Hydrocarbon Processing - September 2022 - 137

Industry Pioneers
high-octane gasoline, which was double the production of conventional
thermal processes.9
The novel process produced highoctane
gasoline-the Houdry unit could produce 100-octane
aviation gasoline, which provided U.S. military aircraft a significant
advantage over Germany.
OTTO BAYER
While working at IG Farben in the late 1930s,
German chemist Otto Bayer conducted extensive
polymer research that led to the discovery of
polyurethane. One such experiment created a
new polymer by reacting 1,8 octane diisocyanate
with 1,4 butanediol. This new polymer, polyurethane,
was first used as coatings and adhesives. It was a suitable
replacement for rubber during World War 2 (WW2). PostWW2,
the product was used extensively in many applications,
and is still widely used today. This includes in insulation, building
materials, adhesives, coatings and clothing, among others.
HERMANN STAUDINGER
The Nobel Prize-winning German chemist is
best known for his research on macromolecules,
which he characterized as polymers. Staudinger
also discovered ketenes, which would later be
used to produce antibiotics.10
Staudinger hypothesized that polymers were
linked end-to-end. His work with high-molecular weight compounds
provided the foundation for polymer chemistry. He authored
hundreds of scientific papers and several books on topics
such as macromolecular chemistry and biology. His research on
macromolecular chemistry earned him a Nobel Prize in 1953.
WALLACE CAROTHERS
The American chemist started work at DuPont
in the late 1920s. His primary focus was on polymer
research. Under his tenure, DuPont would
produce several long-lasting discoveries that
would revolutionize the chemical industry.
In 1930, Carothers and his staff conducted
experiments and research on an acetylene polymer.
The goal of the research was to create synthetic rubber. After
several tests, the group produced a substance that resembled
rubber, which later took the name Neoprene.
Carothers' group was also credited with producing the first
synthetic silk. This synthetic polymer would later be called
polyester, which is still in use today.
By the mid-1930s, Carothers produced fibers comprised
of amine, hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid. These new
strong, elastic fibers were called polymer 6,6 (or nylon 66). Nylon
first became a household product as women's hosiery, later
being used in the U.S. war effort to produce parachutes and tents.
Over the next several decades, nylon would be used extensively
as a combined fabric in fashion and apparel, as well as in several
industrial applications-the global nylon industry market size
is forecast to reach more than $46 B by the late 2020s.10,11
ERNEST SOLVAY
The Belgian chemist and industrialist is known for developing
the ammonia-soda process to manufacture soda ash on a
commercial scale. The process was invented by Ernest and his
brother Alfred in the early 1860s. In 1863, the brothers founded
Solvay and Cie, opening their first soda ash plant in Couillet,
Belgian shortly thereafter.12
Soda ash was widely used in several industrial applications.
The wide use of the material enabled the Solvay brothers to expand
operations into other countries, such as Austria, Germany,
Russia, the UK and the U.S. By 1900, 95% of soda ash consumption
around the world was produced by the Solvay process.
Many of these plants are still in use today.
CHARLES GOODYEAR
The American self-taught chemist is known for
developing volcanized rubber, which revolutionized
the industry. Goodyear's dive into better
rubber materials began while visiting the
Roxbury India Rubber Co. in New York (U.S.).
After examining life vests, he believed he could
improve the valves on the vests. However, the store manager
made the comment to Goodyear that he would be better off inventing
a better rubber.13
Over the next several years, Goodyear worked tirelessly on
developing better rubber, even going nearly bankrupt in the
process. However, while working at the Eagle India Rubber Co.,
Goodyear accidentally discovered the vulcanization of rubber
by combining rubber and sulfur over a hot stove.6
Once heated,
the rubber hardened. In 1844, he finally perfected the process
and was given a patent for his invention-the process was called
vulcanization after Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.13
led to the development of a vulcanized rubber producing hub
in the northeast U.S., leading to the Goodyear company being
named in his honor in the late 1890s.
WALDO SEMON
Waldo Semon was an American chemist whose
detour with assigned laboratory research at B. F.
Goodrich led to the development of vinyl-the
second best-selling plastic in the world. Dr.
Semon's original research project was to coat
metal with synthetic rubber. However, having exhausted
his possibilities with rubber, he began experimenting
with synthetic polymers, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Dr. Semon heated the stiff polymer in a high boiling solvent, obtaining
a jelly-like substance that was elastic but not adhesive.
PVC was more durable than crude rubber and Semon continued
experimenting with it until he finally succeeded, in his first
breakthrough, in plasticizing the substance and making it highly
resilient. In his second breakthrough, he succeeded in making
the material moldable into different shapes, giving the world its
second-most employed plastic. Goodrich commercialized this
product under the trademark Koroseal,14
making shock-absorber
seals, electric-wire insulation and coated-cloth products.
Semon's success with vinyl did not deter his original research.
By 1934, he had invented over 100 methods of affixing
synthetic rubber to metal. He continued to lead teams of researchers
to invent other families of plastics, which earned him
116 U.S. patents15
and the Charles Goodyear medal in 1944.16
Throughout his career, he was known for his devotion and support
of science education in schools.
Hydrocarbon Processing's Centennial Anniversary | SEPTEMBER 2022 137
His work
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