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

Relationship of the resin industry to other industries.

The term “synthetic resin industry” is a very broad one, referring in reality to a group of industries producing the varied synthetic resins—much as the term “steel industry” includes the manufacture of pig iron, structural steel, tin plate, and wire. But it is interesting to examine briefly the connection of the synthetic resin industry with some of the other large industrial groupings.

Relationship to the chemical industry.—Since the processes involved in the production of the synthetic resins are essentially of a chemical nature, the whole industry might be legitimately classed as a branch of the chemical industry. Historically, the synthetic resin industry in the United States developed outside of the chemical industry as it was constituted at the time, but with the passage of years and the development of a greater variety of resins the connections have multiplied. Chemical companies supply some of the important raw materials for synthetic resins; their skilled experts possess the technical training to develop new resin processes; their research programs from time to time lead to the discovery of valuable facts regarding resin; and they possess, or can, more easily than a new company, obtain the capital necessary to exploit a process.

At present the interest of the large chemical corporations in synthetic resins ranges from active participation to apparent indifference; but the growing number of corporations thought of as chemical which are now engaged in experimental production would seem to indicate that in time they will be increasingly important in the production of synthetic resins. Some of the larger chemical companies that are important producers of synthetic resins in 1938 are:

American Cyanamid Co	Urea resins.
Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corporation	Vinyl resins.
Dow Chemical Co	Polystyrene resins.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co	Alkyd, acrylate, vinyl resins.
Monsanto Chemical Co	Petroleum resins.

Relationship to the surface coating industry.—The use of tar-acid, alkyd, urea, and vinyl resins as raw material for the surface coating industry has already been mentioned, and also the fact that the coating industry is manufacturing a substantial part of its consumption of alkyd resins.

At present the synthetic resins go chiefly into varnishes, lacquers, and enamels for inside use and into finishes for outside use on metal. Now that coatings incorporating synthetic resins are successfully adapted to outside finishes on wood, the incentive for the production of resins by the coating industry will presumably increase because of the large volume of house paints sold.

Relationship to the electric industry.—The electric industry offered one of the first large markets for synthetic resin products. Molded and laminated parts for appliances and fixtures gave good insulation at ordinary voltages, and frequently allowed a simplification of the design. This development, coming at a time of rapid expansion in the manufacture of electric equipment, was a distinct benefit to both the electrical and synthetic resin industries. The larger electrical manufacturing firms soon began to do their own molding and laminating and became important as custom molders. Later the General Electric Co. and the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. manufactured their own tar-acid resins.

Another important outlet for synthetic resins appeared with the development of the radio industry. Radio now offers a market for special synthetic resins possessing high dielectric constants at radio frequencies, and much larger volumes of tar-acid and urea resins are used in molding the smaller cabinets. As a rule the radio industry purchases its resin products already molded to order.

The relationship to the auto industry.—The automobile manufacturing industry and makers of automobile parts together furnish a substantial market for synthetic resins. In general, the automobile manufacturers purchase parts made of resin, already fabricated; parts makers usually purchase the resins they require. The Ford Motor Co. makes tar-acid resins for its own use. Working parts, such as timer heads and horn buttons, are usually of molding tar acid resin; the timing gear usually of laminated tar-acid resin. For decorative parts, such as dash instrument knobs and radiator ornaments, urea and cast phenolic resins have been used. Most of these parts are small, but altogether they have taken a substantial volume of synthetic resin. Safety glass for automobile windshields is now being made from vinyl resin.

The future possibilities are difficult to appraise. The automobile industry is constantly experimenting with new materials and methods, and its policy of bringing out models annually makes possible rapid adoption of new developments. Molded window frames have been tried, and such a use, or use for the complete instrument panel, would obviously consume synthetic resins in much larger volume. Even whole motor car bodies of laminated resin have been suggested.