03-27-1933 Polyethylene is discovered
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| Audience/Grade: | College Freshman-Continuing Education |
| Discipline(s): |
Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation History of Science and Technology Materials Engineering |
| Special Topic(s): | |
| Learning Resource Type: |
Community - Blog |
| Media Type: |
WWW |
| Author(s): |
John Prados |
| Description: | Engineering Pathway's blog for March 27. "Today in History - March 27, 1933 - Polyethylene is discovered. Polythene is also known as polyethene or polyethylene. It was discovered in 1933 by Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett, two scientists working at ICI's research laboratory at Winnington, Durham, who accidentally discovered the white, waxy solid while attempting to react ethylene with benzaldehyde in an autoclave. The first patents for polythene were registered in 1936, and a year later the first practical use for the material, as a film, was discovered. Polythene was used as an insulating material for radar cables during World War II, and the substance was a closely guarded secret. After the war it began to be produced commercially and used to make a wide range of products. These objects illustrate the variety of household items in everyday use that are made from polythene." |
| Rating: |
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| Related Resources | |
| Keywords: | polyethylene polythene polyethene |
| Is Component of: |
"Today in History" Blog of the Engineering Pathway Digital Library |
| Usage Tip | |
| Related ABET Criteria: |
(b) Design and conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data (c) Design a system, component, or process |
| Use of Resource: |
Events in history can be used to connect current technology to its historical roots. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Interactivity Level: |
Low |
| Version Info | |
| Publication Date: | March 2009 |
| Platform/Format: |
WWW |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Download URL: | http://www.k-grayengineeringeducation.com/blog/index.php/2012/03/ |
| Metadata: |
IEEE LOM Record |
| Collection: |
NEEDS
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