CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN WAR AND PEACE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 August 1946, Page 7

CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN WAR AND PEACE

achievements of british scientists Self-sealing waterproof materials for vehicles on landing operations; paekagings imnvune to the ravages of sun and insect life under tropic cOnditions; a uovel weapon whicli causes instant paralysis of the erew of a tank — these are just three of many startling developments made by Britain's scientists during the Seeoiul World War. The multitude of service problems whieh arise in a modern war call for a most coniprehensive researeh organisation behind the lines, vvorking eeaselessly day and night to ineet the specialised needs of stretegy and the iighting maxi. Oue of the main headings into wliich • this all important work was divided in the Second World War was ehemical researeh and development, and at Britain 's jMinistry of Supply, the direetorate responsible for tliis forin of " baekroom" eii'ort eovered a very wide field including among otlier things general ehemistry, plastics, rubbers, textiles, tropie prooiing and packaging. The work was carried out at (iovornment laboratories and at universities and trade associations on behalf of the Government. Much of this work naturally has borne results whicli will liave rnost far-reacliing applications in prea.ee. Among manv typical problems solved in general ehemistry wero the production of synthetic tolucne for the manufacture of explosives and the development of large scale magnesium production from sea water. The work in plastics was mainly directed to their use in place of metals in short supply but in many cases new plastics liave been developed wliich are superior to the materials replaced. Hxtensivo researeh was also carried out on polyvinvyl chloride whicli is now lsed instead ot rubber in electrie cablos and as a componcnt of a leather substitute whicli gives bettcr wearingj properties thuu leather itself. Otlier plastics studied include siliconi I eoinpounds and new iusulating materials. I The rubber sectiou carried out researeh on methods of conservation and substitution and later wlien synthetic rubbers wero available on their application in plaee of natural wibber. The tcx-tile sectiou was primarily eon cerned with development of sjieeialiscd materials for a wide range of purposes sucli as mosquito proofed clothing, etc. Applications of nylon in tlie serviccs [ wero also studied. Mueh fundameutal work has been; doue l»y the iubricauts division ou such j problems as tlie nibbing properties of! niekel and cliromium plaled articles and! similar materials. i'ti addition the wliole range of oils used by the services has been ovcrhauled and tlieir numbers reduced by one-thin) without any loss of etlicioney. A special fluid has also been developed to dirfplace the surfacc iilm of water on stores raised from suuken sliips, so that rusting haii been avoidcd. Speciai- Problems. i Tho Far Eastern campaign raised J j many specialised problems, i>articularly , the failure of stoi'es under tropical conditions due to excessive sunlight, tem- 1 perature and huuiidity or to attack by j insects, fungi aiid. bacteria. Bpecial; proolings and paC kagings were there- j fore devised whicli would ensure satis-j factory tropical services and these will' liave important peacotiiue applications . espeeially with regard to export trade. The packagings were not only design | ed to protect against moisture but also,' against inevitable rough handling in-; volved. New improved protectives to • prevent rusting were also developed and! the phosphating of stecl surfaees to ob-j tain better keved paint iiinis was suc-i cessfully studied. Bpeeial problems solved ineluded] water-proofing of veliicles for landing j operations for wliich self-sealing water- 1 proof materials were desigued and also; rapid produclions of brilliantly coloured recognition xianels for the advanced forces. In addition to all this a large scienlilic flax industry, beguir in Britain during the war, is a potential new industry for peucetime. Protection Against Gas. On the ehemical warfaro researeh: side, researeh work has been eoncerneaj with iniproving methods of protection | against gas, development of new toxic j materials and siuokes, and with more ellective methods of dissemination. i Tlius improvenients were made on ros- ! qiirators to ensure protection against thc new gus known to liave licen devised by! the euemy and speeial liglit weiglit gas] inasks for assault trooxis wero produced.; Uniforms wero impregnated witli cliemi-j eals to protect against blister gas and! also with D.D.T. to prevent lice. On the ollensive .side new gas shells] and bonibs were desigued including a novel weaxion against tanks whicli could eause instant paralysis of tlie erew by projecting lethal gas through inter-j sticcs of tlie armour. Spraying from; aircraft was also studied and this j proved niost useful in the Far Fastl where D.D.T. was offective in reducing , malaria and dysentry and researeh done; by this department assisted in tlie rapid | development of D.D.T. production in j Britain. It has also beeu_ realised in Britain] tliat there is a possibility tluit bacteria I could bc used in warfare and that gravej danger to liumaii lives uiiglit be caused in this way. Arraugements liave therefore been made for British scientists to keep in the closest possibie toucli witli modern baetcriologieal researcli in Britain and elsewhere and for tliem to keep . 'abreast of reeent advances so that tliev i will be in a good position to know wliatj types of bacteria miglit be used in war. j Most important of all they will also know tlie best antidotes and countermeasures to prescribe against any nienace of this kind. i