Synthetic rubber and oil
A shortage of oil meant that the Germans desperately needed an alternative
and came up with a blend of adipic acid ester with poly(ethylene) oil. It helped
keep the Luftwaffe in the air during the duration of the war.
The Americans also developed their own synthetic oil and started using it in
the airforce once it was discovered that synthetic oils made the planes easier
to start in winter and reduced soot deposits in oil radiators.
In addition, with the Axis powers in control of most of the world's supply of
natural rubber, there was a desperate need for the Allies to improve synthetic
rubber production. In 1940, Waldo Semon developed Ameripol, which was cheaper to
produce and easily met the Allied need for rubber.
and came up with a blend of adipic acid ester with poly(ethylene) oil. It helped
keep the Luftwaffe in the air during the duration of the war.
The Americans also developed their own synthetic oil and started using it in
the airforce once it was discovered that synthetic oils made the planes easier
to start in winter and reduced soot deposits in oil radiators.
In addition, with the Axis powers in control of most of the world's supply of
natural rubber, there was a desperate need for the Allies to improve synthetic
rubber production. In 1940, Waldo Semon developed Ameripol, which was cheaper to
produce and easily met the Allied need for rubber.
background story on synthetic rubber
"War is hell" is a famous quotation by the U.S. Civil War General William T.
Sherman. At the expense of human life, the destruction of beautiful landscapes
and cities and the expense for weaponry, war stimulates scientific advances that
may ensure victory and later improve human life.
Since I served in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Japan, during peacetime I was
prompted to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg,
Texas, two weeks ago. I learned how desperation to avoid defeat in WW II
generated urgent scientific exploration to create new equipment and weapons to
support military troops. These ideas included harnessing the atom, for the
creation of an atom bomb, the development of radar to detect enemy aircraft and
the creation of a plentiful supply of artificial synthetic rubber to replace
natural rubber which became unavailable. Synthetic rubber became a part of our
everyday life; here is the story.
The natural rubber tree, native to tropical rainforests in Brazil, was found
by natives hundreds of years ago to produce a milky sap just under the outer
bark. Europeans learned that this sap, called latex, could be shaped into fabric
that was waterproof, stretchy and strong. Seeds were brought to London, planted
in greenhouses, and transplanted to the hot, humid climate on British-controlled
land in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The plantation rubber tree which grows 60 feet high produces latex or natural
rubber that is collected when the bark is superficially cut with a knife
somewhat like maple trees in our county which are tapped with a drill to allow
sap to flow into a bucket. One worker may tend to several hundred trees daily.
Water in the latex fluid is allowed to evaporate then mixed with an acid, rolled
into sheets and hung up to dry. Later, the sheets are smoked, chopped into
pieces, compressed and shipped for commercial use where additional chemicals are
added to obtain desired properties like firmness in heat or extreme cold.
Natural rubber was in high demand by the mid 1800s. Union troops in the Civil
War bought 1.8 million rubber blankets and 1.6 million ponchos at a cost of $17
million. In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered natural rubber could be made
stronger by adding sulphur and subjecting the mixture to heat. Seventy years
later when the automobile became popular, natural rubber was used for tires.
The day after the U.S. was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941,
Japan landed on Malaysia and in two months captured Singapore, the heart of the
world's rubber production. Rubber export to the U.S. and its allies was shut
off. It was feared a lack of rubber would be the Achilles' heel for the U.S.
military effort.
A military airplane used 1,000 pounds of natural rubber; a tank, 1,000
pounds; and a battleship, 150,000 pounds. Each person in the military used 32
pounds of rubber for foot wear, clothing and equipment. To address this
shortage, the U.S. government requested the cooperation of existing rubber
manufacturers, oil companies and university researchers to develop a
substitution for natural rubber quickly - a synthetic rubber. The result was an
outstanding scientific and engineering feat resulting in increasing the U.S.
rubber output from one-half million pounds in 1941 to 140 million pounds in
1945, enabling the U.S. military and its allies to meet their needs.
