Evening star., 1942-02-08

quirements hardly will be allowed to
prevent this use. II it were not for |
methyl methacrylate it would be
necessary to use q rubber compo- |
sition, and dentists might face some |
real difficulties.
Automobile Use Increases.
Every year the automobile in
dustry has been using more and |
more plastics to replace metals, and |
all-plastic cars. except for wheels
and motor, have been made as ex-
periments. Had the industry been |
allowed to function in 1912 1t was
predicted that the use would be |
enormously expanded, and this may |
have been one reason for shutting |
of production.
A recent Du Pont company survey
showed that the composite 1941 |
automobile contained ITO plastic |
parts, ranging from upholstery but
tons to steering wheels and accel- |
orator pedals to safety glass. They |
were. used because they were much |
better than the metals formerly en- |
ployed. The use resulted in lighter |
and more efficient cars. Such We
hicles are badly needed in the war |
effort
The typewriter was being made |
more and more of plastics and in |
those put out during the coming |
year there will be less metal than |
ever.
Most of these plastics today have
been placed under priorities. There
is every indication that the Army |
and Navy will need more and more
of them as the war goes on and that |
the Nations chemical industry will |
be hard pressed to fill the essential |
demands. Such household articles
as electric refrigerators and radio |
sets may suffer to some extent.
The same is true of hundreds of |
chemical products of the past few
years for which new and entirely |
unexpected uses are being found In |
the war effort.
When the soldier spills soup on
his trousers the chances are it will |
leave no stain.
When he is overtaken by anything |
but drenching rain while on the |
march he probably will not get very |
wet.
New Du FOnt Product.
These may seem little things. but |
they probably will save the Nation |
millions in uniforms and morale. |
They are due to Du Pont company |
product which was just beginning to |
come into civilian use when the war |
started-a chemical known as re
Ian" When cloth is treated with |
this material it will shed water and |
resist spots, stains and perspiration.
A standard article Of Army uni
form Is jacket made of cotton |
poplin, lined with wool. It will not
soak through except in driving rain.
Spots can be sponged of with a
damp cloth. The jacket serves as a
windbreaker, but, unlike leather or
rubber coats, it allows the body to
breathe.
The chemical was introduced only |
three years ago and was being used |
on childrens clothes. ski suits, snow |
Now it has been found, regular wool
uniforms can be treated with 1t.
The majority of the injuries to
American sailors at Pearl Harbor
were due to burns Some of the
men were terribly burned. Their
oil-drenched clothing had caught on
fire.
The casualties might have been
much less if there had been general |
use Of another cloth-treating chem
ical-one of the newest of the Du |
Pont products which promises to be
a vital war material It Is ammo
MUM sulfamate. Cloth treated with
it will not support fire.
A few weeks ago the first manu-
featuring plant got under way. 1t |
had been intended for civilian use.
Every year 8,700 persons are burned
to death in the United States, mostly |
because their clothing catches on
fire. The chemical is likely to pre-
vent many fatalities in the Army
and Navy.