Russian Chemists Union celebrates milestone in global synthetic rubber production
- Written by Media Outreach
The widespread use of rubber today was made possible by the invention of synthetic rubber, whose elasticity, toughness and flexibility make it better suited for modern industries than its naturally occurring counterpart.
This year marks the 95th anniversary of another major advancement in the field: the invention of industrial-scale synthetic rubber production.
In 1927, the Russian chemist Sergey Lebedev developed a method to obtain large quantities of synthetic rubber using ethyl alcohol rather than petroleum. This discovery became an impetus for the rapid advancement of global research to create a wide range of synthetic rubbers that tremendously expanded mankind’s ability to manufacture new products.
In subsequent decades, chemists from the United States, Europe and other parts of the world succeeded in developing synthetic rubbers with high resistance to heat, frost, abrasion and aggressive environments, laying the foundation for the production of advanced polymers that have become an indispensable part of our daily lives.
Dmitry Konov, Board Member of the Russian Chemists Union, commented:
“The development of synthetic rubber is a triumph of international cooperation that has benefited all mankind. It is important, especially today, to maintain a long-term developmental approach to key industries such as petrochemicals, which develop and produce the materials that support the changing needs of our global society. Russian researchers and industry players have made a significant contribution in this regard. It is only by keeping open the channels of scientific cooperation and dialogue across countries and industries that we will be able to continue on the path of global advancement.”
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