Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-04
RUBBER PROBLEMS
T0BE G|vENSTUDY
Experts of World. to Attend
Symposium in PhiIadeI-
phia in September.

Leading rubber authorities of the
world will discuss problems Of vital
interest to the motoriSt and to the In
dustry as whole at an international
symposium on raw rubber to be held
in connection with the golden jubilee
of the American Chemical Society in
Philadelphia. September 6 to IL.
Described in the official announce
ment of Chairman John NJ. Bierer OF
Boston as the biggest event in the
history of the society's rubber di-
vision" the symposium will deal with
new knowledge affecting the results
of botanical, chemical technical and
engineering research in this country
and abroad Prominent rubber tech
nologiSts and executives of the indus
try will reveal raw rubber develop
ments, including scientific progress in
the plantation rubber industry, in
wild rubber, South American and
African: and in synthetic or artificial
rubber. to perfect which commercially
scientists of all ntionS are uniting.
Discussion of Substitutes.
Rubber as a national asset, substi-
tutes for rubber. the physical struc-
ture OF rubber, the examination and
testing of rubber, and Guayule rubber.
its botany, chemistry and TECHNOLOGY,
will be other topics.
A notable feature of the Sympo-
stun, indicating, it was said, the bat
tie that is bound to ensue between
synthetic rubber and the plantation
product, and in which the plant biol
ogiSt will be the SyntheSiSt'S chief foe,
will be a comparison of the physical
properties of raw rubber with those of
compounded vulcanized rubber. There
is probably some difference of opinion,
chemists holds, as to whether or not
it can be claimed from the commercial
standpoint that crude rubber has been
SyntheSized successfully. During the
war as much as 40 tons per month OF
a product designated as synthetic rub
Der were manufactured, but the ma
terial was said to be satisfactory only
for hard-rubbed articles.
Enormous savings possible through
reclaimed rubber also will be dis
cussed. With the advent of the bal
loon tire the consumption of new rub
Der has become SO great that even If
q part of the new rubber can be re-
placed by old tires immense econo-
mics can be effected, it is declared.
Mr.. Bierer states:
For the same mileage, the replace
ment of perhaps 10 per cent of new
rubber by reclaimed rubber means
that as many tires of similar quality
can be made with the consumption of
10 per cent less new rubber.
Means Big Decrease.
This, in turn means in this country
alone a decrease of at least 70,000,000
pounds. or the output of about IT'S 900
acres per year, even disregarding any
increase in production.
Such a saving is all that is neces-
sary to alleviate shortage for, con-
trary to popular opinion, a sweeping
reduction in the use of new rubber is
not necessary to create a normal price
once more"
The basic idea of the Philadelphia
symposium, planned as one of the
chief scientific gatherings of the Ses
quicentennial International Exposition,
is, according to the chairman, to pre-
sent new facts and ideas and not to
review work already known, and in
formation which is common knowl
edge or which can be readily obtained
elsewhere.
He concluded:
International experts will conf1ne
themselves to new information and
data which they will present in detail
and discuss critically. The promise of
new facts and original ideas from
leading authorities indicate the i'm
portance of the symposium"