Evening star., 1939-01-14
Costly Research
Develops Many New
Building Materials
Science Plays Big
Role in ADVANCING
Construction Arts

Production of new materials for
construction figured notably in the
industrial and engineering research
carried on in the United States dur
ing 1898 at cost of $180,000, 900, ac-
cording to a survey in Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry, publication
of the American Chemical Society.
Throughout the industrial world
the productivity of research was
impressive during the year." says Dr.
William A. Hamor, assistant director
of the Mellon Institute of Industrial
Research, in reporting the results of
laboratory activities.
Scientific investigation continued
to make available novel and superior
constitutional materials. In the
United States alone some 10 such
products were introduced and, in
addition, the composition and prop
critics Of many previously known al
Toys and other engineering materials
were bette-ed by research work.
"New types of power transmission
devices and materials handling
equipment were developed. Steel,
non-ferrous metals, glass. rubber
and other manufacturers have
shown optimistic management by
their researchful attitude and def
mite planning for recovery.
More Fiber Glass Uses.
MANY uses have been found for
fiber glass. Electrical insulating
tapes, woven entirely from glass
yarns, were developed by Corning
Glass Works. The uses of the tenn
pered glass 'Herculite' were extended
to doors and roofs, and glass blocks
for building construction were pro-
duced at Port Allegany, Pa.
Much progress has been accom-
plished in working out practical
building codes, describing minimum
requirements, for general adoption;
this advance has been led by the
Government. Carey Firefoil,' a
f1re-resistant, water-resistant as
bestos insulating panel, and new
type OF aluminum-s surfaced roofing
shingle came on the market.
aluminium window frames for the
home are development of 1898.
They are light and easy to open and
close, are made of thin but strong
extruded sections which give max
imum of light and need not be
painted or otherwise maintenanced.
"One OF the outstanding scientific
developments in the field of syn
thetic resins and one of the most
meaningful from the point of view
OF general acceptance of the role
which plastics are destined to play
as constructional materials is to be
found In the work of American and
foreign professional organizations in
laying down standard testing meth
ods and standardized classification
Tor nodded and laminated plastics.
New Machine Developed.
"Reed-Prentice Corp, Worcester,
Mass, has introduced an injection
molding machine in which the
charge is brought up to temperature
by means of induction heating. A
new process enables the addition of
inlays In color to nodded pheno-
plastics, according to Whitehead &
Hoag Co., Newark, N. j.
Researches on the chemical ma
ture of shellac were extended. There
appears to be a determined effort
to maintain the present market for
shellac and to gain new ones for
1t through research. Flexible shellac
as well as flexible casein are now
available commercially.
Almost one-fourth of all Amer
lean industry is chemical and within
20 years there have emerged from
our chemical laboratories thousands
OF new preparations which have
been utilized to general benefit. AS
our science is not insulated from
milieu, there is not a significant
aspect of social life in this country
unaffected wholesomely by advances
that have come in close consequence
of such research"