SYNTHETIC RESINS

Evening Star, Issue 22367, 17 June 1936, Page 9

SYNTHETIC RESINS

TRANSPARENT FOUHTAIH-PEH Thanks to new synthetic resins which roused much interest when exhibited at the British Industries Fair, a transparent fountain pen, complete with an iridium-tipped platiguum nib, is now being marketed at Is Gd, states a correspondent of ‘ The Times.’ This is an example of the vray a new material, introduced as a result of the chemist’s work in the laboratory, may. give a great stimulus even to a longestablished trade. Tho fountain pen market was considered to be approaching saturation, but the novelty and cheapness of the new pen, which allows the user to see clearly how much ink is in it, has altered the outlook. . One factory is now, for. the first time in its history, working night as well as day. Those who want the finest quality in their pens and are prepared to pay for it will still favour the existing models,but the now development should bring a pen, thoroughly trustworthy fof all ordinary uses, into tho hands of great masses 'who cannot now afford one. There have' been three stages in the! history of the fountain pen. In tho first stage gold was the only known substance which would provide a noncorrodible nib. . The second stage was marked by the introduction of the alloy platiguum. The development of the transparent pen, with its novelty value, ; is considered to mark a third stage,and has certainly given a new lease of life to the industry. This is only one example of the many uses to which the new transparent resins are being put. The fact that they are one-third of the weight of glass and unsplinterable makes them highly suitable for use in aircraft. In tho new Fairey battle bomber the crow is encased in "a superstructure of tho material, which gives a complete allround field of vision. In this and other new types of aeroplanes the inspection covers, instrument boards, and wingtip lights are made of this material. In the electrical field transparent wireless cabinets are beginning to bo made of this material, and minor applications include battery boxes, where its resistance to acids adds to. its value, and cable joints. It is being widely, used, both in, its water-white and in its tinted forms, for spectacle frames, and boxes and jars for beauty preparations, ointments, etc. It is expected that transparency may not prove to be the greatest advantage of tho new resins. They are not distorted by climatic changes, and so are highly suitable for such objects as telephone instruments, for use in centrally heated buildings, or in climates liable to great variations in temperature,Since they are quit© transparent in their natural state they can be dyed any colour, and a big export trade with tropical countries is predicted for them.