Platinum Metals Review - Volume 19, Issue 3, 1975

One of the most exacting applications of platinum is in the production of glass fibre. This involves the rapid flow of molten glass at temperatures around 1300°C through a series of small orifices which must retain their size and alignment. Current trends in the design of platinum alloy bushings are towards a greater output of fibre per unit weight of platinum employed.

Azelaic acid is an important intermediate in the production of a speciality Nylon, and it is shown that a palladium-iron system may be used very selectively in its preparation. This work was described at the recent Chemical Congress at York by the author, who is now Manager of the Catalyst Department in the Johnson Matthey Research Laboratories.

New technology for the hydroformylation of olefins has been developed jointly by Union Carbide Corporation, Davy Powergas Limited and Johnson Matthey & Co. Limited. The process employs a novel rhodium-based homogeneous catalyst system at significantly lower pressures and temperatures than conventional cobalt-using processes, resulting in major savings in capital investment and operating costs. Another most important feature of the new process is that it provides much higher ratios of normal:iso aldehydes produced when propylene and other olefins are used as feedstocks than is possible with conventional processes. Several plants utilising the new system are now under construction.

This account of research on the organometallic chemistry of platinum summarises work which indicates that platinum may induce carbonium ion reactivity in π-bonded hydrocarbon ligands and stabilise carbonium ions in the reactions of σ-bonded unsaturated hydrocarbons. It is based on a lecture at the Chemical Society annual meeting held at York in April.

The inexorable progress of the metric system of weights and measures has resulted in a steady erosion of the traditional standards of measurement. The system, which had originated during the turmoil of the French revolution, received increasing international recognition, which became formalised one hundred years ago, and has been the basis for continuing cooperation. The first international standards, fabricated in iridium-platinum alloy, were largely produced by George Matthey.