be 29.780 ° ±0.005 ° C. The melting point of this element is so low that the crystals melt to a liquid on a hot summer day. An investigation has been completed on the efficiency of a large number of rust-preventing materials with particular reference to their use in preventing corrosion in aviation engines during storage. Certain types of materials have been found to be extremely effective for this purpose and for use as general rust preventatives. Laboratory tests of numerous types of oil filters show that some of these devices are most efficient in removing impurities formed in the oil during service. Two formulae were developed for ink powders which make a writing ink superior to the present federal specification. Work has shown that the superior properties of the English clays are apparently due to the presence in them of certain natural fluxes which are not found in American clays. These fluxes have been identified and studies are now being made of American clays modified by the addition of fluxes, A code for the safety glass used in automobiles has been formulated. It was developed by the co-operation of manufacturers and users of glass and motor-cars. It specifies tests for wire glass, heat-treated glass and laminated glass which ensure satisfactory safety glass.