492 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[July 1, 1912. 



RUBBER AND ITS SUBSTITUTES. 



TN a review of the above subject, the "Zeitschrift fiir Ange- 

 ■^ wandte Chemie" remarks that up to the present, there has 

 only been discovered one really synthetic rubber — that obtained 

 by the polymerization of isoprenc. But, as it is added, the 

 synthesis of isoprene itself jirescnts great difficulties ; a large 

 number of patents having been taken out bearing upon this 

 question. 



One of the most interesting is that of the Farbenfabriken, 

 Elberfeld, which company condenses formaldehyde with acetone, 

 in the presence of weak alkalines. Starting from the carbinol 

 thus produced, methylene-acetone can be obtained by separation 

 of the water, and finally isoprene. A. Heinemann, on the other 

 hand, is said to have arrived at the synthesis of isoprene by 

 the reaction of ethylene, acetylene, and chloride of methyl. 

 This invention is said to be in the hands of the Caoutchouc 

 Syndicate. 



Instead of starting from isoprenc, other products can be 

 used; particularly erythrene, amcthyl-lnitadeine, and certain 

 hydro-carburets. It seems to be particularly difficult to com- 

 pletely transform isoprene into rubber by polymerization, and 

 to avoid the formation of terpenic products. Moreover, it is 

 added, artificial rubber is always particularly difficult to vul- 

 canize, the opinion being expressed that it is not upon the point 

 of competing with natural rubber. 



Besides, the production of the latter is constantly and largely 

 increasing. In a few years, it is added, we can rely annually 

 upon 76,000 tons wild rubber and 98,000 tons, plantation rubber. 



"Regeneration of rubber properly so-called has," it is re- 

 marked, "not yet been realized. In other words, it is impos- 

 sible to eliminate the sulphur without destroying the molecule. 

 At most the removal has been effected of the sulphur me- 

 chanically mixed, and of the filling substances employed. The 

 'regenerated' rubbers thus obtained are more and more used." 



Reference is likewise made to "substitutes" produced by the 

 vulcanization of fatty oils. Heating in conjunction with 

 chloride of sulphur is said to yield white substitutes, while those 

 of gray color are produced by sulphur at a higher temperature. 

 These two products are composites obtained by a process of 

 addition. 



GERMAN MANUFACTURERS' VIEWS ON BUSINESS 

 PROSPECTS. 



A PART from the routine matters forming the order of the 

 ** day, the recent congress of German Rubber Goods Manu- 

 facturers afforded an opportunity for the expression of their 

 views on subjects of interest, from a manufacturing point of 

 view. 



In his opening presidential address, Kommerzienrat Louis 

 HofI dwelt on the fact that the position of the rubber industry 

 is constantly becoming more difficult. Nevertheless, some fac- 

 tories have done well. The difficulty arises from the unsatis- 

 factory prices at which goods are sold ; the activity displayed, 

 while necessitating overtime and night shifts, not being attended 

 with profit. Improvement in the situation would only be attain- 

 able through co-operation and united action on the part of 

 manufacturers. As Herr Hoff added : — 



"Efforts hitherto made in this direction have failed. It would 

 seem as if it were necessary for business to be still worse, for 

 the question to be taken up anew, with a prospect of success." 



Within the last ten years wages in the rubber industry had 

 advanced by 33 1-3 to 40 per cent. Hence it was necessary to 

 let the workers understand, that at present further advances 

 were not to be looked for. Uniform conditions and rates of 

 wages must be established; local associations of manufacturers 



being in a better position than individual employers to carry out 

 the desired end. 



Prospects for the coming year he regarded as not being un- 

 favorable ; the crude rubber market being now more steady 

 than before; the large importations of plantation rubber tending 

 to prevent a recurrence of the surprises of recent years. Com- 

 menting upon the recent temporary upward movement in rubber, 

 Herr Hoff urged that efforts should be made to bring the 

 article again to its normal price of 4 shillings. In conclusion, 

 he impressed on manufacturers the necessity of maintaining 

 prices during the immediate future; letting their subsequent 

 action be regulated by market conditions at the end of the year. 



Herr H. Otto Traun, of Hamburg, dealt with the question of 

 trading in rubber futures, calling attention to the fact that while 

 the industry had at one time been opposed to trading in futures,, 

 that form of business had now been introduced in Antwerp and 

 London. In the latter case this development had been en- 

 couraged by the prevailing speculation in rubber shares. Ham- 

 burg could not avoid following in the same path unless it was- 

 te take an inferior position as compared with other markets. 

 Herr Hoff expressed his approval of the system of forward' 

 trading now in force in Hamburg, where a certain deposit has 

 to be paid for the purpose of ensuring that the purchases are 

 not merely speculative in character. 



In the course of a general discussion of the question of selling 

 prices, the opinion was expressed that minimum prices should" 

 be established, below which the makers will not sell. Expenses 

 have risen enormously, in a proportion with which many firms- 

 cannot afford to keep pace. Such firms, it was urged, should 

 content themselves with the trade of smaller customers, paying- 

 better prices than larger concerns. 



A committee was appointed to investigate the question of in- 

 troducing uniform terms of guarantee for rubber transmissior^ 

 belting. One of the most important results of the congress was- 

 the appointment of a committee for the classification of the 

 industry into groups representing its principal branches. This 

 step, it was considered, would facilitate the other measures pro- 

 posed for the amelioration of existing conditions. 



NEW TTSES FOR BALLOON FABRICS. 



In view of the consumption of balloon fabrics being neces- 

 sarily limited, German manufacturers in that line are said to- 

 be endeavoring to get them taken up, to replace other rubber 

 products for various purposes. Efforts have been made to- 

 introduce these fabrics into the making-up industry, with the 

 result that (according to the "Gummi-Zeitung") some of the- 

 houses in that line are now making mantles, hoods, etc., out 

 of these materials. Balloon fabrics, it is further reported, are 

 now being used as hospital sheetings. 



Whether this new development is in the interest of the trade,, 

 is regarded as doubtful : the relatively lower prices of balloon' 

 fabrics being considered likely to affect tlie sale of rubber 

 sheetings. 



EtJBBEHED FABRICS FOR MAP FOUNDATIONS. 



Air-charts mounted upon rubbered fabrics, are said to have 

 been used for the first time at a recent German flying contest. 

 Washable land maps and marine charts on a foundation of 

 waxed cloth, or with a thin covering of celluloid, have been in 

 use, but as the former easily crease and the latter do not roll 

 up well, they have not proved durable. 



In "rubbered air-charts." it is thought that a practicable sub- 

 stitute has been discovered. The air-charts hitherto used have 

 had the disadvantage that the celluloid was easily soiled by 

 dust and rain, which trouble is now obviated, while the pli- 

 ability of the rubbered fabric on which the charts are mounted, 

 facilitates their being rolled up and handled. 



The German military authorities are said to be interested in 

 these charts, which are in some cases made with thin layers 

 of rubber on each side. 



