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

UNITED STATES TARIFF COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
	Acknowledgment	[xi]
1.	Introduction	[1]
	Scope and purpose	[2]
	Fundamental definitions	[2]
	Tariff history	[3]
	Broadening use of synthetic resins	[4]
	Relation of synthetic resins to their raw materials	[5]
	Sources of information	[7]
2.	Summary:
	Growth of the industry	[7]
	Raw materials	[8]
	Resins	[9]
	The industry abroad	[10]
	International trade	[10]
3.	Tar-acid resins	[11]
	The three stages of a tar-acid resin	[13]
	Classification of tar-acid resins	[13]
	Processes of resin manufacture	[14]
	Production in the United States	[15]
	Imports into the United States	[16]
	Exports from the United States	[17]
	Tar-acid resins for molding:
	Molding powders and pellets	[18]
	The molding of tar-acid resins	[19]
	Production of tar-acid molding resins	[19]
	Cast phenolic resins:
	Process of manufacture	[20]
	Uses	[20]
	Patents and licensing	[21]
	Production of cast phenolic resins	[21]
	Imports and exports	[21]
	Tar-acid resins for laminating	[21]
	Uses of tar-acid resin laminated products	[22]
	Production of tar-acid resins for laminating	[23]
	Imports into the United States	[24]
	Exports from the United States	[24]
	Tar-acid resins for surface coatings:
	Types of resin used and the resultant coatings	[24]
	Production in the United States	[25]
	Imports into and exports from the United States	[25]
	Tar-acid resins in adhesives	[25]
	Tar-acid resins for other uses	[26]
4.	Alkyd resins:
	Description and uses	[26]
	Development and patents	[27]
	Classification of alkyd resins:
	Unmodified drying alkyd resins	[28]
	Drying alkyd resins, modified with natural materials	[29]
	Drying alkyd resins, modified with other synthetic resins	[29]
	Drying alkyd resins, modified with other synthetic resins and oil extended	[29]
	Semidrying alkyd resins	[29]
	Nondrying alkyd resins	[30]
	Miscellaneous modified alkyd resins	[30]
	Alkyd resins in water dispersion	[30]
	Alkyd resins in molding compositions and other uses	[30]
	Pigments and solvents in alkyd resins	[31]
	Production in the United States	[31]
	Imports into and exports from the United States	[32]
5.	Urea resins:
	Description and uses	[32]
	Production in the United States	[34]
	United States imports and exports	[35]
6.	Acrylate resins:
	Properties and uses	[35]
	Production in the United States	[37]
	Imports into and exports from the United States	[38]
7.	Coumarone and indene resins:
	Description and uses	[38]
	Production in the United States	[39]
	Imports into and exports from the United States	[39]
8.	Petroleum resins:
	Properties and uses	[39]
	Production	[41]
	Imports and exports	[41]
9.	Polystyrene resins:
	Properties and uses	[41]
	Production in the United States	[42]
	Imports into and exports from the United States	[42]
10.	Vinyl resins	[43]
	Description and uses:
	Polyvinyl acetate resins	[44]
	Copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride	[46]
	Polyvinyl chloride resins	[47]
	Polyvinyl chloroacetate resins	[47]
	Divinyl acetylene and synthetic rubber	[47]
	Production in the United States	[48]
	Imports into the United States	[48]
	Exports from the United States	[50]
11.	Other synthetic resins:
	Adipic acid resins	[50]
	Aniline resins	[50]
	Citric acid resins	[50]
	Diphenyl resins	[51]
	Furfural resins	[51]
	Resins from sugar	[51]
	Sulphonamide resins	[51]
12.	The organization of the synthetic resin industry:
	Horizontal relationships between resin producers	[52]
	Vertical relationships between resin producers:
	Tar-acid resins for molding	[53]
	Tar-acid resins for laminating	[54]
	Cast phenolic resins	[54]
	Tar-acid resins for coatings	[55]
	Tar-acid resins for miscellaneous uses	[55]
	Alkyd resins made from phthalic anhydride	[55]
	Alkyd resins made from maleic anhydride	[55]
	Urea resins for molding	[56]
	Urea resins for other uses	[56]
	Coumarone and indene resins	[56]
	Other resins	[56]
	Relationship of the resin industry to other industries:
	The chemical industry	[56]
	The surface-coating industry	[57]
	The electric industry	[57]
	The auto industry	[57]
13.	The United States tariff and international trade in synthetic resins	[58]
	Rapid expansion in home markets	[59]
