“Synthetic Rubber Plant Is Planned For Sarnia,” Owen Sound Sun Times. February 5, 1942. Page . --- Canada to Manufacture Rubber From Petroleum --- Base Plant at Sarnia to Operate in 15 Months ---- OTTAWA, Feb 5 (CP) - Hon. C. D. Howe said last night the Government has decided to embark on the manufacture of synthetic rubber from petroleum.
The base plant for producing rubber will be at Sarnia end of a pipeline carrying petroleum to Canada from United States wells, the Munitions Minister told The Canadian Press.
Work on the plant will start as soon as possible and it is expected to be in production in about 15 months, the Minister said. There we really three stages in the process of making rubber from petroleum and it had not yet been decided whether the two subsequent proceses will be carried out in Sarnia.
Tha basis or first operation will require a "very large plant" but Mr. Howe did not say what the cost would be, although other sources placed the costs of the plants for the three processes at $40,000,000.
The first process in making rubber reduces the octane standard of gasoline made from the same petroleum. Accordingly alcohol has to be produced to be added to the gasoline, so as to step up its octane standard so it can be used in airplanes.