October, 1924
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1021
American Progress in Dye Manufacture' By Chas. H.Herty SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF
D
T H E U N I T E D STATES,
NEWYORK,N. Y .
URING the latter part of November, 1915, it was the company should be apportiooeq to that side of its activities writer's privilege to address on consecutive evenings represented by the manufacture of dye products. A conthe local sections of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY servative figure, however, would be from $100,000,000 to a t Ithaca, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. As in the case $125,000,000. of the itinerant preacher, it was possible to use the same QUALITYFULLY EQUAL TO FOREIGN PRODUCTS subject in each place without embarrassment. The text was an appeal for the development of a complete and self-sustained One of the most striking developments of the last few years dye industry in America. There mere bitter lessons before has been the constant improvement in the quality of the us in those days and the spirit of America called for economic independence from a repetition of any such condition. Many products. It would be a false pride which would deny the of those present were generous in their approval of the general inferior quality of many of the products manufactured in the sentiment, few had confidence that any such vision would early days of the industry. While it is true that many of the ever be rcalized, while some openly expressed their convic- troubles experienced in 1916 and 1917 were due to the wrong use of dyes, both American and left-over German stocks, tions that the task was an impossible one. nevertheless, fairness compels the statement that many of During the intervening nine years a modern miracle has been worked. That vision has become a reality almost in those American products were extremely faulty in their qualentirety, for today fully 96 per cent of American consumption ity. To this point our manufacturers have given their espeis being supplied by the domestic industry, while eighteen cial attention, knowing that in the long run quality must million pounds of American dyes are annually being ex- decide. Today consumers throughout the country bear willing testimony to the fact that the quality of American ported. Truly this is an accomplishment in which all Americans can dyes fully equals those of foreign manufacture, an( in many take just pride. But the task has not been an easy one. cases is better. Official testimony to this fact is given by Lack of guides made difficult the finding of paths; a t times the United States Tariff Commission, which in its annual Censeemingly insurmountable obstacles threatened the success sus of Dyes for 1922 says (page 4) : of the journey; and all too often those along the wayside who I n the early stages of the American dye industry, after the should have been giving encouragement to the toilers were outbreak of the war, there was a lack of uniformity as t o strength all too skeptical of the possibility of success, and in many and quality, but this condition no longer prevails. Domestic now market uniformly standardized products of cases words of disparagement and discouragement were uttered manufacturers good quality. Statements of the largest silk and woolen manuwhich made the effort all the more difficult. But the vision facturers, and of cotton printers and dyers, agree as t o the satisremained and the patriotic necessity for its realization proved factory results obtained from American dyes. a constant spur,-and a t last G R O W T H OF T H E A M E R I C A N - DYE INDUSTRt The best idea of the tonnage we can proudly say the work output of the industry can be is practica,lly accomplished. given graphically rather than OVERONE:HUNDRED MILLION 90. by a repetition of the annual 8 8 . ) 85 /c1( AMERICAN PRODUCTION DOLLARS CAPITALIZBTIOK official figures of the Tariff 0 80 Commission. This is shown c? Through a process of surEXPbRTS in the accompanying figure. + 75.. vival of the fittest, the number Only a cursory glance at this 0 a of manufacturers engaged in 70. IMPORT5 chart is necessary to see how w x this work has now become great a proportion of the home 65. pretty nearly constant. The needs has been filled within €0. motley cyowd which rushed the last eight years by the into the field because of the domestic industry and how enormously high prices with small a part imports have the great tiemand for products played. And it must not be regardless of quality has been forgotten that since the Fall of reduced to a substantial group 1919 it has been possible for of companies varying from the any consumer to import, either small manufacturer of two or through license, or, during the three speoialties to the largest last two years, on payment of with the most varied assortduties alone, any dye which ment of offerings. The uncould not be secured in this qualified fell quickly by the country in adequate quantity, wayside. of good quality, and a t a reaIt is difficult to give accusonable price. rately the capitalization of the The accompanying chart industry, for in many cases shows the existing stocks a t the it is impossible to decide what outbreak of the war and the ysl9 1920 part of tho capitalization of a 1921 1922y blockading of the G e r m a n i Received September 3, 1924. ports, together with the manu(u
u)
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1022
facture in America of dyes made from foreign intermediates. Next there is shown a steady drain upon these stocks, the immediate cessation of manufacture in America pending the development of an industry of “intermediates,” and then the rapid outswing of the domestic industry through the following years. At the base of the diagram is shown the continued small proportions of imports, and in the upper part of each year’s domestic production, the surplus quantities which found their way into the export market.
