Waldo semon biography of williams

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

chemical engineer

In , the European scientist Klattes had discovered that hydrochloric acidcombined with acetylene gives vinyl chloride. Another European, Ostromislenski, in the same year patented the production of a rubber-like material from vinyl chloride.

Waldo semon biography of williams brothers Pressed to find additional uses for rubber, Semon came up with the idea of bubble gum, a form of rubber. Semon worked on methods of improving rubber, and eventually developed a synthetic substitute. Richard F. User Contributions:.

However, it was not until , when the American Waldo L. Semon advanced the use of high-boiling organic esters, especially phosphates, toplasticize polyvinyl chloride, yielding rubber-like masses, that polyvinyl chloride began to find widespread use. Plasticized polyvinyl chloride soon found applications as cable insulation, substitute leather cloth, and in packaging.

Pressed to find additional uses for rubber, Semon came up with the idea of bubble gum, a form of rubber.

He patented his idea in October of Semon'sexpectation was that bubble gum would replace conventional chewing gum. His employer, B.F. Goodrich, however, looked upon the bubbles as a product defect,and declined to develop and commercialize Semon's invention.

Waldo semon biography of williams Another European, Ostromislenski, in the same year patented the production of a rubber-like material from vinyl chloride. He is credited with inventing methods for making polyvinyl chloride useful. Semon'sexpectation was that bubble gum would replace conventional chewing gum. His employer, B.

After the timehad run out on the patent, Bazooka trademarked the product, and Semon ended up having no financial stake in the commercialization of his invention.

In the course of his year career with B.F. Goodrich, Semon made significant discoveries in the areas of diarylamine rubber antioxidants, synthetic rubbers and oil-resistant nitrile rubber.

From to , he was Director of Polymer Research at B. F. Goodrich where he provided the technical leadershipthat fueled the discovery of three major new families of polymeric materials:thermoplastic polyurethane, synthetic 'natural' rubber, and the first oil-resistant synthetic rubbers.

Semon was born in Demopolis, Alabama, in He moved to the Pacific Northwest when he was seven.

In he entered the University of Washington determined to be a chemist. He graduated cum laude in then continued his studies at the University of Washington, where he received his Ph.D. in chemistryin After a short period as an instructor at the university, Semon joined B.F. Goodrich.

Waldo semon biography of williams county When Semon had run through all his rubber supplies, he began experimenting with synthetic organic polymers including polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, a substance at that time considered to be no more valuable than refuse. Goodrich company. He patented his idea in October of Forgot your password?

Following his retirement from that company in , he served as a research professor at Kent State University. In the course of his career Semon was awarded patents. In recognition of his contributions to polymer science, Semon received the ACS Charles Goodyear Medal, the Edward W. Morely Medal, and the Thomas Midgely Award; he was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.