Synthetic resins and their raw materials / A survey of the types and uses of synthetic resins, the organization of the industry, and the trade in resins and raw materials, with particular references to factors essential to tariff consideration. Under the general provisions of section 332, title III, part II, Tariff act of 1930.

by United States Tariff Commission

Rapid expansion of business in home markets.

Being young industries and having potentially large home markets awaiting development, the synthetic resin industries in the United States naturally began by concentrating first on their numerous production problems to meet a rapidly expanding domestic demand, improving their products and devising useful applications.

The tar-acid-formaldehyde resins for molding were the first to develop. The industry producing them may be said to have started around 1910, but did not become important until after the World War, when the drop in price of phenol made the resins available at lower prices. The alkyd resins and the urea-formaldehyde resins in the United States began to be important in 1929 and 1930, respectively. The others may be said to be still in their earliest stages of development as industries, however much research work may have been done as to their properties and production.