Artificial India Rubber
A cheap and useful substitute for Indian
rubber is prepared by mixing a thick solution of Glue with Tungstate of
Soda and Hydrochloric Acid. A compound of Tungstic Acid and Glue is
precipitated, which at a temperature of 86 degrees to 104 degrees F. is
sufficiently elastic to admit of being drawn out into very thin sheets.
On cooling this mass becomes solid and brittle, but on being heated is
again soft and plastic. This new compound can be used for many of the
purposes to which rubber is adapted.