PRICES SHOW STEADY REDUCTION There is probably no better illustration of the healthy working of Government protection than this industry affords, for it has received special protection from Government authorities, both administrative and legislative, because of the realization of the bearing of this industry on economic independence, national defense, and public heaIth. Those who early predicted that the industry would soon show a consolidation into a few large units, or perhaps one great unit in imitation of German organization, missed their guess. The spirit of the Sherman Anti-Trust law has been kept inviolate, as was testified to by Senator Shortridge, chairman of the Senate Committee which investigated the industry under a charge of monopoly, when he declared on the floor of the Senate that after five months’ patient investigation he had found not a scintilla of evidence to support the charge. The industry, spurred on to intensive efforts to cheapen the cost of production and improve the quality of the products, has constantly advanced, and it is a just claim that consumers have gained the full benefit of these advances, for the Tariff Commission has been able to report each year a reduction in the average price per pound of dyes made in America. The figures are as follows: Year 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923
Average price per pound $1.26 1.07 1.07 1 08 0.83
0.60 0.645
Thus under protection we find the industry developing rapidly, soundly, with prices determined, not by the extent of protection, but by keenness of domestic competition. No foreign competition has been necessary to secure for domestic consumers the lowest prices a t which products could be delivered in conformity with our gains in experience and our high cost of labor. NEWPRODUCTS RAPIDLY APPEARING When the Tariff Act of 1922 became law, Congress recognized the fact that while the industry had made great progress it was still incomplete as to variety of dyes. Desiring that American consumers should be gompletely independent, it fixed the rates on finished coal-tar products a t 45 per cent ad valorem and 7 cents specific, while on intermediate products the rates were 40 per cent and 7 cents specific; with the proviso, however, that for a period of two years from the date of enactment the ad valorem rates should be 60 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively. It is right and fair that the question should be asked, now that the two years have nearly expired-how has the industry responded to this special measure of protection? The answer can be given with pride, for there have been brought upon the market in quantities adequate for the home needs one hundred and sixty-six new products (up to August 25, 1924), and this number is being increased each week. This record of accomplishment has been distributed throughout the industry, and in order that credit may be given where credit is due, there follows a list of these products under the names of the respective manufacturers.
Vol. 16, No. 10
DYESTUFFS ANNOUNCED SINCE TARIFF ACTOB 1922,LISTED BY M A N U ~IA CE R S UR AZthoSse Chemical Company: KJND OF D Y I F a s t Direct Yellow Direct Azanol Scarlet R Direct Azanol NO Direct Azanol Orange Brown R Y Direct Azanol Red Brown R Direct Azanol Dark Brown R R Direct Azanol Brown N Direct Silk Brown G Direct Silk Brown R Direct Beaver Chemical Company: Alizarine Orange Paste Mordant Alizarine Red S Mordant Alizarine Y C Paste Printing L. L . Briden & Company: Arrochrome Blue G G Printing Cable Chemical Company: Chinoline Yellow Water Sol. Acid Chinoline Yellow Oil Sol. Spirit Calco Chemical Company: Chrome Black X X Chrome Alizarine Fast Black 2 J Chrome John Campbell & Company: Perfection Wool Black Acid Autochrome Green B B Chrome Kromeko Yellow F F Chrome Solamidine Brown B Direct Solamidine Brown 2 G Direct Chemical Company of America, 1%: Anthracene Chrome Black D N W Chrome Chrome Anthracene Chrome Violet A H Acid Brilliant Blue A Chrome Alizarine Blue Black B Chrome Alizarine Cyanine Green E & E G Acid Chrome Blue L E . 