It was during the years in the 20th century that the wide use and production of plastic products truly began, although the use of plastic and rubber to make products was already happening in the mid-1800s, and natural rubber had already been in use for thousands of years. The history of plastics and some of the many scientists that have made significant contributions to this is mentioned in the following.
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, 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.
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.
During the 19th Century, many chemists were experimenting with chemicals to create new substances, and a few plastics were developed completely by accident. In 1835, a French chemist accidentally discovered a plastic known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and again a German chemist discovered it, in 1872. Neither chemist patented this substance and it was only in 1926 that a PVC version that was highly usable was developed, and the developer was Waldo Semon, a chemist working for B.F. Goodrich. Semon was a prolific chemist, registering more than 100 different patents, including the first patent for vinyl, a type of thermoplastic that he invented. As for PVC, this plastic is used for many items, particularly pipes.
Other plastic products also were discovered accidentally, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or Teflon as it is known commonly. It was a chemist named Roy Plunkett who discovered this, and he accidentally made the discovery while trying to develop refrigerant. Polyethylene, a kind of thermoplastic used in the manufacture of a variety of thermoformed packages and other products, also was discovered accidentally by a German chemist, and this was the year 1898, although it wasn't until the 1930s that this plastic was used widely.
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, 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.
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.
During the 19th Century, many chemists were experimenting with chemicals to create new substances, and a few plastics were developed completely by accident. In 1835, a French chemist accidentally discovered a plastic known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and again a German chemist discovered it, in 1872. Neither chemist patented this substance and it was only in 1926 that a PVC version that was highly usable was developed, and the developer was Waldo Semon, a chemist working for B.F. Goodrich. Semon was a prolific chemist, registering more than 100 different patents, including the first patent for vinyl, a type of thermoplastic that he invented. As for PVC, this plastic is used for many items, particularly pipes.
Other plastic products also were discovered accidentally, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or Teflon as it is known commonly. It was a chemist named Roy Plunkett who discovered this, and he accidentally made the discovery while trying to develop refrigerant. Polyethylene, a kind of thermoplastic used in the manufacture of a variety of thermoformed packages and other products, also was discovered accidentally by a German chemist, and this was the year 1898, although it wasn't until the 1930s that this plastic was used widely.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves writing about how stuff is made. For further details about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please visit the Indepak site now.
No comments:
Post a Comment