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Polyethylene is the accidental plastic--as in they synthesized it by accident three or four different times. Someone was heating some diazomethane, and polyethylene just precipitated out of solution. Someone else compressed a mixture of ethylene and benzaldehyde to 6000 psi and polyethylene just precipitated out of solution. And the Philips company of the Netherlands attempted to make high-density polyethylene in the 1950s, and accidentally made two million pounds of medium-density polyethylene before they finally got it right. (They then invented the Hula Hoop to use up all the bad polyethylene.)

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Polyethylene was discovered in 1933 by Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett, two researchers working for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in the UK. They accidentally discovered polyethylene while conducting an experiment with ethylene gas at high pressure and temperature. This accidental discovery led to the development of one of the most widely used plastics in the world.

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jhon rex and james dickson in 1941

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Q: How was polyethylene discovered?
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Related questions

What was used before polyethylene was discovered?

Cellulose


What two polymers were discovered by accident?

Two polymers discovered by accident are polyethylene and polypropylene. Both were discovered in the 1950s by scientists working for the chemical company Phillips Petroleum. Polyethylene was discovered when a reaction vessel containing ethylene gas and benzaldehyde exploded, while polypropylene was discovered when a catalyst used in a different experiment accidentally produced the polymer.


What can be used to patch polyethylene?

Specialized adhesives designed for polyethylene, such as polyethylene adhesive or polyethylene repair tape, can be used to patch polyethylene materials. These products are formulated to bond effectively with polyethylene, providing a secure and durable patch. Additionally, heat welding or using a polyethylene welding kit can also be an effective method for patching polyethylene.


What metal is a polyethylene?

Polyethylene is a plastic, not metal. In fact, polyethylene is the most common plastic now-a-days.


Is polyethylene a thermosetting or thermoforming plastic?

Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer.


What is the difference between polyethylene and polyester?

what is the main difference between polyethylene and polyesters what is the main difference between polyethylene and polyesters


Which has more crystalline branched or linear polyethylene?

The cystalline branched polyethylene has got a complex structure than a linear polyethylene.


What are the common names for polyethylene?

Common names for polyethylene include polythene, PE, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).


What are the ingredients in polyethylene terephthalate?

The components used to make Polyethylene terephthalate is plastics. They take recycled plastics and mold them into polyethylene terephthalate. If you want the chemical formula for polyethylene that would be (C10H8O4)n.


What chemical element makes up polyethylene?

Polyethylene contain hydrogen and carbon.


Polyethylene Glycol powder can you mix with with milk?

can you mix polyethylene glycol with milk


What are polyethylene molecules made of?

Polyethylene is a polymer of ethylene and it has carbon and hydrogen atoms.