1‘. du Pont de Nemours C Company: Ponsol Yellow G Double Paste Vat Vat Ponsol Black B C o w . Pdr. Vat Ponsol Blue 3 G P Triple Pdr. Vat Ponsol Blue G D Double Pdr. Vat Ponsol Green B N Paste Vat Ponsol Blue R P Triple Pdr. Vat Ponsol Yellow G P Double Pdr. Vat Ponsol Yellow G Double Paste Developed du Pont Naphthanil Scarlet R Base Developed du Pont Naphthanil Scarlet G Base Basic d u Pont Methyl Violet for Lakes Basic d u Pont Phosphine 3 R Basic d u Pont Uranine Conc. Acid d u Pont Alizarine Emerald Basic du Pont Auramine.0 0 Basic d u Pont Crystal Vlolet Ex.Pure Basic du Pont Phqsphine G G Basic d u Pont Aurine Chrome Chrome Chrome Chrome TABLEI-NEW
?ish
Pontamine Fast Red 8 B L Pontnmine Brown C R
Pontamine Diazo Blue M Pontamine Diazo Blue 2 R L Pontamine Fast Blue R L Pontamine Diazo Red 6 B L .~~ -~~~~ Pontamine Diazo Orange Pontamine Fast Yellow 4 G L Pontamine Catechu B Pontamine Catechu G Pontamine Catechu 3 G Pontamine Diazo Scarlet A Pontamine Diazo Scarlet R Pontkmine Fast Orange S Pontamine Cotton Blue 3 R Pontamine Fast Blue S L Pontamine Fast Blue 2 G L Pontamine Yellow S X R Pontamine Yellow S X G Pontamine Diazo Brown 6 G Pontamine Blue G H Conc. Ljthosol Red C Paste Lithosol Bordeaux B Paste Lithosol Rubine B Pdr. Lithosol Acid P Lithosol Orange R Base L/thosol Orange G Base Lithosol Bordeaux B N Paste Lithosol Scarlet 3 B Lithosol Claret B ~~
Chrome Acjd Acid Acid Acid Acid Acid Acid Acid Direct Direct Direct Direct Developed Direct Direct Develooed -~ Direct Direct Developed
-
~
Direct Direct Direct Direct Developed Direct Direct Direct Direct -~ Direct Direct Developed Direct Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake Lake ~
I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEiMISTRY
October, 1924
TABLE I-(Concluded) E . I . du Ponl de Nemours & Com$any:
Diazo Fast Orange B R L Direct Fast Scarlet G Millin$. Red 4 B Direct'Fast Blue 0 Chrome Brown G 0 Sulfur S k y Blue B 200 per cent Diazo Fast Blue 0 Direct Fast Blue D G L Direct Violet B 0 Newport Direct Brown G B S Newport Direct Fast Orange M K Newport Fast Silk Grey G N B Newport Chrome Green G C M Newport Direct Fast Pink E 2 G N Newport Direct Red 3 X B Newport Anthrene Blue B C S N Pas1e Newport Fast Cotton Blue F G M Newport Direct Fast Brown B T Newport Steel Blue L G N Newport Direct Black S D Newport Direct Fast Orange B:R L Newport Direct Orange G 3 M Newport Direct Thioflavine T G EX. N e w England Aniline Works, Inc.: Anthranol Chrome Brown E B New York Color & Chemical Company: Thio Indigo Red B N o i l Chemical & Color Wovks:
Other announcements are soon to follow, and the continued expansion of the industry may be confidently expected, subject only to one possibility of disaster-namely, the automatic lowering of the tariff on September 22,1924. Could Congress in the confusion of the last days preceding the passage of the Tariff Act of 1922 have foreseen in just what way the industry would respond to its special protection and could it have understood the logical, orderly, and constant introduction of new products which must follow from the work of the various research and plant manufacturing divisions, there is no doubt that it would have worded the provisions of Paragraphs 27 and 28 differently and guarded against the uneconomic and undeserved jar which the industry in its later development may receive a t the expiration of this two-year period.
