Phthalic Output Used in Many Ways SUSAN M. PHILLIPS Bureau of Foreign a n d Domestic Commerce, Washington, D. C. TO T H E average layman, phthalic anhydride is doubtless little more than another chemical compound. Probably few persons realize its part in the manufacture of the better grades of paints, dyes, and plastics which have become so important in their scheme of living. But still less do they appreciate the vital role which i t has now been called upon to assume in the provision of all kinds of necessities for their sons and daughters in the armed services of the Nation. Actuallv. .. -ohthalic anhvdride beean its industrial career more than a auarter of a centurv, am. Provinr itq value in an~. inrreasing number of procares, it ha$ hcen manufactured in correspondingly larger quarrtitits. As a result. the tot31 annual output -less than 200 thousand pounds in 1917-has now risen t o more than 100 million pounds and given i t a place among the more important of the domestically produced chemicals. At the present time, however, phthalic anhydride is little concerned with the needs of the puhlic as a whole or with the pursuits of peace. Ninety-eight per cent of i t goes into the war effort. Onlv . 2 oer . cent is earmarked for civilian needs. I'hthalic nnhydrille derivntiveq are marching with the v w p s in paints and other protective finishes, in the dyec of uniforms, tents and h l i l a r military need
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ture as in the past the United States should be able to produce enough of the compound t o obviate the need for imparting i t in any quantity. It is noteworthy that when just before the outbreak of hostilities the demand did exceed the supply, no other countly was able t o furnish it in appreciable amounts. What little phthalic anhydride is being exported by the United States a t the present time necessarily goes to the United Nations. preference being given them by virtue of the relation of the chemical to their production of strategic war materials. As far as it is possible to judge now, there is little doubt of the
existence of a good foreign market for phthalic anhydride after the war. Latin America will afford,a new field which can easily became very important, and there are other new markets in prospect as well as the old to be further developed. I n short. i t would seem that there could he no question about the utilization of all of the phthalic anhydride which can he produced. There is indeed work ahead for all members of this unusual familv of chemicals as they come marching home from the war. -Reprinted, in part, from Doncsirlic Commerce. 33, 19 (February, 1945).
