What happened this week in 1935? Nylon was invented.
On February 28, 1935, a team of scientists at DuPont laboratories led by Wallace Carothers created nylon. At age 32, Carothers was already a leader in research on polymers, long chains of repeating atomic units. Formerly a professor at Harvard University, he was appointed director of DuPont's research center to study and find industrial uses for polymerization (processes to create polymers).
Polyester had already been created when, in 1934, Carothers and his team began work using amines instead of glycols to create new molecules. The polymers they made are called polyamides, synthetic proteins more stable than polyesters (which are more similar to natural oils and fats). The most promising fiber that Carothers’s team discovered was named “nylon” and was patented by DuPont in 1935.
Commercial nylon was an instant consumer hit, especially for creating an alternative to silk stockings. Soon "nylons" were synonymous with hosiery. With the start of World War II, nylon was used for manufacturing parachutes, surgical thread, and pipes. Later applications included everything from fishing line to lingerie. Unfortunately, Carothers died in 1937; he never lived to see what a useful molecule he had helped to create.
Polyester had already been created when, in 1934, Carothers and his team began work using amines instead of glycols to create new molecules. The polymers they made are called polyamides, synthetic proteins more stable than polyesters (which are more similar to natural oils and fats). The most promising fiber that Carothers’s team discovered was named “nylon” and was patented by DuPont in 1935.
Commercial nylon was an instant consumer hit, especially for creating an alternative to silk stockings. Soon "nylons" were synonymous with hosiery. With the start of World War II, nylon was used for manufacturing parachutes, surgical thread, and pipes. Later applications included everything from fishing line to lingerie. Unfortunately, Carothers died in 1937; he never lived to see what a useful molecule he had helped to create.
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