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 first people who pioneered in this industry was Charles Goodyear and his work was on finding ways to strengthen rubber, making it more durable. During those times, rubber was already in wide use, but extreme hot and cold temperatures made it an unreliable material. Goodyear's theory was that combining other substances with rubber would make it more durable and so it could handle changes in temperatures. The process eventually was named vulcanization and Goodyear is credited with inventing this process although he was not able to perfect it and figure out exactly what substance to blend with the rubber.
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.
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.
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 first people who pioneered in this industry was Charles Goodyear and his work was on finding ways to strengthen rubber, making it more durable. During those times, rubber was already in wide use, but extreme hot and cold temperatures made it an unreliable material. Goodyear's theory was that combining other substances with rubber would make it more durable and so it could handle changes in temperatures. The process eventually was named vulcanization and Goodyear is credited with inventing this process although he was not able to perfect it and figure out exactly what substance to blend with the rubber.
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.
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.
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 enjoys blogging about how stuff is made. For further info regarding plastic thermoforming or to find out more about plastic food packaging solutions, please go to the Indepak.com website today.
No comments:
Post a Comment