The ingredients of synthetic rubber were made from petroleum. Two specific
chemicals, butadiene and styrene, products of oil refining, when combined make
synthetic rubber. Varying the amounts and types of additional chemicals like
carbon and silicone change the properties of the rubber just like adding more
butter to pie dough changed the crust from firm to flakey.
Today, we benefit from the urgent research done for the military to generate
plentiful supplies of synthetic rubber. Specialized synthetic rubber has been
developed for commercial planes, space shuttles and artificial hearts. I expect
exciting new uses for synthetic rubber will emerge perhaps on robots, football
helmets and on automobile bodies which bounce back in shape after a
collision.
SOURCE: http://www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/578392.html
Sherman. At the expense of human life, the destruction of beautiful landscapes
and cities and the expense for weaponry, war stimulates scientific advances that
may ensure victory and later improve human life.
Since I served in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Japan, during peacetime I was
prompted to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg,
Texas, two weeks ago. I learned how desperation to avoid defeat in WW II
generated urgent scientific exploration to create new equipment and weapons to
support military troops. These ideas included harnessing the atom, for the
creation of an atom bomb, the development of radar to detect enemy aircraft and
the creation of a plentiful supply of artificial synthetic rubber to replace
natural rubber which became unavailable. Synthetic rubber became a part of our
everyday life; here is the story.
The natural rubber tree, native to tropical rainforests in Brazil, was found
by natives hundreds of years ago to produce a milky sap just under the outer
bark. Europeans learned that this sap, called latex, could be shaped into fabric
that was waterproof, stretchy and strong. Seeds were brought to London, planted
in greenhouses, and transplanted to the hot, humid climate on British-controlled
land in Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
The plantation rubber tree which grows 60 feet high produces latex or natural
rubber that is collected when the bark is superficially cut with a knife
somewhat like maple trees in our county which are tapped with a drill to allow
sap to flow into a bucket. One worker may tend to several hundred trees daily.
Water in the latex fluid is allowed to evaporate then mixed with an acid, rolled
into sheets and hung up to dry. Later, the sheets are smoked, chopped into
pieces, compressed and shipped for commercial use where additional chemicals are
added to obtain desired properties like firmness in heat or extreme cold.
Natural rubber was in high demand by the mid 1800s. Union troops in the Civil
War bought 1.8 million rubber blankets and 1.6 million ponchos at a cost of $17
million. In 1839, Charles Goodyear discovered natural rubber could be made
stronger by adding sulphur and subjecting the mixture to heat. Seventy years
later when the automobile became popular, natural rubber was used for tires.
The day after the U.S. was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941,
Japan landed on Malaysia and in two months captured Singapore, the heart of the
world's rubber production. Rubber export to the U.S. and its allies was shut
off. It was feared a lack of rubber would be the Achilles' heel for the U.S.
military effort.
A military airplane used 1,000 pounds of natural rubber; a tank, 1,000
pounds; and a battleship, 150,000 pounds. Each person in the military used 32
pounds of rubber for foot wear, clothing and equipment. To address this
shortage, the U.S. government requested the cooperation of existing rubber
manufacturers, oil companies and university researchers to develop a
substitution for natural rubber quickly - a synthetic rubber. The result was an
outstanding scientific and engineering feat resulting in increasing the U.S.
rubber output from one-half million pounds in 1941 to 140 million pounds in
1945, enabling the U.S. military and its allies to meet their needs.
The ingredients of synthetic rubber were made from petroleum. Two specific
chemicals, butadiene and styrene, products of oil refining, when combined make
synthetic rubber. Varying the amounts and types of additional chemicals like
carbon and silicone change the properties of the rubber just like adding more
butter to pie dough changed the crust from firm to flakey.
Today, we benefit from the urgent research done for the military to generate
plentiful supplies of synthetic rubber. Specialized synthetic rubber has been
developed for commercial planes, space shuttles and artificial hearts. I expect
exciting new uses for synthetic rubber will emerge perhaps on robots, football
helmets and on automobile bodies which bounce back in shape after a
collision.
SOURCE: http://www.post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/578392.html