Evening star., 1941-12-28

rs cents a pOunQ. Inc cOSC OF pro-
ducing crude rubber in Ceylon and
Malaga has ranged for the last
decade from to 10 cents pound,
depending on local conditions.
Actually, the price asked on the
New York market has been set by
the British and Dutch governments.
Sometimes rubber has been sold at
a loSs-aS low as 21a cents a pound
and sometimes at big proft-as
high as 27 cents pound.
Butadiene plants could have been
subsidized by the Government as
national defense measure, with full
realization that there would be an
enormous eventual loss.
But now, the Tariff Commission
believes, even this hardly is possible.
The very large plants required would
consume great quantities Of build
ing material and the chemical ap-
paratus calls for materials vitally
needed in other defense fields.
Difficulties Confronted.
Both the essential chlorine and
|
lists. The supply of chlorine, espe-
cially, has caused much concern. 1t
is necessary for other war purposes.
No butadiene rubber was pro-
duced in the United States until
1940 Tire companies have expert
mented with this rubber and have
encountered considerable difficulty.
They now have found that fairly
good tires can be made out Of it by
mixing it with equal parts Of natural
rubber.
The Germans, the Tariff Com
mission report points out, worked
intensively for at least two years
before the war learning how to use
butadiene. Even so they have been
indifferently successful. Shortage
of petroleum products has forced
them to the more expensive method
of making it from coal and lime
stone. It costs them a minimum of
40 cents a pound-almost double the
price at which it could be produced
in the United States if equipment
were available.
Was American Discovery.
Passenger car tires made from 1t
appear to be fairly good. Large tires
are of quite poor quality.
Russians have been making buta-
diene rubber out of alcohol obtained
from potatoes. 1t Is believed to be
of fairly good quality, but very ex-
pensive.
Synthetic rubber was originally
an American discovery. Manufac-
ture started on a small scale in 1881.
The product was of a different type
from butadiene, however, and was
made from coal, limestone and salt
as the basic materials.
1t has sold for IS cents to 81 a
pound, and the profit has been very
small. For some specialized pur-
poses it is superior to natural rub
Der, but not for tires.
Guayule Shrub a Hope.
A Cinderella bush of the South
western desserts-in danger Of ex-
tinction over much Of its range
until a few years ago when the
Mexican government came belated-
ly to its rescue-offers America
new source of rubber which may be
OF vital importance.
The significance Of this desert
shrub. the guayule. which grows
wild over North Central Mexico and
the Big Bend country Of Texas. u
stressed by the Tariff Commission
in its survey Of means Of offsetting
the prospective loss Of supplies from
the Far East.
From the bush Is obtained me-
dium grade of rubber. but at con-
siderably greater expense than that
at which q better product can be
had from the hevea trees OF Ma
layan plantations.
In 1912. the year of greatest out
put. Mexico produced 10000 tons
of guayule rubber.
Guayule requires little cultivation
and an annual rainfall OF only 6 to
u inches, depending on soil and
climate. The shrub, the Tarl1
Commission report points out, may
be harvested at any time between
the ages Of / and 20 years. The
general practice is to harvest 1t at
wears. The natural life is 80 years
Rubber content increases up to the
tenth year. The entire shrub is
taken from the ground at the time
Of harvest and by q mechanical
process rubber is removed from tne
roots. stem and large branches.
The cost Of producing guayule
rubber. the Tariff Commission In
vestieators found. depends on the
age at which the plant is harvested
Nav Cost Is to IS Cents.
"It appears" says the commits
sion report, that when the plant Is
, harvested at the age Of 4 years
puavule rubber may be produced at
; a cost Of IS to 18 cents a pound
: including the cost OF land rental
; preparing the land for harvesting
and all other costs incidental to pro
q ducing rubber except interest on In
yestment and the expense OF remov-
ing the resin"
n The worst drawback Of guayult
rubber is the high content OF resir
about 20 per cent. This must bt
gotten out before product OF gooe
O quality can be obtained. The un'
!, resinated rubber, however, can bt
:, used for mixing with hevea rubber
e from Malaga.
Also it can be used for automo
bile tires which will give mileage
v about 60 per cent as great as goo
i quality of hevea rubber.
q When the guayule rubber is de
. resiginated," says the commission
n report, 'it is of the same qualit
r as lower grades of hevea rubbe
e and can be used interchangeabl
with them. Practically all the larg
tire companies have tested 1t an
& it is reported that tires made fror
o it give approximately 80 per cen
y of the mileage of hevea. Most G
st the purchasing agents and researc
le directors Of these firms think tn
h Government should advance fund
j. for the production Of guayule.
: Shortage Of Seeds.
II THE information available md
i Gates that the capital investmer
; for agricultural equipment, nui