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1927-1931: One Last Experimental Campaign:
In 1927, Edison was 80 years old, almost totally deaf, and beginning a major research campaign to find an alternative source of natural rubber.
British colonies in Asia provided nearly 70 percent of the world's rubber production, while American's used about 70 percent of it -- mostly in the auto industry -- leaving the US vulnerable to price increases or shortages.
Edison embarked on a search for a domestic source of rubber that matured quickly and was easily harvested. Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, the tire manufacturer, subsidized their friend's research. Soon Edison had nine acres at his Florida home planted in latex-bearing vines, plants, shrubs, and trees. Eventually he acquired, crossbred, and tested over 17,000 plant samples. Goldenrod had the characteristics Edison sought. Two years of crossbreeding increased its rubber yield from 4 to 12 percent and produced a taller, hardier plant.
Edison got as far as producing prototype automobile tires made of natural rubber from his hybrid goldenrod plants, but he died in October 1931 before a finished product was market-ready. In time, other researchers developed synthetic materials suitable for tired.
Natural rubber comes from latex-bearing plants like rubber trees. The raw materials for synthetic rubber are derived from petroleum and coal. The chemical composition of their by-products is then changed until the material exhibits properties similar to those of natural rubber. |