Evening star., 1942-01-27
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress.
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas r. Henri.

And Study
By Thomas r. Henry.
A few rays Of sunrise are appearing in
Americas critical rubber situation.
Ever since the outbreak Of war in the
Far East which has shut OF the major
source Of supply there has been only
confusion.
All sorts Of sources Of rubber, from
dandelions to potatoes, have been pro-
posed. All have been possible-and ex-
pensive. The price Of synthetic rubber,
which can be made in any quantities
desired once the plants are established.
has been estimated at present rates
charged for use in speciality goods. The
lowest was far in excess Of the 81 cents
pound which was the latest price for
East Indian rubber.
Rubber specialists of the U. s. Bureau
OF Standards have been engaged in
more scientific calculations. In a few
months. 1t Is entirely possible, there
may be reasonable supply Of rubber at
reasonable prices-although still far
above pre-war prices.
The fact remains that the United
States with its vast industrial capacity
can make all the rubber 1t wants and is
willing to pay for-leaving aside for the
moment the pertinent questions Of equip
ment and labor
Synthetic rubber in the past has sold
at prices ranging from IS cents to 81 o
pound.
1t probably can be placed on the
market at 30 cents with the expansion
OF manufacture now proposed, experts at
the U. 8. Bureau Of Standards believe
They estimate that approximately 5o0,-
600 tons Of buna rubber, the product most
widely used in Europe, could be produced
from three-tenths Of one per cent of the
normal petroleum production Of the
country.
The starting point is the highly vola-
tile gas, butane. 1t is extracted from Pc
troleum and. up to few years ago, was
an entirely waste product. Now some OF 1t
Is saved for aviation gasolene mixtures.
1t is changed chemically into the highly
volatile liquid, butadiene which now is
marketed at 20 cents pound. 1t could be
much cheaper. The butadiene must be
mixed with q more expensive product,
styrene, in a ration Of about two to one.
to make rubber.
Altogether, the Bureau Of Standards
officials believe, efficient forms Of buna
rubber can be produced for Is cents a
pound, allowing from six to eight cents
for plant amortization In five years. 1t is
realized that in that time, II the war Is
over and the East Indian rubber restored,
the investment will be essentially worth.
less.
The extra five cents would 60 for trans
portation costs, interest on investment
and profit. Under emergency conditions
even rs cent synthetic rubber Is not an
impossibility. The cost Of manufacture,
exclusive Of plant, would be from 10 to
19 cents.
Various forms Of buna rubber are suited
to tires. 1t will require time, however, to
build the plants and there is some
question Of availability of materials. 1t
now is estimated that q plant capable of
turning out $4,000 tons Of buna rubber a
year could get into operation in l8
months. The progress, Of course may be
speeded up under war conditions It will
require an investment of about 5000 0OO,-
900 to produce approximately 500, 900 tons
Of buna.
Meanwhile there is a frantic search
for sources Of natural rubber.
Probably the best Is the Amazon basin
OF Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. There are
millions Of wild rubber trees scattered
through the jungles. The average dis
tribution, according to Department Of
four to the acre. Native report places
where there are more than so to the acre.
The other day Foreign Minister Aranha
OF Brazil in q radio talk declared that
plenty Of rubber could be obtained from
the jungles at price Of so cents a
pound, which would attract prospectors.
He estimated the cost Of producing syn
thetic rubber at $1.20 a pound. a gross
exaggeration.
Actually the last quoted price for
Brazilian rubber was 40 cents a pound.
The labor Of harvesting Is none too at
tractive at that price-but the fact re-
mains that the jungles are a source Of
immediate supply.
In 1915 Brazilian rubber production
reached its high water mark Of $4,000
pounds. At 60 cent rate. Department Of
Agriculture specialists believe, this could
be repeated in few months. There are,
however. problems of labor supply and
transportation which are unknown guam
titles.
Early in the century Brazilian rubber
brought as high as SO a pound. The cost
of living has declined since for the rub
Der harvesters.