150 Miracles Ahead! 



part which they are playing in our war effort may be gleaned 

 from the fact that each of our new battleships incorporates 

 well over 1,000 different plastic applications. The wide use of 

 these materials in our aircraft is already pretty generally rec- 

 ognized, ranging all the way from the plastic bomber nose of 

 high optical and aerodynamic qualities to the plastic bonded 

 plywood fuselages and wings used on glider, trainer and 

 freight-carrying planes. Today more than 200 different air- 

 craft parts are being made from plastics and more are under 

 development." 



He added that plastics not only were proving desirable alter- 

 natives for scarce metals where great strength and toughness 

 is required but also were being used to advantage in applica- 

 tions formerly associated with rubber, wood, and glass. 

 Growing military demands have greatly reduced the supply 

 of certain plastics for civilian use. One of the most critical of 

 the plastic materials is jewel-like methyl methacrylate, which 

 is probably best known for its application in bomber noses, 

 navigator domes, and cockpit enclosures. Mr. Wetherby said 

 production of this plastic has been stepped up, but it is doubt- 

 ful whether the civilian will get much of it until the war 

 is over. 



A lot of other materials formerly used by civilians have dis- 

 appeared faster than a person can say methyl methacrylate. 

 But the new alloys, plastics, and chemicals that are giving the 

 United States the world's greatest fighting machine will make 

 this nation a better place to live in when the Axis has been 

 put out of business. 



"Chemicals are essential raw materials," explains Dr. Emil 

 Ott, research director of the Hercules Powder Company. 

 "Today we use them in planes, tanks, ammunition, and to 

 relieve war shortages. This war research is providing a vast 

 storehouse of basic knowledge. Tomorrow we will use what 

 we are learning about these essential chemicals for civilian 