	The effect of patents on international trade	[59]
	The United States tariff on resins and resin products:
	Synthetic resins	[60]
	Articles made of synthetic resin	[61]
14.	Synthetic resin prices, properties, and uses:
	Synthetic resins as substitutes	[62]
	Motives for substitution	[63]
	Materials displaced by synthetic resins	[63]
	Competition between synthetic resins	[63]
	Resins classified by cost	[64]
	The physical properties of a resin and its uses	[65]
15.	Synthetic resins in other countries:
	Germany:
	Production	[75]
	Tar-acid resins	[75]
	Alkyd resins	[76]
	Urea resins	[76]
	Polystyrene and vinyl resins	[76]
	Uses of synthetic resins	[76]
	Organization	[77]
	Foreign trade	[77]
	Great Britain:
	Production	[78]
	Tar-acid resins	[79]
	Urea resins	[79]
	Acrylate resins	[79]
	Aniline resin	[79]
	Organization	[79]
	Foreign trade	[80]
	France:
	Producers	[80]
	Foreign trade	[81]
	Czechoslovakia	[82]
	Italy	[82]
	Japan	[83]
	Production	[83]
	Canada	[84]
	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	[85]
	Netherlands	[85]
	Denmark	[86]
	Poland	[86]
16.	Raw materials for alkyd resins	[86]
	Naphthalene:
	Recovery of naphthalene	[87]
	Description and uses	[87]
	United States production	[88]
	Organization of the industry	[89]
	Trend of production	[89]
	World production	[90]
	Germany	[91]
	Great Britain	[92]
	Belgium	[93]
	Czechoslovakia	[93]
	France	[94]
	Poland	[94]
	Netherlands	[94]
	Canada	[94]
	Union of Soviet Socialist Republics	[94]
	Japan	[94]
	United States imports:
	Rates of duty	[95]
	Import statistics	[96]
	United States exports	[98]
	Competitive conditions	[98]
	Phthalic anhydride:
	Description and uses	[98]
	United States production	[100]
	Production in other countries	[101]
	United States foreign trade	[101]
	Competitive conditions	[101]
	Polybasic acids other than phthalic anhydride:
	Maleic acid and anhydride	[102]
	Malic acid and malomalic acid	[102]
	Adipic acid	[102]
	Succinic acid and anhydride	[102]
	Fumaric acid	[102]
	Glycerin:
	Description and uses	[103]
	United States production	[103]
	Production in other countries	[104]
	International trade	[104]
	United States imports	[105]
	United States exports	[107]
	Competitive conditions	[108]
17.	Raw materials for tar-acid resins:
	The tar acids	[109]
	Phenol:
	Description and uses	[110]
	United States production	[111]
	Grades produced for resins	[112]
	Producers	[112]
	World production	[113]
	United States imports:
	Rates of duty	[114]
	Import statistics	[114]
	United States exports	[116]
	Competitive conditions	[116]
	The cresols, xylenols, and cresylic acid:
	Description and uses:
	The cresols	[117]
	Metacresol	[118]
	Orthocresol	[118]
	Paracresol	[118]
	Metaparacresol	[118]
	Cresol	[118]
	The xylenols	[118]
	Other high-boiling tar acids	[119]
	Cresylic acid	[119]
	United States production:
	The cresols	[120]
	The xylenols	[120]
	Other high-boiling tar acids	[120]
	Cresylic acid	[120]
	Foreign production	[122]
	United States imports:
	Rates of duty	[124]
	Import statistics	[125]
	United States exports	[131]
	Competitive conditions	[131]
	Synthetic tar acids other than phenol	[132]
	Para tertiary amyl phenol	[133]
	Para tertiary butyl phenol	[133]
	Phenyl phenols	[133]
	Resorcinol	[133]
	Formaldehyde:
	Description and uses	[133]
	United States production	[134]
	Production in other countries	[134]
	United States imports and exports	[134]
	Competitive conditions	[135]
	Hexamethylenetetramine:
	Description and uses	[136]
	United States production	[136]
	Production in other countries	[136]
	United States imports and exports	[136]
	Competitive conditions	[137]
	Furfural	[137]
18.	Raw materials for urea resins:
	Urea	[138]
	Thiourea	[139]
19.	Raw materials for vinyl resins:
	Description and uses	[140]
	United States production	[140]
	United States imports	[141]
	Competitive conditions	[141]
APPENDIXES
Appendix A. Statistical tables on foreign trade in raw material for synthetic resins		[144]
Appendix B. Trade names for synthetic resins made in the United States		[153]
Appendix C. Trade names for synthetic resins made in Great Britain		[155]
Appendix D. Trade names for synthetic resins made in Germany		[156]
Appendix E. List of United States manufacturers of raw materials for synthetic resins		[158]
Appendix F. Glossary		[160]
TABLES
No.
