\'o\ I \1RER 1, 1914.' 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



99 



they have gained bj much observation and experiment is 

 their own peculiar property. Nevertheless, an expression of 

 views on broad lines, such as in thi foregoing paper, could 

 hardly be detrimental to any individual interest and might 

 conceivably be helpful to the industry a< a whole. 



VUl C \M/ \l [I IN i:'. ULTRA [I I] ET KAYS. 



Probably the most controversial paper- were those read 

 by Bernstein and Helbronner on "The Study ot" Rubber 

 Solution Vulcanized by the lit ra Violet Rays" and the other 

 on "Vulcanization." The two subjects were, as a matter of 

 fact, dealt with as one pap< I I hej provided what might be 

 termed the sensation of (he I ongress \ very animated dis- 

 cussion ensued. The idea put Forward was a new one and it 

 brought out some very interesting remarks from Sir Wm. 

 Ramsay. The joint authors of the paper claimed to have 

 arrived at a solution of a problem oi depolymerization an< 

 polymerization, but it was not claimed that it could be ap 

 plied to general vulcanization. Helbronner stated that in the 

 course of his experiments he made about one hundred 

 analyses. It may be added that the sample which was handed 

 round to demonstrate the effect of their solution was gen 

 ei. illy considered hardly satisfactory. In this instance the 

 chairman had to bring the discussion to a close alter ex 

 pressing a hope that it might be possible to reopen it at a 

 later stage. 



PRI IB] I M OF THE DAY. 



Another very important paper, dealing, a- it did, with the 

 question of the day, was that by Dr. Schidrowitz on "Variabil- 

 ity," although, as the author put it. his treatment of the sub- 

 ject was only to be regarded as quite preliminary. ( )nc fact 

 that came out in the ensuing discussion was of great interest. 

 Dr. Schidrowitz, in explaining a point in connection with 

 average results, stated that he obtained superior results from 

 the better types of plantation rubber than from average 

 washed samples of fine hard Para. "Whereas," he remarked. 

 "we frequently get a genuine index figure from plantation 

 rubber, unwashed, of well over 1,000. the average fine sample 

 of washed Para becomes rather lower, the figure in this case 

 being something like 900." In reply to a remark by Mr. W. 

 A. Williams as to the "human element" in mixings, Dr. 

 Schidrowitz asserted that one could, to a very large extent, 

 get over this difficulty by using one of the new type of 

 mechanical mixers, which eliminates handling. 



MR. P. L. WORMLEY'S PAPER. 

 Much interest was also displayed in the paper on "Influence 

 of Temperature on Physical Properties of Rubber," by Mr. 

 P. L. Wormley, of the L'nited States Bureau of Standards. 

 and in that by Mr. D. E. Douty, of the L'nited States Condi- 

 tioning & Testing Co., on "Some American Methods of 

 Testing Mechanical Rubber Goods." In connection with the 

 former paper much curiosity was evinced as to the methods 

 employed in the Bureau of Standards at Washington. The 

 chairman remarked that the influence of temperature upon 

 rubber was ,,i great importance and had not hitherto re- 

 ceived adequate attention. hi reply to a question as to 

 whether any attempt had been made to separate the effects 

 between the greater distensibility of the rubber at high tem- 

 perature and its expansion or contraction, Mr. Douty an- 

 swered in the negative and added that the speed at which 

 the rubbers were stretched was so slow that there was no 

 danger of heating up. Dr. Esch observed that a temperature 

 "i 70 degs. in a test for elongation and tensile strength would 

 not be practicable with mixings containing balata or gutta- 

 percha. In reply Mr. Douty pointed out that it was not pro- 

 ed to make one standard temperatun for all tests, bin to 

 determine the temperature at which tests for certain goods 

 should be carried out. 



"ABNORMAL EF1 OR1 C! K OF DISCOVERIES." 

 At an exhibit ited almost entirely to natural rubber 



and its means of exploitation, and among men who had so 

 much at stake in a like connection, it is scarcely to be won- 

 d at that thi pap Synthetic Rubber," by M. Gaston 



det, should have received a somewhat frigid reception. 

 Yet the author handled his subject cleverly and impartially 

 and not without touches of subtle humor. "In that depart- 

 ing nt of organic chemistry," he observed, "a phenomenon 

 unique in the history ol cience had been witnessed, an ab- 

 tal efflorescence of discoveries and of patents lain 

 tin world by inventors, well nieanin i always the 



ible." < hardet virtually admitted that rubber syn- 

 thesis is .i ubject only of academic interest rli complained 

 that in such i i tions the public saw only the money 



li The result was nothing the- effort was everytl 



and the value ol the work must not be measured by its succi 

 Synthetic rubber was not a great industrial discovery, but it 



would be none the less lentilic discovery. 



One may imagine that the utilitarian element was upper- 



in \l. Chardet's audience. Dr. Slocum, who read the 

 paper, appeared to disapprove of it almost in its entirety. 

 Ilis view was that the chemist interested in synthetic rubber 

 should devote his attention to producing a new rubber rather 



than in competing with the existing forms of natural rubber, 

 lie thought the production of a new itl i rcha or balata 

 was the happiest thing for the synthetic chemist to aim at. 

 Furthermore, lie questioned the i — ibility of the by-prod 

 being of any real commercial utility. The whole sin 

 apparently regarded with so little interest by the ("ongress 

 that after the few remarks of Dr. Slocum discussion entirely 



CC:l " ed ' A COINCIDENCE. 



\ paper "ti "Experiments in the Direct Determination of 

 Mineral in Rubber Mixings" was described by Dr. Torrey 

 as one of the most instructive ever provided on the subject. 

 The authors were Messrs. B. D. Porritt and R. Wheatley, 

 the former being the chief chemist of the North British Rubber 

 Co., Ltd. A significant coincidence occurred in connection 

 with this paper. Another on precisely similar lines had been 

 volunteered by Mr. H. Williams Jones and although the 

 authors had not conferred together in any way they arrived 

 at conclusions practically identical. 



This brief survey does not, of course, cover the whole of 

 the papers read at the conference. Attention has merely been 

 given to those which aroused the greatest interest and gave 

 rise to most discussion. It is understood that the entire series 

 will shortly be published in book form, when those who wish 

 will be enabled to study them in detail. 



ENGLISH ARMY BUSINESS IN WATERPROOF GARMENTS. 



According to latest reports, the production of waterproof 

 fabrics has not equaled the demand. One large order for gar- 

 ments, placed some weeks ago by the English Government, 

 exhausted the whole available stock of heavy sateens and simi- 

 lar fal • 



All stocks of heavyweight coats have been cleaned out and 

 further orders placed for thousands more. Large government 

 orders for motorcycl iff all stocks of goods for that 



purpose and nei placing further orders 



This unexpectedly large business has caused overtirru work 

 in the garment industry, the demand exceeding anything ever 

 looked 



SWIMMING COLLARS FOR BRITISH NAVY. 



The British Admiralty has recently arranged for a supply of 

 swimming collars to be distributed to the officers and men of 

 the fleet, and instructions have been issued that this protective 

 device be worn by the men when awake, and kept inflated and 

 near each man when he is asleep. 



