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Polystyrene
Scientifically called Poly(1-phenylethylene), it was invented by Eduard Simon, a German apothecary. It is a brittle, low melting point substance that is transparent. It is commonly used in plastic utencils. Several billion kilograms of it are made every year. the carbon-carbon pi bond is broken and a new carbon-carbon single bond is formed. -
Vulcanized Rubber
Was created by Charles Goodyear by extracting the sulfur out of rubber and heating it up. Charles Goodyear had been going into debt before this invention trying to discover a stronger form of rubber. -
Poly(vinyl chloride)
It was accidentally made as a white solid inside flasks of vinyl chloride that had been left exposed to sunlight. Origionally made by German chemist Eugene Baumann as a brittle substance. It is produced by polymerization of the monomer vinyl chloride in a controlled setting. Its trade name is PVC. -
Polysiloxanes
Used in the shoes that fist touched the moon and commonly called silicones. Made by Frederick Kipping. Created by reacting dimethyldichlorosilane with water.The polymerization typically produces linear chains capped with Si-Cl or Si-OH ( silanol ) groups. Scientifically called polydimethylsiloxane. -
Bakelite
Scientifically named polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. Invented in Younkers, New York by Leo Bakeland. Was created by synthesising pheonal and formaldehyde directly in a mold and letting it solidify. It is used in bowling balls. -
Neoprene
Scientifically called polychloroprene and called synthetic rubber. Father Julius A. Nieuwald discovered that acetylene could be made to form dimers and trimers. Arnold Collins preformed the experiment that Nieuwald proposed and purified the mixture. It solidified to a seemingly rubbery and bouncy polymer used in shoes and laptop sleeves. -
Polyacrylonitrile
Commonly called Plexiglas, it was first made by a British firm. It is created by free radical polymerization of Acrylonitrile. It is mainly used in sails and camera lenses as a firm alternative. -
Nylon
Scientifically called polyamides. It was made by combining an acid with an amine to react and form nylon. Invented by Wallace Carothers at DuPont Univercity. It was first used in the bristled toothbrush. -
Poly(vinyl butyral)
scientifically called Poly[(2-propyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-diyl)methylene and commonly called PVB has been made by many companies, and an inventor is not known. It is created under heat to bond materials for more demanding use. It is used in photovoltaic thin film solar modules. -
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Common name is Teflon. Discovered on accident by Roy Plunkett. As Plunkett was attempting to make a new chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant, the tetrafluoroethylene gas in its pressure bottle stopped flowing before the bottle's weight had dropped to the point signaling "empty." It is a slimy solid. -
Poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Discovered by John Rex Whinfield. Created from ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate reacting. Used mainly in drink bottles. Commonly called PET. -
Polycarbonates
Created by reactions with various elementsl,a nd the first one discovered was BPA by Dr. Hermann Schnell. In contact with food, it can be poisonous to humans. -
Kevlar
Made by Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965 and scientifically called Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide. It is created by a synthesized solution from the monomers 1,4- phenylene -di amine ( para -phenylenediamine ) and terephthaloyl chloride in a condensation reaction yielding hydrochloric acid as a byproduct. It is used in tires and bullet proof glass. -
Nomex
The polymer is produced by condensation reaction from the monomers m-phenylenediamine and isophthaloyl chloride. It was made by DuPont as a flame resistant fabric. It is used in racecar driver suits.