112 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[December 1, 1915. 



brass cases have been needed for the various calibers of rapid- 

 fire field pieces. Fixed ammunition, the shell and powder charge 

 being put up in cartridge form, is essential to the quick-firing 

 gun, both afloat and ashore, and only brass answers for these 

 capsules. 



Zinc o.xide, also, now appears to be susceptible of military 

 application. A very large dealer in New York received a short 

 while ago a long-distance telephone call from Canada. The 

 Canadian would-be purchaser desired zinc oxide, and expressly 

 said he did not want it for use in the manufacture of rubber 

 goods. When pressed for an explanation, he admitted that it 

 was needed for a lacquer for the inside of shells. Again, zinc 

 oxide was sought for mixing with a special coating for barbed 

 wire destined for the European battle front. 



Where certain raw materials are concerned that we have 

 formerly, either in part or exclusively, obtained from foreign 

 sources, the supply will continue to be uncertain or denied us 

 entirely. This is not explained wholly by the maintenance of 

 blockades, for the fact is, British and German shipping have 

 been the principal carriers of many of these alien products, and 

 neutral sources of supply are closed to us now or hampered in 

 their deliveries simply because merchant craft are not avail- 

 able for this service. 



Taking up in detail the principal chemical and compounding 

 ingredients used in the manufacture of rubber, there is gen- 

 erally a unanimity of opinion as to the market of 1916, but in 

 some instances the experts disagree, and we are stating the 

 facts as they have been given us. W'e can only hope that where 

 these authorities are not in accord, the turn of the market 

 will be favorable rather than otherwise to the rubber manu- 

 facturer. However, as we have said before, optimism should 

 be held in check. 



\-IEWS OF THE SUPPLY MEN. 



Acetone and Acetic Acid, both wood distillates, will con- 

 tinue to advance. In the case of acetone, which is used largely 

 as a solvent of guncotton in making smokeless powders, it was 

 impossible to get any spot two months ago, and it will probably 

 remain scarce. The same situation prevails in the matter of 

 acetic acid, and the outlook for lower prices for the consumer 

 is most unfavorable. 



Ammonium Carbonate. There is apparently no reason why 

 this should be scarce. Ammonium is used variously in the 

 manufacture of explosives, but many of our steel plants and 

 some of our gas works are saving this by-product; so the war 

 demand is being met accordingly without affecting the general 

 market. 



Antimony, Crimson and Golden Sulphurets. The situation 

 is complicated in regard to these pigments. Shipments of me- 

 tallic antimony from Europe have either been prohibited or 

 stopped by blockade, and those from China and Japan have 

 practically ceased because of the part that Japan is now taking 

 in supplying Russia with munitions. It is said that certain 

 consignments from China and Japan actually reached the Pa- 

 cific coast and were then bought from the American consignees 

 and dispatched at once to Vladivostok, reaching Russian am- 

 munition makers via Siberia. 



Imported stocks of both crimson and golden antimony are 

 practically exhausted. Several domestic makers are producing 

 acceptable qualities in an experimental way, but not in sufficient 

 quantities to take care of the demand. Owing to difficulty 

 in obtaining the raw material, prices of both crimson and golden 

 antimony are high and will remain so until conditions gov- 

 erning the export of the crude material from China are radically 

 improved. 



Barium Sulphate, precipitated, the base of which is bin- 

 oxide of barium, is becoming scarcer each day. The European 

 sources are practically cut oflf and almost prohibitory prices pre- 

 vail. 



Barytes is likely to advance still further. Since the war be- 



gan we have had to turn to Tennessee as well as Missouri for 

 our requirements. Several domestic plants are now producing 

 it and there is promise of ample supply. However, if the barium 

 industry is to continue, it will need ample protection after 

 the war. In connection with the matter of barium and barytes, 

 blanc fixe should be mentioned now, being made from barium 

 monoxide. Blanc fixe is at present worth $100 a ton, and will 

 probably go higher. 



Benzol. While we have heard much of late about domestic 

 producers, intended to encourage us, still as a matter of fact 

 no manufacturer of benzol is yet ready to quote fixed prices 

 or to promise lower costs in the near future. Indeed, one manu- 

 facturer has quoted $1.10 a gallon. The steel companies of the 

 United States are now, by the husbanding of their by-products 

 and the introduction of suitable apparatus, turning out IS,- 

 000,000 gallons a year, and this in contrast to the 3,000,000 gal- 

 lons of benzol of the days before the war. But, unhappily, the 

 part this plays in the making of modern explosives has resulted, 

 nevertheless, in an inadequate supply. Prices are going up, 

 and the ordinary user is seriously inconvenienced and likely to 

 be more so. Only limited amounts can be now had on a year's 

 contract, and that at 70 cents a gallon, while spot is quoted at 

 80 cents. 



Beta Naphthol is scarce because naphthalene, from which it 

 is made, is hard to get. One of the biggest domestic producers 

 has none for immediate delivery, but holds out hope for 1916. 

 There are only two manufacturers here and the price may reach 

 $3 a pound. 



Black Hypo. This product is not to be had at all. 



Carbon Bisulphide. The American producers will probably 

 be able to meet the demands, and the price .should remain sub- 

 stantially unchanged. 



Carbon Tetrachloride. \\'hile we have two or three do- 

 mestic producers in this field, still they can not supply the de- 

 mand now that imports from England especially have ceased. 

 The price will probably go up. 



Caustic Soda (76 per cent.), is high-priced now and an ad- 

 vance is predicted. Prices may range anywhere from 6 to 

 10 cents a pound. It is said that the present price is not 

 justified by the available supply, but that it probably reflects 

 that "sympathetic" rise which so often follows the advance of 

 other chemicals. The Germans are using caustic soda ex- 

 tensively in the air-regenerating equipment which they supply 

 for the men in the trenches handling the gas-making apparatus, 

 and in the breathing equipments furnished to aviators and the 

 escape helmets for the crews of submarines. Contracts are 

 being made at 4J4 and 4-)4 cents in car lots for 1916 delivery. 



Chrome Green and Yellow will both be higher, owing to the 

 scarcity of the basic materials from which they are made. Here 

 we see the efifect of the demands of the metallurgist and par- 

 ticularly of the steel mills engaged in the fabrication of war 

 materials. Green oxide of chromium may go to 40 cents a 

 pound. 



Graphite. The domestic crystalline graphite, commonly 

 known to the trade as "flake," is more likely to increase than to 

 diminish in price. Owing to the war, our usually big importa- 

 tions of graphite from Ceylon have been very much reduced, 

 and because of hampered shipping we are not getting our ac- 

 customed supply from Corea. The output of the mines in 

 Mexico, upon which we have drawn generously, has been cur- 

 tailed by the disturbed conditions in that country. 



Iron Oxides. While the domestic resources are ample, the 

 native products are not as good as those from abroad. The 

 German supply is completely cut ofif and the English one is 

 limited and higher in price because of increased cost of pro- 

 duction. 



Lead Oxides are all based on the state of the metal market, 

 which is still advancing on account of the war. Here is where 

 the destructive bullet hits reflexively the rubber manufacturers. 



