Properties during World War

Acrylonitrile (AN), C H N, first became an important polymeric building block in the 1940s. Although it had been discovered in 1893 (1), its unique properties were not realized until the development of nitrile mbbers during World War II (see Elastomers, synthetic, nitrile rubber) and the discovery of solvents for the homopolymer with resultant fiber appHcations (see Fibers, acrylic) for textiles and carbon fibers. As a comonomer, acrylonitrile (qv) contributes hardness, rigidity, solvent and light resistance, gas impermeabiUty, and the abiUty to orient. These properties have led to many copolymer apphcation developments since 1950. 

Efforts toward producing synthetic steroids, particularly cortisol, expanded during World War II to enable researchers to explore the possibiUty of medicinal appHcations of corticosteroids. In 1948, the discovery that cortisone dramatically alleviates the symptoms of arthritis led to intensive research on the antiinflammatory properties of corticosteroids. The development of partial and total syntheses for the commercial preparation of cortisone, alternative methods for producing cortisone, and the search for more potent antiinflammatory analogues gready stimulated both academic and industrial steroid research. 

Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (also called nitrile or nitrile butadiene rubber) was commercially available in 1936 under the name Buna-N. It was obtained by emulsion polymerization of acrylonitrile and butadiene. During World War II, NBR was used to replace natural rubber. After World War II, NBR was still used due to its excellent properties, such as high oil and plasticizer resistance, excellent heat resistance, good adhesion to metallic substrates, and good compatibility with several compounding ingredients. 

Chemical warfare agents, such as soman and sarin, sometimes termed nerve gases, are powerful anticholinesterases, which bear some resemblance in structure and properties, to the OP insecticides. A major difference from most insecticides is their high volatility. These agents were possessed by the major powers during World War II, althongh they were never employed in warfare. 

In addition to the agents detailed in this handbook, there are other arsenic vesicants that were employed during World War I on a limited basis. However, there is little or no published information concerning the physical, chemical, or toxicological properties of these additional agents. 

Polyurethane fibres were made in Germany during World War II. These were later improved. Today, these fibres are sold as Spandex. They have properties like that of rubber. 

Interestingly, much work has been devoted to the development of substances in the class of cholinesterase inhibitors that have exceedingly high toxicity substances that also have properties (such as volatility and sufficient but not excessive environmental stability) that make them useful as agents of warfare. Most of those now stockpiled were first developed during World War II. Sarin and VX are perhaps the most well-known members of this class of compounds that have been especially designed to kill people. 

Less than a year after her husband s death, Mme. Curie accepted a professorship at the University of Paris. With the able assistance of Professor Andre Debierne, who took charge of the laboratory and taught for many years an ever-increasing number of students from all parts of the world, she directed the instruction and research in radioactivity (86). When the university acquired new land, it laid out a street called the Rue Pierre Curie and built a laboratory for her. The Curie Institute and the Pasteur Institute work in close harmony, and Mme. Curie spent much of her time on researches dealing with the therapeutic properties of radium and radon (69). During World War I she had complete charge of the radiological service in French military hospitals. 

The substance possesses quite uncommon and valuable explosive properties. It is more powerful than tetryl, and considerably less sensitive to impact (as sensitive as picric acid). However, its acidic properties limit its use to a great extent. In this respect it resembles picric acid. Even so ethylenedinitramine, under the name of Haleite, has been accepted in the United States as a military explosive. During World War II, production in that country was carried out by the method outlined above according to eqn. (17)... 

The Germans used hydrogen peroxide of 80-85% concentration, alone or in mixtures with combustibles, as a fuel for the big V2 rockets during World War II. The utilization of hydrogen peroxide for rocket propulsion and the explosive properties of hydrogen peroxide and its mixtures will be discussed in later sections (pp. 299, 307). 

Apart from diphenylamine a number of other organic bases were tested for use as stabilizers. Some of them, e.g. aniline, were used only temporarily, chiefly during World War I when diphenylamine was in short supply. The basic properties of aniline are too marked and this is detrimental to stability. On the other hand, relatively good results have been obtained with carbazole which resembles diphenylamine in its structure ... 

Bachmann s products were known as Type B RDX and contained a constant impurity level of 8-12%. The explosive properties of this impurity were later utilized and the explosive HMX, also known as Octogen, was developed. The Bachmann process was adopted in Canada during World War II, and later in the USA by the Tennes-see-Eastman Company. This manufacturing process was more economical and also led to the discovery of several new explosives. A manufacturing route for the synthesis of pure RDX (no impurities) was developed by Brockman, and this became known as Type A RDX. 

RDX (2.14), also known as Hexogen, Cyclonite and cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (C3H6N606), was first prepared in 1899 by Henning for medicinal use and used as an explosive in 1920 by Herz. The properties and preparation of RDX were fully developed during World War II. 

Like its parent compound amphetamine, methamphetamine soon began to be used by people for its stimulating properties on the body and brain. During World War n, it was used extensively by both the Allied and Axis soldiers to fight fatigue on the battlefield. 

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