Review of progress in rubber insulation

In discussing the developments in rubber insulation during the past year, the most obvious and compelling factor is the inauguration of a synthetic rubber program to replace our supply of natural rubber. As is well known, Pearl Harbor and subsequent developments cut off the greater portion of our supply of natural rubber. Fortunately, a moderate stock-pile of rubber from the Far East had been built up. To this was added a surprising amount of natural rubber Which was afloat at the time of Pearl Harbor, in addition to Malayan, Java, and Sumatra stocks gotten into ships before their respective falls.