CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES
consumer demand expands and diversifies HAROLD A. KNIGHT, Associate Editor, Chemkd and Enghering News
&ecialty chemicals as a group have experienced an a* celerated exwmion over the past few ywrs, caprcially in organic i n d c i d e s , repllent6,- and the- -the& detergents. From a prewar consumer market which amounted to not more than $25,000,000 to ssO,000,000annually, insecticides this the S200,000,aOOmark. year may PBBB Other chemicals and related products in the specialties group are paints, glues, toilet goods (including cosmetic p r e p arations), disinfectants,waxes and floor polishes, watertreating compounds, suntan lotions, and other consumer products. This discussion is concerned with these items as consumer pmdude, for the most part, although in the in-
M n h and Varnlahu
stance of insecticides arid wmc other products the statistical eompilationz sre not ivadily broken down into I ~ u I I w I I ~ I I ~alid I industrial divisions Synthetic Detergents '
One of the most interesting compilations of the Association of American Soap and Glycerine Producers pertains to growth of per capita production of soap and synthetic detergents. The peak was in 1944, a t 30.5 pounds per capita, with 1941in second place, a t 28.8. I n 1951per capita consumption dipped to 25.1. Production m d Consumption of these cleaners in-
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Ckminq and C.IWin.
Pnparnllons
Vol. 44. No. 6
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
laS0
SOAP AND DETERGENTS d.hrpntlvodumor
rup .Icl
istimaid p r e + illions d pounds
pounds
4
I
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1
IO 0
I
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1940
1145
I950
Household Specialties
crease in war. Not only do members of the armed forces use more cleaners than in civilian life, hut more civilians are in war manufacture, where soiling conditions are more 8evere. However, thereisoften a slowingdown factor during.wamthe shortage of fats, which c a w a turning to other types of detergents as against soaps. In fact, synthetic detergents e cured their real start during the war partly because of the scarcity of fats. In 1937 there were 14 manufacturers of t h w detergents, with nearly 40 now in the manufacturing busineas, and still others contemplating entering the field. Detergent p d u c tion is now proceeding at a rate of 2 billion pounds yearly aa
EXPENDITURES FOR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (in nillioir If dllllrs)
Soap
and Ralamd h b l s
1941 1149
In the chemical specialties group are aerosols, insecticides, disinfectants and srtnitizers, waxes and floor finishes, soap, detergents, and sanitary chemical products. One of the fastest growing in this group is chemicals as d i 9 pensed by aerosols. Applied originally to household insecticides, thii method of dispensing has spread to m t a n lotions, shampohs, shaving creams, artists’ materials, even whipped qreame as food. The development of better containers and valves is making for tremendous arowth, with the future virtually unlimitedT Actively growink, too. are the household disinfectants, particularly &me of &e newer types such as quaternary ammw nium compounds, new iodine compounds in special forms, and combination6 of iodine. Household deodorant formulations containing chlorophyll have gained a large sale through Vigorousadvertising and d e s promotion. In the field of waxes and floor coverings the replacement of natural waxes, such as carnauba, by synthetic polymerized resins is a story in itself. It is predicted that the tune is not far distant when no natural waxes will be essential in blends of waxes for many pupaea. The history of high-cost foreign rubber, tin, and other commodities, which encouraged replacements, may be repeated with the waxes. Recently recognized as an important field are the so-called automobile specialty chemicals, such as those used in automcbile maintenance, including battery acids, hmke flnids, radisr tor cleaners, and sludge removers.
..
1950
Pesticide. Palnls a d A I l M Products.
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against 3 billion for soap. Though detergents are hy no means replacing soap, as each has its own di6tinctive field, postwar soap production has fallen off about 10%. Detergents have an advantage over soap where hard water is involved. Bar soap in the household is gradually being suprseded hy soap in the form of chips, hke3, and granules. There is also a gradual trend toward liquid cleaners, in both the soap and detergent fields. A trend toward liquids is contrary to trends in several chemical fields, the dry form saving transportation wts. However, the liquid cleaners are in Concentrated eirUpy form for economical transportation. In no chemical field has production increase been more s p e e taeular than for synthetic detergents, which rose from 3O,ooO,OOO pounds in 1940 to 1.4 billion pounds in 1951. Nonliquid soap production during that period has shrunk from 3.2 hillion pounds in 1940 to 2.4 billion in 19514espite the fact that the population of the country has grown considerably.
53.5
Among the outstanding insecticides used in the home are DDT, DDD, lindane, allethrin, pyrethrum, chlordan, p!peronyl butoxide, methoxychlor, Thmite and Lethane, virtually all of which have been developed since World War 11. Of the insecticides, dieldrin grew the most rapidly in the 1951-52 Reaeon, according to advance estimates, standing a t 344% of the previous sewn’s consumption, while in second
,INSECTICIDES.
HERBICIOES. FUNGICIDES,
Canun~Hon.rho&
dP o d
195041
Benzene hexachloride (12% gamma). ... 80 ,wo
78 ,wo 39,276 31,509 Lmd usenate.. ...................... 4.670 parathion............................ Aldrin. chlordm, dieldrin, and toxaphene. 70,920 7 ,wo Rotenone ............................ 23,494 2,4-D ................................ 2,822 2 4 5 - T .............................. L&id grain iumig.nt8, pdlons.. ....... 2,674 Dithiocarbamate iungiddes. ............ 17,241 4 ,em Phenothiazine and sodium fluoride.. DDT ................................
c.lcim
memte.
