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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 loves writing about how stuff is made. For further details about plastic thermoforming solutions or to find out more about thermoform plastics, please check out the Indepak website today.