1.	Synthetic resins: United States production and sales, 1921-37	[8]
2.	Tar-acid resins: United States production and sales, by type of raw material, 1933-37	[14]
3.	Tar-acid resins: United States production and sales, 1927-37	[15]
4.	Synthetic resins of coal-tar origin: United States imports for consumption, 1919-37	[16]
5.	Synthetic resins of coal-tar origin: United States imports for consumption, by principal sources, in specified years 1929-37	[17]
6.	Cast phenolic resins: United States production and sales, 1934-37	[21]
7.	Alkyd resins from phthalic and maleic anhydride: United States production and sales, 1933-37	[31]
8.	Urea resins: United States production and sales, 1933-37	[35]
9.	Resoglas and Trolitul: United States imports for consumption, 1933-37	[43]
10.	Synthetic resins classified under paragraph 11: United States imports for consumption, 1931-37	[49]
11.	Vinyl acetate resins: United States imports for consumption, 1934-37	[49]
12.	Mowilith resins: United States imports for consumption, 1932-37	[49]
13.	Synthetic resins: United States production and imports, 1934-37	[58]
14.	Comparison of the international trade of the United States in synthetic resins and in certain raw materials for resins, 1934-37	[58]
15.	Tariff classification and rates of duty in Tariff act of 1930 upon certain articles made of synthetic resin	[61]
16.	Manufactured articles n. s. p. f. in which synthetic resin is the chief binding agent: United States imports for consumption, 1931-37	[62]
17.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Properties that affect appearance	[66]
18.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Molding properties	[68]
19.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Strength properties	[70]
20.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Heat properties	[71]
21.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Electrical properties	[72]
22.	Synthetic resins and other plastics: Specific gravity, specific volume, and resistance to other substances	[73]
23.	Synthetic resins: German exports, 1930-37	[77]
24.	Synthetic resins: German exports, by countries, 1934-37	[78]
25.	Synthetic resins: Production in Great Britain, 1934 and 35	[78]
26.	Synthetic resins: Imports into the United Kingdom, 1930-36	[80]
27.	Synthetic resins: Exports from the United Kingdom, 1930-36	[80]
28.	Synthetic resins: French imports, by types, and countries, 1931 and 1933-37	[81]
29.	Synthetic resins: French exports, 1931 and 1933-37	[82]
30.	Manufactures of tar-acid resins: Production in Japan, 1929-35	[84]
31.	Prices of gums and resins in the Netherlands, 1936	[86]
32.	Synthetic resins: Netherland imports by countries 1931 and 1933-37	[86]
33.	Crude naphthalene: United States production, 1918-37	[88]
34.	Refined naphthalene: United States production and sales, 1917-37	[89]
35.	Naphthalene (all grades): World production, by countries, 1933 and 1935	[90]
36.	Naphthalene: German production, imports, exports, and apparent consumption, 1928-37	[92]
37.	Naphthalene: Production in Great Britain, in specified years	[92]
38.	Naphthalene: Exports from the United Kingdom, 1928-36	[93]
39.	Naphthalene: Belgian production, 1928-35	[93]
40.	Naphthalene: Czechoslovak production, 1928-35	[93]
41.	Crude naphthalene: Polish production, 1928-36	[94]
42.	Naphthalene: Rates of duty upon imports into the United States, 1916-38	[95]
43.	Crude naphthalene (solidifying at less than 79° C.): United States imports for consumption, 1919-37	[96]
44.	Refined naphthalene (solidifying at or above 79° C.): United States imports for consumption, 1919-37	[96]
45.	Crude naphthalene (solidifying under 79° C.): United States imports for consumption from principal sources, in specified years	[97]
46.	Crude naphthalene: United States production, imports, and apparent consumption, in specified years	[98]
47.	Phthalic anhydride: United States production and sales, 1917-37	[100]
48.	Glycerin: United States production, 1919-37	[103]
49.	Glycerin: United States production for sale, 1919-35	[104]
50.	Glycerin: Imports and exports of principal countries, 1931 and 1933-37	[105]
51.	Glycerin: United States imports for consumption, 1919-20 and 1923-37	[106]
52.	Crude glycerin: United States imports for consumption from Cuba, 1919-37	[107]
53.	Crude glycerin: United States imports for consumption from Philippine Islands, 1925-37	[107]
54.	Glycerin: United States exports, 1919-37	[108]
55.	Refined glycerin: United States production, imports, exports, and apparent consumption, in specified years	[108]
56.	Tar acids: Commercial and chemical names, boiling points, and average percent in coal tar	[109]
57.	Tar acids available in coal tar produced and distilled in 1936	[110]
58.	Phenol: Estimated consumption by industries, 1936-37	[111]
59.	Phenol: United States production and sales, in specified years, 1918-37	[112]
60.	Phenol: Estimated annual production, by countries, 1933-35	[113]
