CANADIAN
CHEMISTRY
Chemical Output Rises 5% in ' 5 3 Competition with U. S. producers, profiting by low Canadian tariffs, spurs plastics research in C a n a d a by S. J. Cook
A GAIN of better than 5%, indicated *•** in the output of chemicals from Canadian plants in 1953, brings the value of production to $840 million, as compared with $800 million in 1952. Employment in t h e chemical industry rose again in 1953, as in 1952, at a faster rate than t h e value of plant output. From an average roll of 51,180 in 1952, total employment in the chemical industry advanced to 51,563 at t h e end of the first quarter, reached 5 3 , 2 7 1 at the half year, and 54,419 at the close of the third quarter. Heavy chemicals showed a slight reduction in employment, averages for the t w o years being 7169 in 1952 and 6895 in 1953. The value of the output from this group of 30 plants also d r o p p e d slightly t o about $110 million from" $114 million in 1952. Medicinals and pharmaceutical preparations operated throughout the year with almost no change in the n u m bers employed i n some 200 plants. O u t p u t value is estimated at $91,320,000 as compared with the preceding year's total of $90,555,000. Production value of primary plastics in 1953 is estimated a t $35 million. More widespread use of plastics is proving a stimulus t o this, one of the newer and growing groups in the chemical industry. T h r e a t of outside competition, notahly from the United States and also from Europe, h a s intensified the marketing problems of producers of plastics, but it has h a d a stimulating effect on research a n d on the determination t o produce high quality materials that will ensure their own sales. T h e industry complains that producers in the U. S . still have the advantage over those i n Canada, w h e r e low tariffs make it a simple matter to export surplus plastic materials to Canada, whereas a high U . S . tariff prevents the Canadian producer from seeking markets south of the border. Canada's Crown-owned synthetic rubber company—Polymer C o r p . at Sarnia—is reported to have had its best year in 1953. Estimated production is placed at 80,000 tons of which about one half was exported to overseas markets and to U, S . users. Present forecasts indicate a steady increase i n the demand for rubber products of all kinds. "If the forecasts are correct," says President E . R. Rowzee of PolyV O L U M E
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mer, "by 1955 the world supply of rubber, both natural a n d synthetic, will be in balance with d e m a n d and further increases in consumption will have to be met by increased r u b b e r production." Paint and varnish production showed a further gain to a total value estimated at $114 million. I t has been pointed out that the prosperity of the paint and varnish industry is in direct proportion to the prosperity of Canada because of the close association between paint consumption and t h e construction and maintenance industries. T r a d e sales account for half of the output; industrial sales represent about a third of the production. Imports and exports of paint products do not constitute a very large percentage of total Canadian production a n d consumption. In pigments, however, it is a different story. Canada produces white lead, red lead, a n d litharge, colors (dry and in oil ) : acetylene black, satin 'white, zinc oxide, bronze powder, cobalt oxide and sulfate, copper oxide, aluminum paste, paint graphite, a n d synthetic iron oxide to a value of about $15 million annually. Imports—titanium oxide, carbon black, lithopone, zinc oxide, and litharge—combine to a similar total of $15 million. Exports amount to about $3 million. Additional capacity in chemical plants, including some 18 new establishments as well as largely increased facilities provided b y half a dozen other important companies, accounted for the greater p a r t of the rise in production noted in 1953. Secondary manufacturing in C a n a d a is coming to be an important factor in the industrial economy of the country. Chemical Storage Tanks Built b y N e w Process
Three aluminum tanks recently erected for the new plant of the Canadian Chemical Co. at Edmonton, Alta., are of interest because of the use of the inert metal arc (IMA) welding process in their construction. T h e argontungsten arc process, which is already well known, was also used. These two processes were employed in outdoor welding operations successfully. The IMA process, which is comparatively new, was considered to have certain advantages in this application: high welding speeds, resulting in a minimum of distortion; little or no need
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for preheating under normal conditions; a d e q u a t e penetration when m a k ing butt welds in heavy plate; requires only a short welder-training period; and causes less than the usual amount of welding fatigue. IMA process p r o duced x-ray quality welds under field conditions which passed all inspection and pressure tests. Paint Sales Rising
D. A. Whittaker, of Sherwin-Williams Co. of Canada, in a year-end r e view of the trade, estimated total p a i n t sales in 1953 at $114 million, against $50 million in 1940. Annual gain h a s been steady. Several new large paint manufacturing plants are being built this y e a r and most of t h e existing plants will have increased their productive capacity by up-to-date installations. Raw materials have been in good supply during 1953 and no shortages should b e experienced in 1954. Principal sources of supply continue to b e the United States and England b u t Canada now produces pentaerythritol and phthalic anhydride. Among the n e w products introduced in 1953, Mr. Whittaker mentions a n emulsion-type sealer for application o n dry wall construction, and a one-coat exterior house paint for application over previously p a i n t e d surfaces. Industrial finishers have generally accepted t h e hot spray m e t h o d of application. The Canadian paint industry is taking another step forward b y setting u p new standards for most of the p a i n t and varnish products used in defense construction projects. Under this p l a n contractors will b e able to use readily obtainable b r a n d - n a m e products rather than batches of paint specially formulated to meet standards now considered out-dated. Industry officials say t h a t changing technology and industrial methods h a v e meant t h a t most regular brand-name products now on the market no longer meet t h e " 1 - G P " specifications d r a w n u p in the early 1940's. Lists of equivalents are to b e prepared, and w h e n approved by the Inter-Service Equivalents Board at Ottawa, will be accepted as a suppliers' guide. Cost of L e a r n i n g Goes Up
Toronto, McGill, and the University of Western Ontario at London, have all increased their tuition fees. Increases at Toronto, ranging from $ 2 to $67 show an average rise of 13.6%. McGill fees are all u p $50, and W e s t ern Ontario's fees have been increased $20 to $60. T h i s is the first time i n three years that London's growing u n i versity has had to increase its fees. 1033
