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