The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-11-02
ARTIFICIAL RUBBER COMING
CONTINUED from page five)

CONTINUED from page five)
These facts make it possible for the
chemist to tell whether he has caout-
chouc in hand or not and the scien-
tifc study of the substance has been
materially advanced in consequence.
Before the discovery of these facts
product had been obtained artifcially
that was described as like rubber
but the question whether it was iden-
teal with caoutchouc or not could not
he definitely answered. Now it is pos
sible to determine with certainty
whether a substance is or is not
caoutchouc.
ITO identify caoutchouc after you
get it is one thing, to determine what
it is is quite another. The first step
toward the solution of this problem
was taken a number of years ago
when Greviue Williams showed that
when rubber is heated to decomposi-
ton a very volatile substance is
formed which he called "isoprene.'
This boils at &c deg c. and is hydro
carbon of the formula C5HS. Later
Harries found that this same hyro-
carbon is formed by the action of mod
crate heat upon oil of turpentine and
other terpenes THIS isoprene has
come to be the chief factor in the arti-
fetal preparation of rubber, for it is
this substance which when exposed to
certain conditions is converted at
least partly into caoutchouc.
up to this time the experiences of
Harries had been anything but en-
couraging. In November, 1909, he re.
ceived from the Elberfeld Color Fac.
tory some specimens of artificial rub
Der which had been made from iso
prene by a secret process devised by
DR.. Fritz Holman This led Harries
to take up his own experiments on
the subject again. and toward the end
Of January, 1910, he was in a posi-
tom to apply for patent. The
method devised by him consists in
heating isoprene with strong acetiC
acid in a closed tube. The product
thus obtained is unQuestionably
caoutchouc.
From the scientific point of view
the problem of the artificial prepare
, ton of caoutchouc is thus solved, bur
it is far cry from this to CONNER
cial success. Given isoprene in sui
ficient quantity and at sufficiently
= low price and the commercial problem
will be solved. At present artificial
: rubber is almost as precious as thu
i diamond, but, on the whole, the prob
4 lem is in a more hopeful state thai
d the indigo problem was for years afte
l. the start was made. The manufac
.wers and those who are carrying o
chemical Investigations for them ar
plainly of the opinion that the work
worth while That great firm, tn
Bdanc AniIine and Soda Factory Cgel
orally called the 'BadischeD has take
out number of patents in this felt
and this is most significant 1t is tn
firm that worked out the indigo pro
r. lem and is now supplying the wor
a with artificial indigo, having eXpen
H. ed in the preliminary work million
.e of dollars! 1t is this firm that is pla
n ing the manufacture of artificial 1
* trates upon a firm scientific basis
,e probably the most important profile
m before the world, as it involves III
N mately the food supply. 1t may safe
IL be predicted that before many yea
have passed rubber will be artificial
G. prepared in quantity sufficient to su
It. ply the great and increasing demal
80 for it, Meanwhile there is no dang
le of a famine, as plantations are sprir
I'd ing up to supplement the supply
wild rubber
10 In the chemical laboratories &C
n nected with the great factories, esl