TRANSPARENT RUBBER “GLASS.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 3

TRANSPARENT RUBBER “GLASS.”

lu the effort to find new uses for rubber, rubber chemists of international reputation have turned their attention to producing such fantastic products a ; rubber glass. Still, it is so often, tho improbable and alleged impossible that happens that even the most startling announcements must be given due consideration. Rubber glass is a good thing to think about. Y\ hat could be done with such ;i product deifies imagination. says a ‘' Scientific American writer, however more expensive the product might be than the common glass. Rubber as transparent as glass and still as elastic, and non-breakable as ordinary rubber offers many advantages and products of rare and strange effects could be made from it. Details as to how transparent rubber is made from the opaque black native substance ‘are not available, but it is said that so far the soft transparent rubber product can be made and that further research will surely lead to tho fabrication of the hard variety. Think o.- transparent rubber windows that von could push out with your hand and which would then spring back into place. The small bov who throws his micket ball against such a window will be astounded to have his ball returned t;j him on the rebound : the window’ will remain intact. There will be no longer anv use for plate glass insurance. Seriously unbreakable window panes made from transparent rubber, would be a real boon in preventing the accident that are caused bv flying gias-A Wind-shields; and windows of such material in motor-cars, railway trains and street c.mveyances would make them considerable safer to travel i-. How long such rubber windows would last under the action of the sunlight streaming through them is another question, but then, this could undoubtedly be overcome.