RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS OF TH E NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS ANNUAL REPORT ill UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Lewis L. Strauss, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS A. V. Astin, Director Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1958 December 1958 Miscellaneous Publication 226 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. - Price 45 cents Contents Tage L. General Review _; 1 Technical Activities 2 Administrative Activities 9 Publications 10 2. Highlights of the Research Program 11 2.1. Electricity and Electronics 11 Capacitance measurements based on the calculable capacitor 11, Semiconductor research 11, Surge voltage measurements 12, Cunife wire magnets 13, Ultra-low frequency measurements of dielectric properties 13, Electron-tube material sublimation 13, Noise in fixed resistors 13, A provisional faraday value 14, Electric cells at high temperature 14, Recharging of dry cells 15, Internal resistance of dry cells 15, Heats of adsorption 15, Air- craft and missile batteries 15, Postal automation 15. 2.2. Optics and Meterology 16 Photometric standards 16, Spectrophotometric data electroni- cally computed 17, Conversion of colorimetric data to Munsell terms 17, Anticollision lights for airplanes 18, Refractive index of synthetic sapphire 19, Calibration of airplane cameras 19, Standards for spectacle lenses 19, Automatic lens design 19, Atomic beams for defining length 19, High-precision gage blocks 20, Screw thread standards 21. 2.3. Heat 21 Statistical thermodynamics 21, International temperature stand- ards 22, Resistance thermometry 23, High-temperature pyrom- eters 23, Parity and time reversal 24, Heat measurements on sulfur 24, Thermodynamic properties of rubber 25, Viscosity standards 25, Rheology 26, Free radicals 26. 2.4. Atomic and Radiation Physics 28 Spectroscopic research 29, Free radical studies 29, Behavior of semiconductors 30, Electron polarization 31, Scattering of low- energy electrons 31, Proton gyromagnetic ratio 31, Rubidium vapor magnetometer 32, Structure of negative ions 32, Neutron "age" 32, Phosphor -in-plastic fast neutron detectors 32, Pene- tration of gamma radiation 33, Gas radioactivity standards 33, X-ray studies 33, Nuclear structure 34, Radiation absorption 34, X-ray and gammaray dosimetry 34. 2.5. Chemistry . 35 Analysis of small amounts of tungsten in steel'35, Purification of titanium halides 36, Evaluation of purity 36, Spectrograph^ determination of 18 elements 36, Current integrator 36, Radio- active sugars 37, Oil-soluble metal standards 37, Boron com- pounds as potential fuels 38, Separation of free radicals 38, Instrument for estimating night vision 39, Plasma jet for alloy analysis 39, Other chemistry programs 39. iii Page 2.6. Mechanics 39 Acoustic impedance of the ear 39, Audiometry 40, Vibration pickups 40, Magnetic tape standards 41, Pressure measurement 41, Telemetering transducers 41, Promotion of flow by mixing 41, Friction between density currents 42, High strength aero- nautical fasteners 42, Creep of structural beams 43, Wind- induced vibration of wire 43, Thermal stresses in aircraft parts 43, International density comparisons 44, Measurement of jet engine temperature 44. 2.7. Organic and Fibrous Materials 44 Stress-strain relation for rubber 45, Analysis of textiles 45, Impact phenomena in fibers 45, Improved map paper 46, Preservation of archival documents 46, Impregnation of leather 46, Impact test for leather 47, High -temperature fluorine polymers 48, Molecular constants of polymeric materials 48, Dimensional changes in fibrous macromolecules 48, Polymer-glass adsorption studies 49, Radiation stability of plastic packaging materials 49, Stability of polyvinyl chloride plastics 49, Mechanism of rain erosion 49, Vapor phase analysis of polymers by chroma- tography 50, Low-angle diffraction studies 50, Speed -torque measurements of high-speed dental instruments 50, Denture reliners 51. 2.8. Metallurgy 51 Constitutional diagrams for metals 52, Commercially important alloys 52, Uranium alloy studies 52, High-temperature metals 52, Titanium 54, Plastic deformation 54, Gage block materials evaluated 54, Corrosion 55, Growth of metal crystals from their vapor 56, Gases in metals 56, Metal fatigue cracks 57. 2.9. Mineral Products 57 Ferroelectric materials 57, Low -temperature X-ray crystallogra- phy 58, Phase equilibrium studies 58, Ceramic dielectrics 59, New data on silicates and related compounds 59, Crystal structure of inorganic materials 60, Standard X-ray diffraction patterns 60, Radiation control for rockets and satellites 61, Mechanism of ceramic-metal adhesion 61, Glass transition temperatures 61, Chemical analysis of cements 62, Coatings for supersonic vehicles 62, Refractory castables 63, Standard glass for measurement of physical properties 63. 