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.
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.
From the 1840s until the early 1900s, many scientists continued studying and developing different plastics. One of the first highly usable plastics was Bakelite, which was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. This plastic, which is created through a reaction between phenol and formaldehyde, was widely used until the mid-20th century to make kitchen wear, radios, jewelry and toys. It is widely known as the first thermoset plastic. Thermoset plastics are a type of plastic that can be used just once to create a specific material. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, can be re-melted and used again and again.
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.
Many plastics have been discovered by accident, such as polytetrafluroethylene, which is better known to all of us as Teflon. A chemist named Roy Plunkett accidently discovered this handy plastic while trying to invent a new type of refrigerant. Polyethylene, a thermoplastic which is used to make a huge variety of thermoformed packages and products also was discovered by accident by a German chemist in 1898. However, it wasn't until 1935 that this plastic was suitable for wide-spread use.
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.
From the 1840s until the early 1900s, many scientists continued studying and developing different plastics. One of the first highly usable plastics was Bakelite, which was invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. This plastic, which is created through a reaction between phenol and formaldehyde, was widely used until the mid-20th century to make kitchen wear, radios, jewelry and toys. It is widely known as the first thermoset plastic. Thermoset plastics are a type of plastic that can be used just once to create a specific material. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, can be re-melted and used again and again.
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.
Many plastics have been discovered by accident, such as polytetrafluroethylene, which is better known to all of us as Teflon. A chemist named Roy Plunkett accidently discovered this handy plastic while trying to invent a new type of refrigerant. Polyethylene, a thermoplastic which is used to make a huge variety of thermoformed packages and products also was discovered by accident by a German chemist in 1898. However, it wasn't until 1935 that this plastic was suitable for wide-spread use.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves writing about how stuff is made. To get further information about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please check out the Indepak.com website today.
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