This process led to oil-repellent fabrics after the patents were declassified by the Army. Dehydrated vegetables for use as seasoning are very popular. One problem is loss on intensity of flavor. Scientists associated with the Southern Regional Research Center improved the quality of dehydrated celery by adding freezing and explosion puffing steps to the conventional process. Scientists associated with the Southern Regional Research Center determined the causes for these problems and developed processes for helping to prevent their formation.
Pine trees are a valuable resource in the southeast United States.
Scientists from the Naval Stores Laboratory which was associated with the Southern Regional Research Center developed many useful products from pine over the years. Included are paper size from rosin, rosin soaps, rosin used in surface coatings such as paints, varnishes, lacquers and printing inks. The synthetic rubber developed during World War II was of very poor quality. After the war the synthetic rubber industry began a program to produce a better synthetic rubber for use in tires. An essential chemical used in the process is the one the initiates the reaction at low temperatures.