Lubricant contamination in gearbox bearing housings can substantially reduce gear life. In critical applications, dual-face, magnetic bearing-protector seals will keep contamination out (Figure 1). Dual-face, magnetic bearing protectors are preferred in many difficult applications, such as wet cooling tower gearboxes,…
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (Tokyo; www.m-kagaku.co.jp/index_en.htm) has developed a plate-in-frame reactor for performing oxidation reactions, such as for the partial oxidation of propane to form acrylic acid. Because of the reactor’s enhanced heat transfer to the catalyst — sandwiched between the…
AkzoNobel Polymer Chemicals LLC (Chigago, Ill.; www.akzonobel.com/polymer) has launched Perkalite, a new range of synthetic, layered double-hydroxide (LDH) organoclays. With proper compounding, the LDH organoclays delaminate to nanoscale sizes and form a true nanocomposite, says the company. Perkalite nanocomposites feature…
Last month, Uralchem OJSC (Moscow, Russia; www.uralchem.com) started production of a new fertilizer, called ASN 32:0:0:5, at Kirov-Chepetsk Chemical Works, OSJ. Granules of the new ASN formulation have a gradient structure with a high concentration of ammonium sulfate on the…
Tantaline (Lyngby, Demnark; www.tantaline.com) has developed a process that creates a surface alloy of tantalum on a metal substrate (typically stainless steel). As a result, the surface acquires the corrosion resistance of tantalum — the most corrosion resistant metal commercially available…
Researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; Tsukuba, Japan; www.aist.go.jp), and the University of Tokyo have developed new photocatalysts that are more efficient at decomposing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than the commonly used titanium dioxide.…
Crane ChemPharma Flow Solutions (Düsseldorf, Germany; www.cranechempharma.com) has developed a new compound diaphragm, the DEPA E4, which is said to increase life span, improve safety and increase efficiency of air-operated diaphragm pumps. The laminated design of the DEPA E4 ensures…
NanoEthics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology. Edited by Fritz Allhoff, Patrick Lin, James Moor, John Weckert. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. 2007. 385 pages, $39.95, paperback. Reviewed by Christopher M. Kelty, Department…
Training and Parts Aid in Compressed-Air System Maintenance This company is offering a free interactive Air System Maintenance CD that details common maintenance functions for rotary screw compressors, refrigerated and desiccant dryers, filters and drains. Using instructional video, voice…
A new pilot reactor — claimed to be the world’s first, complete two-step supersonic reactor — for producing nanoparticles has started operation at the Technology Service Center of the Wolfgang Industrial Park (IPW) GmbH, a subsidiary of Evonik Industries AG…