Thesis (M.S.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Polymer Engineering, 2005. / "August, 2005." Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed 11/28/2005) Advisor, Lloyd Goettler; Faculty Reader, Avraam I. Isayev; Department Chair, Sadhan C. Jana; Dean of College, Frank N. Kelley; Dean of Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

The report of the Baruch Committee on the rubber situation included a recommendation for a production of 60,000 ton per year production of Thiokol by the end of 1943. Thiokol is a type of synthetic rubber formed by the reaction between organic dihalides and inorganic polysulfides. They find wide application where resistance to petroleum oils, organic solvents, and low permeability. The purpose of this investigation was to design a Thiokol with a production of 2000 tons per year. Research was conducted to determine operating conditions for the production of sodium polysulfide, one of the raw materials for the production of Thiokol, and conditions for the Thiokol production. The information for the design of the ethylene dichloride, the other raw material of Thiokol, was obtained from literature. The studies of the polysulfide solution showed that 13.83 grams of sulfur would react with every 10. 2 grams of caustic when sulfur was in excess. The amount of sulfur that reacted was independent of the amount of excess sulfur. Other studies indicated that a dilution of 100 cc. of water per 10.2 grams of caustic was desirable, and that a period of 12 minutes of boiling gave the highest polysulfide content. Further time of boiling was not deleterious, but neither did the amount of sulfur as polysulfide increase. A complete sulfur analysis of the polysulfide solution showed a polysulfide content approximately 3.2 times that of the monosulfide indicating higher polysulfides than tetrasulfide being formed. Experiments conducted with the polysulfide solution as prepared and using just ethylene dichloride gave unsatisfactory results, although products obtained using lower temperatures were slightly better than those with higher temperatures. Magnesium chloride was unsatisfactory as a dispersing agent using the polysulfide as prepared, but ethyl alcohol gave satisfactory results. Studies of dilution yielded products of high values ranging from 91 to 75. Large amounts of freshly precipitated were satisfactory as dispersing agents but with small amounts the value of the product was 60. The highest valued product obtained was with 5 cc. of ethyl alcohol and dilution, but a satisfactory product, value 85, was obtained with one gram of magnesium chloride and dilution. Since the latter was more economical, these conditions were selected for the design of the Thiokol plant. Preconstruction cost accounting of the designed plant indicate an annual cost of $610,087 per year and a surplus of $589, 912 per year. This is based on a selling price of $0.30 per pound for Thiokol. / M.S.

A literature review of rubber-bearing plants in the United States was made, and the essentials of distribution, ecology and rubber content presented in condensed form. Filed lettuce of the specie Lactuca scariola was investigated to determine its place among the other rubber-bearing plants. Nearly pure stands of natural growing wild lettuce were harvested and the weights of plant material determined. Yields up to 2,830 pounds of dry leaves together with 5,760 pounds of dry stems per acre were obtained. The seasonal variation in rubber content and resins of one natural growing wild lettuce stand was studied from the time of the appearance of flower buds to the end of the growth cycle. At this time of maximum rubber content of this stand the calculated yield was between 1.16 and 1.57 pounds of rubber per acre. An experimental planting was undertaken to determine rubber content, resin content, and growth and cultivation characteristics of the earlier stages of growth. Young plants gave up to 0.339 percent rubber and a calculated yield of 13.7 pounds of rubber per acre. Drying temperatures up to the 180°F gave no decreases in rubber content during drying. The rubber content of harvested plants was found to decrease rapidly on exposure to sunlight. At least 10.7 percent of the seeds were found to have the power of germinating soon after ripening. Seeds ripened in the fall were found to have between 49 and 68 percent germinating power. / Master of Science

In recent years the use of inflatable dams has become more widespread throughout the world. Various people have done studies on the shape and membrane tension of these structures; however, only a few authors have considered dynamic behavior. Due to the nature of the applications and the material composition of these structures, a study considering the dynamic response of an inflatable dam is warranted. In this study, the equation of motion for an air-inflated dam is derived, then solved using the Galerkin approximation method. The solution is performed for a one-term approximation and a two-term approximation, where both solutions use a sine function to approximate the deflected shape of the dam. Frequencies and amplitudes are calculated and presented in tables and plots for the first four modes, and three different values of the central angle of the dam. Comparisons to the results of other studies are presented at the conclusion of this study. / Master of Science