....................
....
1951.52 ( E d . ) 95 ,ow 85 ,ow 45 ,ow 30,000 7000 PI :so0 7 .ow 28 .Mw)
;:2
20 .wo 5 ,wo
June 1962
I h D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
p h stood chlorinate3 propane derivativea, a t 168%. At the other end of the Soatewere nicotine d a t e and lead menate, at 87 and 9@%--an instance of the older chemicsls giving way to the newer organic preparations. Among the herbidea, such as those used on lawns and gardens, 2,4,&T enjoyed the most rapid growth in a year, at 153%, with sodium mOnOCyBllSmide a close m n d , at 151%. Among the fungicidm, oganic merrmrisls and d i t h i h mates tied at lM%, witb limseulhu, dry, slipping back to 76% probably partly becaw of the d u r @home. Fsnners’total repuiremeOta for dl pesticides for the 196152 year are eetimsted at 9% higher than the previous wason, according to the D e m e n t of Agriculture. Repuirements for the synthetic ohlorinate3insecticides, such as b e hexachloride, DDT, aldrin, and toxaphene, and for the synthetic organia herbicides, such as 2,4D and 2,4,5T, are expected to be up an average of 25% this year.
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PAINT, VARNISH AND LACQUER SAUS lilliia d hllorr
111
Ill 75 50
15 0
B 0
Paint Praduc(.
In the field of paints the revolutionary development has been latex, or d l e d rubher bsse paints, containing many of the chemicals that enter synthetic rubber manufacture. They may be applied by the more speedy roller method, and are cheap, washable, and somewhat odorless. However, the problem of pigments and colors must d l he worked out more eS&f.w3tdy. A% a result of the new synthetica, painting is hecoming less wasonal. Now it can be done at any time of the year. Moreover, a large &are of uwrs are women, who do it for decorative rather than preservative purposes. The raw matwials are copolymera of styrene-butadiene latex,or with vinyl chloride as st91.ting material. In another Series, G R 9 is available as copolymers of butadiene and sty-
rene in varying proportions of styrene up to about 60%. The oil has paint mskers have devolved a pmduct using a relatively odorless mlvent developed by at least three prominent oil companies, with at least two more considering entering the field. l’hm makers have cut out the low boiling fractions and narrolv~edthe boiljng range of wleir solvent to from850 to 395 F.,a mlvent whiah results in very little odor. They omit the conventional light low-boiig ‘‘ends’’ which w m oharacterbtic of the more conventional miueral spirits previously d. At times the lack of odor is due to use of masking agenta. Not only are odorless psinta desired by the average householder, but they are virtually essentisl for hospitals, hotels,
INDUSTRIAL A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
1252
VALUE OF PRODUCTS SHIPPED
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1949
Vol. 44, No. 6
market still grows, the perrentage gain is not 80 great. Fragrance producta on the whole were up, but only slightly. Deodorant volume continues to show annual gains 88 the IP sult of advanced technology and more merchdisiog activity. Products now on the market am either deodorants, antiperspirants,or combmations of both. The antiperspirants call for alum sulfate, chlorhydrate, other alum prepamtiona, while the combined deodorants and antiperapirante u d l y contain antiseptic ingrediente including xinc sulfate, sulfocarbolate, boric acid, and sodium benmte. More m t l y these are beiig replaced or supplemented by new organir lormulationn nuch as variations of hexachlorophene. Depilatories also have benc6ted by recent chemical pesearch and have a considerable volume of sale in the domestic market. Most used in the past were barium preparations, especially barium sulfide and calrium sulfide, but the re-
1910
and other public buildings where life must go on from day to d.Y.
Titanium and ita oxides are often called glamour prcducta, largely supplanting lead, and making pmible onewat paint application. Where the titanium oxide makes a too brilliant and sun-reflecting surface, it is toned down by carbon black. Mmeral spirita often replace turpentine as a paint thinner and solvent. P r o d soybean oil is a relatively new paint additive. Linseed oil is an old standby, whose use depends a great deal on its cheapness. Toilet Goods
Toilet goods were officially recognised as life's necessities during the late war when reetrictions on mw materials for making wsmetics were lited for the sske of the feminine morale in war industries. Retail sales of perfumes, cosmetics, and other toilet preparations, not including toilet soap, gained 8.75% during 1951 over 1950, according to the Toilet Goods Association. Tntd d e s for 1951 were $912,8Oo,OOO &8 against a)840,100,OOO in 1951, a new high for the industry. Dentrifice ssles normally incraase 3% yearly, but the rise in 1951 was 8%. The demand for hair preparations, including shampoos, continued, accentuated by the sharp increase in materials for coloring hair. Though the permanent wave
cently developed thioglycollates are becoming important in this field. The thioglycollstes have no unpleasant odor and are sold as liquids or cream. In waving preparations their pH may be adjusted for softening the haii. Much of the toilet goods business depends on whims of style. Just now eye makeup is the mode, the vehicle being harmless blacks, with waxes and oils 88 b. Rewrds of the Toilet Goods Association on total yearly sales go back to 1914, when they amounted to J30,800,000, rising continuously except for the depreeeion years, around 1932, to $912,800,000 in 1951.
facts and figures reprints Because of demand for previous editions of I&E&
Facts and Figures, a com-
bined reprint of pages 1 193-1 256 from this issue has been made up with an attractive cover. Copies, at $1.00 each, are available from the---
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