Page 4 | CHEM-TEXTS | Vol. 5 No. 4
Know Your Products:
Naugatuck® Chemical Antioxidants
by Dr. Bob Brown
(This is the third in a series of articles on the chemicals manufactured in Chemical Production or sold by the Chemical Division.)
If we didn’t have antioxidants and antiozonants, rubber products would fall apart, before we could wear them out.
In fact, most kinds of synthetic rubber can’t even be manufactured without some type of a protective chemical to get them through the drying and storage stages.
Polygard®, for example, is used extensively by the synthetic rubber plants as a stabilizer (antioxidant) during processing and manufacture. It is not only an excellent antioxidant but it does not discolor or stain the rubber, therefore it can be used for white and light colored rubber articles.
If the rubber is to be manufactured into a black or dark colored product (such as tires) the customer may prefer to use BLE® which discolors the rubber, but also carries its protection over into the finished product to a greater extent than Polygard.
New Chemicals Developed For Synthetic Rubbers
The newer types of synthetic rubber required new types of antioxidants to protect them against oxygen and heat degradation.
Antioxidant 451 was especial-
purpose and is used in cis-polybutadiene rubber. Antioxidant 449 was also developed for a new, and different type of synthetic rubber, EPT: Royalene® the crackless rubber, made at the Chemical Division’s Geismar, La. plant.
Chemicals Vary In Color and Protection
In the development of antioxidants there is always the problem that the chemical structure which provides the best protection against oxygen and heat also causes the worst discoloration in the rubber. Generally speaking, all antioxidants cause some degree of discoloration from a very slight yellowing to a very brownish black discoloration. Usually a chemical which discolors only slightly, gives poorer protection.
Antioxidant 431 (VCIU) is such a chemical. It gives the best color but less protection against oxygen and heat.
Naugawhite® Antioxidant 439 and Antioxidant 451 are a little further down the color scale, but are somewhat more effective as antioxidants. These chemicals are used in latex foam, footwear and household products which are usually made from a bright color rubber.
(This series of articles on Rubber Chemicals will be concluded in the next issue of Chem-Texts.)
Plant Safety
(cont’d. from page 1)
and is still in the Intensive Care unit of St. Mary’s Hospital.
Disaster Plan Operates
A few minutes after the explosion members of the Disaster Plan arrived at the plant and assumed their responsibilities during the emergency. One evidence of the Plan’s effectiveness was the swift medical attention provided the injured employee—he was receiving medical care by a team of specialists at St. Mary’s Hospital ten minutes after the accident.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
Other Accidents In Period
Other injuries during the 8 week period were: one employee suffered partial loss of a finger; an employee cut his hand with a knife requiring ten stitches; another employee dropped a valve on his foot and broke a toe; an employee injured his eye when a flying chip struck his eyeball; two employees suffered severe burns from steaming hot water and a steam hose; and another employee broke an ankle when a ladder slipped and he fell off it backwards.
Where Accidents Occurred, July 10 to Sept. 4
| Dept. | Lost Time | Serious Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Chem. Prod | 4 | 1 |
| Reclaim Prod. | 3 | 2 |
| Syn. Prod. | 3 | 1 |
| Materials | 0 | 1 |
| Mechanical | 1 | 4 |
| Res. & Devel. | 1 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 12 | 9 |
Two Employees Retire
Bill Pearson, third left, retired from the Industrial Engineering dept. after 21 years. Congratulating him from left are Don Delagrange, Harry Francolini, and Jim Sullivan since transferred to Baton Rouge, La.
Vladas Vaicenas, Materials Department, retired after 20 years service. In photo from left are Joe Goslawski, Paul Guerrera, Stan Korpusik, Vaicenas, Bill Birdsall, Frank Lynch, and Bill Balchunas.
Local 218 Has Picnic
George Lewis, seated center, who recently retired, listens to Flavio Marinello, former Local 218 President and a retiree, reminisce about the “good old days”. Others in the photo are standing from left: Joe Harper (back to camera), Walt Anderson, Jack Hoey, Sam Mastrosimone, and Marinello. Seated from left are Jim Shea, John Holland, Lewis, and John Slensky.
The URW Local 218 of the Chemical plant held its fourth annual picnic at Lake Quassapaug. Sponsored by the Union during the summer, the picnic gave members in different departments of the plant an opportunity to meet new members, people on different shifts and brings back a number of retirees to reminisce about the “good old days”. The success of the affair was attributed to the months of planning by Frank Commendatore, Chairman, and members of the Picnic Committee: Frank Wasilesky and John Lengyel.
Activities started at 1 P.M. with charcoal broiled hamburgers and cold refreshments. Steaks and corn were served at 5 P.M.
Tutors Needed For Program
by Len Lombardi
The Uniroyal Tutoring Program, now in its second year, needs additional tutors to expand its activities to the Puerto Rican young people in Waterbury.
The program provides personal instruction to youngsters to help them become better achievers in school, obtain a High School diploma and continue their education.
Forty eight Uniroyal Chemical employees tutor on Monday evening from 7 to 9 P.M. at the Sisters of Charity’s tenement house on Gilbert St.; and at the Woodrow Wilson School on Tuesdays.
If you are interested in helping these young people, contact Len Lombardi Ext. 296.
GIVE “WHERE YOU WORK”
Smoking Expensive
The average smoker smokes 1 package of cigarettes a day. He pays 57 cents a pack. At the end of a year he or she will have spent $208.
Golf League End Season
by Hank Witkoski
The Uniroyal Synthetic Golf League ended the season with Hank Drummer and Dan Petti taking first place honors with John Muckle and Jack Painter runnerups.
Suffering a sudden death playoff defeat last summer, Drummer and Petti showed fine short iron play, classic drive shots and good putting to take this year’s title.
Enamait Family Thanks Employees
Bob and Joan Enamait extend their sincerest thanks to employees for the $1,271 which was presented to the Enamait family recently.
Bob Enamait was seriously injured in the Chemical Pilot plant when a 20 gallon reactor exploded. He has been hospitalized with third degree burns since Aug. 17 in St. Mary’s Hospital.
CHEM-TEXTS
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770
EDITOR: William F. Lavelle.
UNIROYAL
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
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