61.	Phenol: Rates of duty upon imports into the United States, 1916-37	[114]
62.	Phenol: United States imports for consumption, 1910-37	[115]
63.	All distillates of tar yielding below 190° C., an amount of tar acids equal to or more than 5 percent: United States imports for consumption, 1918-37	[115]
64.	Phenol: United States exports, 1918-24	[116]
65.	Phenol: United States exports, 1934-36	[116]
66.	Phenol: United States production, imports, exports, and apparent consumption, in specified years, 1918-37	[117]
67.	Meta, ortho, and para cresols: United States production and sales, 1934	[120]
68.	Refined cresylic acid: United States production and sales, 1929-37	[121]
69.	Cresol: German production, in specified years	[122]
70.	Cresol: German imports and exports in specified years	[122]
71.	Cresol: Production in Czechoslovakia in specified years	[123]
72.	Cresylic acid: British exports, by countries, 1933-37	[123]
73.	The cresols: Rates of duty upon United States imports, 1916-37	[124]
74.	Cresylic acid: Rates of duty upon United States imports, 1916-37	[125]
75.	Metacresol, orthocresol, and paracresol, 90 percent or more pure: United States imports for consumption, 1920 and 1923-37	[125]
76.	Metacresol: United States imports for consumption by principal sources, in specified years	[126]
77.	Orthocresol: United States imports for consumption by principal sources, in specified years	[127]
78.	Paracresol: United States imports for consumption by principal sources, in specified years	[128]
79.	Crude cresylic acid: United States imports for consumption, 1924-37	[129]
80.	Refined cresylic acid: United States imports for consumption, in specified years, 1919-37	[129]
81.	Crude cresylic acid: United States imports for consumption by principal sources, in specified years, 1929-37	[130]
82.	Refined cresylic acid: United States imports for consumption by principal countries, in specified years	[130]
83.	The cresols: Comparison of production and imports, 1934	[132]
84.	Formaldehyde: United States production and sales, in specified years	[134]
85.	Formaldehyde: United States exports to principal markets, in specified years	[135]
86.	Hexamethylenetetramine: United States production and sales, 1923 and 1925-37	[136]
87.	Hexamethylenetetramine: United States imports for consumption, 1923-37	[137]
88.	Urea: United States imports for consumption, 1919-20 and 1923-37	[138]
89.	Urea: United States imports for consumption, by countries, 1931 and 1933-37	[139]
90.	Thiourea: United States imports through the New York customs district, 1931-37	[140]
91.	Vinyl acetate, unpolymerized: United States imports for consumption, 1931-37	[141]
92.	Naphthalene: German imports and exports, by countries, 1929 and 1932-37	[144]
93.	Crude naphthalene: Belgian imports and exports, 1932-37	[146]
94.	Refined naphthalene: Belgian imports and exports, 1932-37	[147]
95.	Crude and refined naphthalene: Netherland imports and exports, by countries, 1929 and 1932-37	[148]
96.	Refined naphthalene: Canadian imports, by countries, 1928-29 and 1932-37	[150]
97.	Naphthalene: Japanese imports by countries, 1928-29 and 1932-36	[150]
98.	Crude glycerin: United States imports for consumption, by countries, 1929 and 1931-37	[151]
99.	Refined glycerin: United States imports for consumption, by countries, 1929 and 1931-37	[152]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Chart. Derivation of certain synthetic resins		[6]
Preform press making pellets for use in molding		[18]
Vacuum cleaner parts of tar-acid resin illustrating the intricate molded shapes possible		[19]
Radio cabinet and telephone sets of molded tar-acid resin		[19]
Cast phenolic resins. Standard shapes and small articles fabricated from them		[20]
Laminating sheet press		[22]
Gears made of laminated tar-acid resin		[22]
Cocktail lounge using tar-acid laminated decorative materials		[23]
Thermostat case of molded urea resin		[33]
Scales case of molded urea resin		[33]
Airplane cockpit enclosures of cast acrylate resin		[36]
Spectacle lenses molded to optical prescription from acrylate resin		[37]
Molded polystyrene resins		[42]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In the preparation of this report, the Commission had the services of Paul K. Lawrence, Prentice N. Dean, and others of the Commission’s staff.

1. INTRODUCTION

This survey deals with the several commercially important types of synthetic resins covered by paragraphs 2, 11, and 28 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and with the raw materials necessary for their production. It is made under the general investigatory powers of the Tariff Commission as provided in section 332 of that act.

The field of synthetic resins is a comparatively new one, most of its commercial development having occurred within the past 10 years. In 1937 the domestic output was more than 160 million pounds as compared with slightly more than 10 million pounds in 1927.