While natural rubber has been used for thousands of years, the use of plastic and rubber to create a wide range of products has only been happening since the mid-1800s and it was until the 20th century that the first widely usable plastics were produced. Here are just a few of the many scientists that have contributed to the history of plastics.
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.
Rubber vulcanized with sulfur was then developed, and this was vulcanite developed by Thomas Hancock. There are debates whether Thomas Hancock invented vulcanization or he was just inspired by Charles Goodyear's works because Hancock actually was the first to file a patent for this. The machines for processing rubber though were really invented by Hancock and he made a successful industry out of these inventions. Vulcan, the Roman God of fire was the inspiration for this process, named vulcanization by a friend of his.
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.
There are many plastics that were being developed and studied throughout the 19th century and early 20th centuries, but often patents were not applied for or true stabilization was not obtained. PVC, for example, was actually discovered accidentally on two separate occasions. The first time was 1835 by a French chemist and it happened again in 1872, when a German chemist discovered it. It wasn't until 1926, however, that a highly usable version PVC was developed by Waldo Semon, a chemist who worked for B.F. Goodrich. Semon also invented vinyl, which is one of the world's most widely used plastics. Semon held more than 100 patents and it is because of his work that PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is used to make strong plastic pipes, door frames, insulation for electrical cables and much more.
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.
Rubber vulcanized with sulfur was then developed, and this was vulcanite developed by Thomas Hancock. There are debates whether Thomas Hancock invented vulcanization or he was just inspired by Charles Goodyear's works because Hancock actually was the first to file a patent for this. The machines for processing rubber though were really invented by Hancock and he made a successful industry out of these inventions. Vulcan, the Roman God of fire was the inspiration for this process, named vulcanization by a friend of his.
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.
There are many plastics that were being developed and studied throughout the 19th century and early 20th centuries, but often patents were not applied for or true stabilization was not obtained. PVC, for example, was actually discovered accidentally on two separate occasions. The first time was 1835 by a French chemist and it happened again in 1872, when a German chemist discovered it. It wasn't until 1926, however, that a highly usable version PVC was developed by Waldo Semon, a chemist who worked for B.F. Goodrich. Semon also invented vinyl, which is one of the world's most widely used plastics. Semon held more than 100 patents and it is because of his work that PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is used to make strong plastic pipes, door frames, insulation for electrical cables and much more.
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 blogging about how stuff is made. For further details about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please visit the Indepak.com site today.
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