American Synthetic Rubber Research

Peter J. T. Morris. The American Synthetic Rubber Research Program. Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989. Source for synthetic rubber needed German substitutes neoprene properties and marketing. 

Peter J.T. Morris is Senior Curator, Experimental Chemistry, Science Museum, London. His publications include the American Synthetic Rubber Research Program (Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989), and, with Colin A. Russell, Archives of the British Chemical Industry, 1750-1914 (Faringdon, Oxfordshire British Society for the History of Science, 1988). Research appointments have included Royal Society-British Academy Research Fellow in the History of Science and Edelstein International Fellow in the History of Chemistry. 

Morris PJT (1989) The American synthetic rubber research program. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia... 

This time, Midgley was doing the kind of basic chemical research for rubber that had not been done for tetraethyl lead or CFCs. He discovered the distinction between two rubber components and laid the foundation for wartime synthetic rubber research. Most of his 15 rubber papers were published in scientific journals of the American Chemical Society. Midgley was proud of the work given a major award for tetraethyl lead and CFCs, he talked only about rubber. In their interests, Midgley and Kettering had grown far apart. 

For more on the U. S. government s wartime synthetic rubber research program, see P. J.T. Morris, The American Synthetic... 

Doc" Patrick retired and moved to Florida in 1948. However, he returned to Pennsylvania later and entered a new career as a builder and investor. In spite of his brilliant research and his being "the father of American synthetic rubber", "Doc" Patrick received little recognition during his active years with Thiokol, Corp. However, the use of Thiokol LP-3 as a binder for solid ftiel rocket propellants after World War II drew considerable attention to this modest scientist-inventor. 

There is evidence that natural rubber was used by early Americans to make rubber balls over 2000 years ago. However, it has only been since the early twentieth century that rubber has become crucial to maintaining our standard of living in our current technology-based society. Synthetic rubbers, or elastomers as any artificial substance with elastic properties is called, have been a subject of intense research since the late 1800s. These materials were critically needed in the first half of the twentieth century to replace natural rubber in the tires for the newly invented automobile, due to shortages of natural rubber caused by wars. 

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