Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:Petrochemicals Historical timeline- Part 5

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Petrochemicals Historical timeline- Part 5

1937 Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol become available as an anti-freeze. Methanol was used until this time.

1937 German chemist Otto Bayer patents polyurethane and further tests created moulded foam with bubbles. Between 1943 and 1944, the

Germans secretly used polyurethane on wartime aircraft components. In the post-war years, it became highly successful in mattresses, insulation

and furniture padding. Polyurethane is also used in paints, varnishes and sportswear fabrics.

1938 First major discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia.

1938 Dow Chemical Company introduces STYRON polystyrene resins.

1938 American chemist Roy Plunkett develops Teflon after accidentally exploding tetrafluoroethylene gas. The white, waxy powder that

remained was a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene which was used as the basis for Teflon, a new non-stick, heat-resistant plastic. Gore-Tex, the breathable, waterproof textile, is also a result of this discovery.

1939-1945 World War II. During this time, the US supplied more than 80% of aviation gasoline and American refineries manufactured synthetic rubber, toluene, medicinal oils and other important petrochemical-based military supplies.

1941 DuPont chemists John R. Whinfield and James T. Dickinson created the polyester fibre from ethylene, glycol and terephthalic acid. This was called Terylene and was manufactured by ICI.

(to be continued soon)

Source:World Petroleum Council Guide

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