The Science Behind 4 Of The Greatest Polymers Of All Time
Military troops in Nomex gear during the Yellowstone fires of 1988 Jim Peaco via Wikimedia Commons Just because something is old doesn't mean it isn't still awesome! Here at PopSci, we usually focus on the newest innovations in science and technology. But many past innovations in polymer science--the study of plastics and other similar materials--are still relevant and deserve recognition. They've saved lives, kept babies dry and made huge shark observation tanks possible. Some have tradenames that have gone on to represent an entire class of product, such as Kevlar. Others lurk in obscurity. Here are some of the most important materials and a glimpse into how scientists designed them to work their magic. PMMA Applications: Lucite, dentures, aquarium windows Developed in: 1877 Polymethylmethacrylate is a very versatile polymer. If you ever see a clear plastic block, it's probably PMMA. It was first commercialized in the 1930s in Germany, and is now...