SYNTHETIC RUBBER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 479, 3 July 1912, Page 5

SYNTHETIC RUBBER.

- Continuous efforts have . been made ever since the rdbber boom to discover means of preparing artificial rubber, and the announcement of Professor W. H. Perkins, of Manchester, of the discovery of synthetic 'rubber, which is apparently manufactured from the starch of maize. There is also a process to be exploited on the Continent. According to the Rotterdam Lieuwe Courant, artificial rubber, consisting mainly of fresh sea fish and also containing the natural article, is now being manufactured at a place called Yinuiden. It can easily be vulcanised, resists petrol, and stands heat. The cost of production is six times less, secondary products—albumen, guano, etc.—being obtained in the process. A Dutch university professor, Dr Vanderheyden, is credited with' the invention, which will be commercially, exploited by a limited liability company under the general management of Dr Adjer, an Austrian. A representative of the Lieuwe Courant war shown a specimen of the fish rubber, which looks like the real thing, but—smells of fish. Still, deodorisers are not unknown in the chemical and the directors of the company flatter themselves that the fish rubber will eventually emerge blameless as regards odour. .