The middle years of the 19th century saw the beginning of the use of plastic and rubber to produce varieties of products, although natural rubber had been widely used by people for several hundreds and even thousands of years, but the 20th century was truly when plastics were produced and widely used. There are many chemists that have made contributions to the history of the plastic industry and just a few are mentioned in the succeeding paragraphs.
Charles Goodyear was one of the first plastics pioneers, and he attempted to find a way to make rubber more durable. Rubber was being used to make some items, but it was unable to handle seasonal temperature extremes. Goodyear postulated that combining rubber with other substances could transform it into a highly durable substance that could withstand heat and cold. This process is known as vulcanization, and while Goodyear did not perfect the process, he is largely credited with inventing the process.
Thomas Hancock, on the other hand, and was the developer of vulcanite, rubber mixed with sulfur. Thomas Hancock was the one who first filed a patent before Charles Goodyear although there are still debates whether Hancock really was the one who invented vulcanization or he was just influenced by Goodyear's work. Thomas Hancock invented the machines that processed rubber though, and soon the rubber industry was booming. It was also a friend of his who named the vulcanization process after Vulcan who is the Roman God of fire.
Continued study and development of plastics of different kinds were made by several scientists, and this was done from the years 1840s to the early 1900s. In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, one of the first plastic types to be highly usable. This plastic kind was used in the manufacture of kitchenware, radio, toys, and jewelry, and was created through a reaction of phenols and formaldehyde, and this was used widely until the middle of the 20th century. It was the first widely used thermoset plastic, which is a type of plastic that cannot be recycled and reused. Plastics that can be re-melted and used again are called thermoplastics.
Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, some plastics were developed by accident. On two separate occasions, a specific type of plastic was accidentally discovered, and this was PVC. The accidental discoveries were done in 1835 and in 1872, the first by a French chemist and the second by a German chemist. Waldo Semon, a chemist then working for B.F. Goodrich later invented and developed a highly usable version of PVC, and this was in 1926. Vinyl, one of the world's widely used plastic was invented by Semon also. Strong and durable plastic pipes, strong door frames, insulation for cables, and many more, are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and the work is credited to Semon who held more than 100 patents for this.
Teflon, or polytetrafluoroethylene, a kind of plastic material, was also discovered accidentally. This plastic material was discovered accidentally, while the invention was for a new type of refrigerant, and this was done by a chemist by the name Roy Plunkett. A German chemist in 1898 also discovered by accident the plastic product polyethylene, a thermoplastic used to make varieties of thermoformed products and packages. Widespread use of this plastic material was not seen until 1935 though.
Charles Goodyear was one of the first plastics pioneers, and he attempted to find a way to make rubber more durable. Rubber was being used to make some items, but it was unable to handle seasonal temperature extremes. Goodyear postulated that combining rubber with other substances could transform it into a highly durable substance that could withstand heat and cold. This process is known as vulcanization, and while Goodyear did not perfect the process, he is largely credited with inventing the process.
Thomas Hancock, on the other hand, and was the developer of vulcanite, rubber mixed with sulfur. Thomas Hancock was the one who first filed a patent before Charles Goodyear although there are still debates whether Hancock really was the one who invented vulcanization or he was just influenced by Goodyear's work. Thomas Hancock invented the machines that processed rubber though, and soon the rubber industry was booming. It was also a friend of his who named the vulcanization process after Vulcan who is the Roman God of fire.
Continued study and development of plastics of different kinds were made by several scientists, and this was done from the years 1840s to the early 1900s. In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, one of the first plastic types to be highly usable. This plastic kind was used in the manufacture of kitchenware, radio, toys, and jewelry, and was created through a reaction of phenols and formaldehyde, and this was used widely until the middle of the 20th century. It was the first widely used thermoset plastic, which is a type of plastic that cannot be recycled and reused. Plastics that can be re-melted and used again are called thermoplastics.
Throughout the 19th century and the early 20th century, some plastics were developed by accident. On two separate occasions, a specific type of plastic was accidentally discovered, and this was PVC. The accidental discoveries were done in 1835 and in 1872, the first by a French chemist and the second by a German chemist. Waldo Semon, a chemist then working for B.F. Goodrich later invented and developed a highly usable version of PVC, and this was in 1926. Vinyl, one of the world's widely used plastic was invented by Semon also. Strong and durable plastic pipes, strong door frames, insulation for cables, and many more, are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and the work is credited to Semon who held more than 100 patents for this.
Teflon, or polytetrafluoroethylene, a kind of plastic material, was also discovered accidentally. This plastic material was discovered accidentally, while the invention was for a new type of refrigerant, and this was done by a chemist by the name Roy Plunkett. A German chemist in 1898 also discovered by accident the plastic product polyethylene, a thermoplastic used to make varieties of thermoformed products and packages. Widespread use of this plastic material was not seen until 1935 though.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For further details about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please check out the Indepak.com website now.
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