Synthetic Rubber from Alcohol

Abstract

THIS book is well written and printed, free from typographical mistakes, and generally very readable. It is divided into four chapters. The first chapter deals with the chemistry of the Lebedev process for preparing butadiene from alcohol, the second with the technology of the process, the third with the fundamentals of polymerization, including a sub-section on the technology of sodium polymerization, and the fourth with the physico-chemical properties of the polymer, including a most important section on determining the structure of the polymer. While the book as a whole was a co-operative effort of both authors, Chapters 1 and 2 were mainly the responsibility of A. Talalay and Chapters 3 and 4 of M. Magat. It is to be regretted that a further chapter dealing with Russian experience in handling polybutadiene in the rubber factory was not added. Useful author and subject indexes are appended. Synthetic Rubber from Alcohol A Survey Based on the Russian Literature. By Anselm Talalay and Michael Magat. Pp. xiii + 298. (New York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1945.) 5 dollars.