Rubber Supply Problem Reviewed IΝ
"Rubber's Return to the Western Hemisphere", a 4-page statement by P. W. Litchfield, chairman of the board of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, the rubber situation in the United States and steps taken toward solution of the problem are analyzed and reviewed. Dr. Litchfield concludes with a summary of how America stands today in the grave matter of rubber supply : We have nationalized emergency stock of natural crude rubber brought from the Far East during the past year. This stock pile, wholly owned and controlled by our Government, will keep the American war machine in smooth operation for another year and probably much longer. We have manufacturing plants for the production of reclaimed or regenerated rubber. These reclaim plants have a high total capacity and at this very moment are turning out large supplies of reclaim which can be converted into tires and other rub ber products. Tires of regenerated rub ber definitely do not have the wearing qualities of tires made from crude rubber but they will prevent American wheels from coming to a stop. We are rapidly expanding our facilities for the production of synthetic rubber, and within the next 12 months under the present program our country's total ca pacity for synthetic can reach more than 80,000 tons per year. This can be rapidly expanded to any extent our emergency needs may require, using only materials which are produced within continental boundaries of the United States. Rubbers which normally have a more re stricted use than Hevea, such as Castilloa and Guayule, are already grown to a small extent in the Americas. Gathering and planting of these rubbers can piece out the total available supply during the period of emergency. A substantial foundation has been laid for the development of rubber-growing areas in the Western Hemisphere. Of necessity, results in this field cannot be expected for a matter of years. This de velopment, in the long run, will combine the factors of safety and economy to a much greater extent than any other ap proach to the problem.
D i v e r s i f i e d E l e c t r i c F u r n a c e s for speeding production of heat-treated parts for airplane accessories are being used by the Eclipse Division of Bendix Aviation Corp. Specially designed Westinghouse furnaces at the Philadelphia plant typify advanced practice for heat treating large and small metal parts. Above. Big parts are automatically bright hardened without decarburization at a rate of 500 pounds per hour, gross, by this 80-kw. electric pusher furnace using an atmosphere of re-formed city gas, Endogas. Hardened parts are loaded on the belt conveyor of this 55-kw. drawing furnace (left rear). With forced convection this furnace heat treats 360 pounds an hour, net. Below. Batch tempering is done by lowering a deck basket of parts into a 68-kw. pit furnace using a controlled atmosphere of Exogas, generated from city gas. Production averages 1,000 to 1,200 pounds every four hours.
The immediate prospect may not seem too bright, Dr. Litchfield adds, but it certainly cannot be said America is with out at least a partial solution. The statement is being sent to Goodyear stockholders, employees, and others who may be interested.
Patriotic Role of Chemical Exposition Cited Τ F THE war is a long one, the National Chemical Exposition, scheduled for November 17 to 22 at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, expects to play an important part in winning it, says Victor Conquest, chairman of the Exposition Committee of the Chicago Section, AMERICAN CHEMI
CAL SOCIETY. It is generally conceded, he adds, the winner will be the country that can advance the fastest technically with 136
its methods, materials, and machines. Rapid technical advances create unprece dented problems, and quick solutions require personal contact, not only be tween individuals, but with materials and machines, according to Mr. Conquest. The National Chemical Exposition and the National Industrial Chemical Conference will bring together an audience from al C H E M I C A L
most every state in the Union with urgent problems to solve. Within three weeks after the dis tribution of floor plans of the National Chemical Exposition, a little over 35 per cent of the space was reserved. T w o additional halls have been added t o ac commodate the increased number of ex hibitors expected to participate. A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
NEWS
