1935 - Technology

Technology

Polyethylene is developed by Britain's Imperial Chemical Industries, whose Alkali Division chemists 2 years ago found small specks of a white solid material when they opened their retort after an attempt to force a copolymerization between liquid ethylene and an aldehyde, using extremely high temperatures to link small molecules into long chains; the first true "plastic" ever made from the polymerization of ethylene, polyethylene will find wide use in packaging (see 1953; polyurethane, 1936).

Nylon is developed by E. I. du Pont chemist Wallace H. Carothers, now 39, whose synthetic polymide will replace silk, rayon, and jute in many applications (see Neoprene, 1931). Japan has been America's chief source of silk, U.S.-Japanese trade relations have deteriorated, and DuPont researchers have focused their efforts on finding a polymer that would replace the natural product. Carothers has combined adipic acid and hexa-methylenediamine to form long filaments of what he calls "polymer 66." Drawing the filaments out to a certain length aligns the polymer chains and pulls them to their full extent, making the filaments strong and durable while giving them many of the same characteristics found in silk and wool (see 1937).

Plexiglas is introduced under that brand name by the 26-year-old Philadelphia-based Rohm & Haas Co., whose clear, hard methyl methacrylic thermoplastic will be widely used in aircraft and other products. The company has expanded its product line from tanning chemicals to insecticides.

The Phillips head screw advertised for the first time in the November 7 issue of the trade magazine Iron Age by the American Screw Co. has been patented by Portland, Oregon, tool salesman Henry F. Phillips; it has a cross cut into its head. Phillips Screw Co. will trademark the name Phillips Screw in 1938 and license companies to manufacture screws and screwdrivers under that name. General Motors will use the screw in its Cadillac motorcars, and by 1945 the Phillips screw will be in almost universal use in America.