Document nN17Qm8BnN2vbOLqBEJGo6aEm

Important Elements in America's Future On the preceding pages, we have shown why lead, zinc and zinc oxide are valuable materials and are used for many important jobs in American industry. For the future, St. Joe is actively seeking new and better uses for its products through continuing pro grams of research and development to expand present uses, as well as to create new markets for these products. This work is being conducted in our own laboratories; by independent scientific organizations on a contract basis; and by the International LeadZinc Research Organization, which is currently administering more than fifty projects designed to expand the uses of lead and zinc. The following is a partial list of the areas in which research is presently being pursued: LEAD ZINC D-S Lead... (Dispersion-Strengthened Lead) is being inves tigated as a new lead material having superior resistance to creep and abrasion, that would have a wide variety of uses, such as better storage batteries for automobiles, hand power tools and other appliances. Among the design advantages of such batteries are longer life, improved rechargeability, and lower cost. Flame-Sprayed Ceramic Coatings.. .New ceramic glazes, with lead as an important component, are being developed for such uses as coating for concrete blocks, structural steel members, glassware and other materials. This material would be flame sprayed rather than fired in a kiln and would make it practical to coat or patch material at both the point of manufacture and in the field. Such a develop ment could well effect a revolution in the appearance of the exteriors of new buildings as well as in the techniques for their construction. Protective Chemicals...Chemical lead compounds, for pro tecting wood, cotton and wool fabrics, and other materials against insects and fungus, are being researched. Such chemicals would have application to wooden piles and docks to repel marine borers, on railway ties and trestles to resist termites, and for similar uses. Sound and Vibration Attenuation... Lightweight lead sheet is being perfected, which would serve to control sound and vibration in walls, partitions or ceilings in hotels, motels, office buildings and factories. Structural Uses... Development work is being conducted on wrought zinc products, such as extrusions for door and window frames, and architectural hardware such as lead ers and gutters, knobs, locks, handrails, etc., to take ad vantage of zinc's resistance to corrosion and its ability to accept a variety of finishes. Other Current Development Work... A wide variety of other potential uses of zinc are being investigated, such as lightweight storage batteries, bonding of zinc to itself and other materials, improved corrosion resistance of plated zinc die castings, wrought zinc applications for auto mobile trim, galvanized steel reinforcement bars in con crete and prestressed concrete members, zinc dust primers for painting of automobiles, structural steel work and marine structures, zinc for shot blasting steel to give it temporary protection against corrosion, and application to cotton textiles to improve their weather resistance. Current Zinc Oxide Development Work... The uses of zinc oxide are already numerous and varied, but additional research is being conducted in its possible uses as an ingre dient in coating photo-copy paper (which would make it possible to make color reproductions on office copiers)... to improve color control and increase strength of struc tural clay products ... as a component of paints to pre vent blistering. . . for improved glazes for such products as electrical insulators . . . and in specialized glasses required for rockets and missiles. In addition, basic re search is being conducted to determine how much zinc is necessary for development of plant and animal organisms. 12