KINDOF DYE
Sulfanthrene Blue G R Paste Sulfanthrene Pink F F Paste Sulfanthrene Pink F F Dbl. Pdr. Sulphogene Olive G N Sulphogene Green 2 B Sulphoaene Direct Blue B R S Sulphogene Carbon 2 B Conc. Sulphogene Olive Drab G X Sulphogene Olive Drab R X Dye & Chemicals, Inc.: Anthrmene Blue Dye Produrts & Chemical Company: Dyeleiie Chromate Brown Dyelene Azo Acid Violet No. 325 Grasselli Chemical Company: Diamond Green E C V Acid Anthracene Brown R H A Ex. Alizarine Ruhinole R Alizarine Emeraldole G Alizarine Blue S A E or Alizarine Saphirole S E Tartrazine S E A National Aniline b Chemical Co., Inc.: Alizarine Sapphire S E Diazine Black D R Alphazurine F G New,port Chemical Works, Inc.: Direct Pure Yellow M Fast Chrome Brown R N
Vat Vat Vat Sulfur Sulfur Sulfur Sulfur Sulfur Sulfur Chrome Chrome Acid Direct Acid Acid Acid Acid Acid
INDUSTRY RECOVERING FROM HANDICAPS Two factors have played an important part in the striking developments of the last two years. The first is the development of team work in the research staffs of the various organizations. I n the early days a problem was worked a t disjointly, brokenly, and necessarily inefficiently. At the present time a new problem presented to the research staff by the manufacturers is immediately divided out in its several aspects among the staff, and the problem quickly solved so far as scientific resetrch is concerned. On the other hand, large-scale manufacture does not admit of such great expenditure of time for mistakes, and unfortunately, the reconstruction of plants in the light of experience is time-consuming. However, much progress has been made in this line also. Second, the suit of the Government against the Chemical Foundation, Inc., threw the whole industry into the utmost confusion for a while. But here, too, the light has come, following thorough trial of the charges, through the remarkable decision of the Federal Court, which not only upheld the legality of the transfer of the seized patents, but went further and commended the Chemical Foundation and its officers for the manner in which they had fully kept the faith. But the Court did not stop here, for a t the conclusion of the decision it administered a stinging rebuke to the Government authorities for bringing such grave charges into court with no evidence to support the allegations. The industry is not disturbed by the appeal which the Government has lodged against this decision. It feels confident that a decision founded upon so exhaustive a trial and which is so complete in itself will stand.
Acid Developed Acid Direct Direct Vat Direct
Direct Direct Direct Chrome Sulfur Developed Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Chrome Direct Direct Vat Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct Chrome Vat Acid Direct Direct Direct Direct Direct
Peerless Color Company: Direct Fast Violet 4 B Direct Fast Orange P R Direct Fast Brown R G Direct Fast Brown 5 R Phauma-Chemical Corporation: Fast Light Yellow G 3 X Fast Light Yellow Silk Special Zinsser & Co., Inc.: Alizarine Black Pdr. Alizarine Blue Paste Indigoxshade Alizarine Brown 5 R Ex. Alizarine Green S Paste for Printing Modern Violet D
CONCLUSION
Direct Direct Direct Direct Acid Acid Printing Printing Printing Printing Printing
TABLE 11-SUMIMARY OF;NEW~PRODUCTS BY APPLICATION Acid ................. 23
'
Basic.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Chrome.. ............. 20 Developed ............ 12 Direct.. 62 Lake., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10a Mordant.. 2 Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Sulfur.. 7 V a t . . ................ 14 Total.. 166 0 Sudan R (Newport Chemical Works) is Lake, Developed and Printing--classified a s Lake.
.............. ............
.............. ...........
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The greatest advance of the industry within the past two years has been its increased hold upon sympathetic public understanding and support. Time was when insidious propaganda succeeded in befogging the situation to such an extent that those whom the industry sought to serve adopted an almost hostile attitude; but the persistent work of chemists and manufacturers, the investigations and hearings by Government agencies and the fundamental education of the public by the Chemical Foundation have cleared the atmosphere. The industry now stands justly high in the esteem of the public, and with its continued support we can safely predict an ultimate and complete triumph.
Tar Yield of Western Lignites-A large number of assay retort tests of samples of lignite taken from public lands in the western states have recently been made a t the oil-shale laboratory of the Bureau of Mines, Boulder, Colo. The Colorado lignites so far tested yielded from 8 to 10 gallons of tar to the ton. Samples of Wyoming lignite yielded as high as 20 gallons to the ton.
