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.
One of the pioneering persons in this industry and the person who made attempts to find ways to make rubber more durable was Charles Goodyear. Rubber products then were unable to handle the extremes in temperatures of the season, although rubber was already used for several items. His theory then was to transform rubber into a more durable substance that can withstand extreme heat and cold and Goodyear theorized that this can be done by combining rubber with other substances. Charles Goodyear is largely credited for inventing this process although he did not perfect it, and it is now known as vulcanization.
Thomas Hancock was the developer of vulcanite, which was rubber that was vulcanized with sulfur. Hancock actually filed a patent before Goodyear, and there is some debate as to whether or not Hancock actually invented vulcanization or was simply inspired by Goodyear's experiments. At any rate, Hancock did invent the machines that processed the rubber and this became a booming industry. His friend also named the process of vulcanization after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
It was during the years 1840s to the early 1900s that scientists continued their studies and development of the different types of plastic. Bakelite was the first kind of highly usable plastic invented and the inventor was Leo Baekeland, who began production of this plastic around 1907. This kind of plastic was produced from a reaction between phenol and formaldehyde, produced and widely used until the middle of the 20th century, and was used in the production of everything from radios to jewelry. His creation was known as the first of its kind thermoset plastic. This kind of plastic was the type that can only be used only once, creating a particular product. Thermoplastics were then invented, and these are the kinds that can be re-melted and used again.
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.
One of the pioneering persons in this industry and the person who made attempts to find ways to make rubber more durable was Charles Goodyear. Rubber products then were unable to handle the extremes in temperatures of the season, although rubber was already used for several items. His theory then was to transform rubber into a more durable substance that can withstand extreme heat and cold and Goodyear theorized that this can be done by combining rubber with other substances. Charles Goodyear is largely credited for inventing this process although he did not perfect it, and it is now known as vulcanization.
Thomas Hancock was the developer of vulcanite, which was rubber that was vulcanized with sulfur. Hancock actually filed a patent before Goodyear, and there is some debate as to whether or not Hancock actually invented vulcanization or was simply inspired by Goodyear's experiments. At any rate, Hancock did invent the machines that processed the rubber and this became a booming industry. His friend also named the process of vulcanization after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.
It was during the years 1840s to the early 1900s that scientists continued their studies and development of the different types of plastic. Bakelite was the first kind of highly usable plastic invented and the inventor was Leo Baekeland, who began production of this plastic around 1907. This kind of plastic was produced from a reaction between phenol and formaldehyde, produced and widely used until the middle of the 20th century, and was used in the production of everything from radios to jewelry. His creation was known as the first of its kind thermoset plastic. This kind of plastic was the type that can only be used only once, creating a particular product. Thermoplastics were then invented, and these are the kinds that can be re-melted and used again.
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 likes blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about plastic thermoforming or to find out more about plastic food packaging solutions, please check out the Indepak website today.
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