2.10. Building Technology 63 Fire hazards of common combustible materials 64, Fire retard- ants for fabrics 64, Standards for refrigerated trailers 64, Under- ground pipe insulation 65, Conductive flooring in danger areas 66, Degradation of asphalt 66, Strains in reinforced concrete beams having diagonal cracks 66, Drying shrinkage of concrete masonry units 67, Moisture in insulated roof constructions 67, Thermal conductivity of metals 68, Capacity of horizontal plumbing drains 68. 2.11. Applied Mathematics 69 Approximation theory 69, Matrix code studies 69, Eigenvalue theory for differential operators 70, Mathematical tables 70, Digital computation 70, Reliability studies 70, Experiment design 71, Continuum mechanics 72, Theory of orbits 72. Page 2.12. Data Processing Systems 72 SEAC as a research facility 72, Analog computers 73, Pilot elec- tronic da la processor 73, Components and techniques 73, Transistor-magnetic core circuitry 74, Rapid selector 74, Digital systems research 75, Advanced computer systems 75, Man-machine systems simulation 75, Aircraft flight-loads data processing 76, Data processing applications 76, Processing first- class mail 77. 2.13. Cryogenic Engineering 78 Low-temperature liquids 78, Cryogenic engineering data 79, Flow of liquefied gases 79, Storage of liquefied gases 80, Hydrogen refrigerator for bubble chamber 80, Helium liquefaction 80, Low-temperature properties of materials 81, Gas liquefaction 82. 2.14. Radio Propagation 82 Radio Propagation Physics 82 Radio waves from lightning discharges 83, Meteor studies 83, Airglow observations 84. Radio Propagation Engineering 84 Radio meteorology 85, Tropospheric forward scatter 85, Iono- spheric propagation on the range 10 to 1,000 kc 85, Radio modulation studies 85, Measurement of television service area 85. International Geophysical Year 86 IGY world alerts 87, New data on the ionosphere 87, Obser- vations on Soviet satellites 87, Propagation near the magnetic equator 88. 2.15. Radio Standards 89 Attenuation 89, Field-strength 89, Frequency 89, Impedance 90, Noise and interference 91, Power 91, Voltage and current 92, Dielectric measurements 93, Magnetic materials 93, Conductiv- ity of materials 93, Microwave spectroscopy of gases 93, Milli- meter wave research 94. 2.16. Basic Instrumentation 94 Instrumentation reference service 94, Information retrieval systems 95, Basic instrumentation research 95. 3. Calibration, Testing, and Standard Samples 95 Nomenclature of Standards 96 New Calibration Facilities and Equipment 96 Electronic calibration center 96, Standard radio broadcasts 97, Stand- ard capacitors 97, Automation of end standard calibration 98, Dead- weight testing machine 98. Calibration Services 99 Services discontinued 99. Testing Services 101 Standard Samples 101 Inter -Laboratory Reference Sample Program 104 4. Cooperative Activities 105 Specifications and Test Methods for Government and Industry 106 International Activities 108 Cooperative Research with Industry 1 10 Free radical research 111. Weights and Measures 1 '2 Education Program 1 13 V . Appendixes 5.1. Organization 5.2. Fiscal Data on NBS Program. _ _ 5.3. Advisory Committees — „ 5.4. Awards and Honors 5.5. List of Publications and Patents VI 1. General Review During this past year the National Bureau of Standards was encouraged to examine its programs and responsibilities critically and to estimate its needs in meeting modern requirements for standards, measurement tech- niques, and data on the properties of materials. For some time, the Bureau had called attention to the rapid advance- ment of technology and to expansion of research noting that these changes have placed a strong burden upon NBS—a responsibility to enlarge its technical programs in support of growing national scientific activities. In the past year, the Bureau received added support from the Congress and from the Administration to strengthen its capability for leadership in the science of physical measurement. The responsibility for the Nation's fundamental standards of measure- ment demands a continuous search for new scientific knowledge and lor improved measurement processes. As new areas of science and technol- ogy become active or productive, new standards must be developed, adequate measurement methods established, new instrumentation devised, and appropriate calibration services provided. All this must be done while advancing the established areas of measurement and in such a manner as to maintain and insure continued consistency and coherence within the whole complex chain of measurement. The work is basic to the measurement, understanding, and control of physical phenomena. This is especially