Eugen Baumann, a German chemist, was born in December 1846, and played a significant role in the PVC and polymer industries. Baumann began his professional career in the fields of chemistry and pharmaceuticals at the University of Strasbourg. After graduating, he started working as an assistant to Dr. Robert Bunsen and continued his research in the field of chemistry.
In the late 19th century, Baumann made a significant step forward in advancing the polymer industry. In 1872, while working in his laboratory, he accidentally discovered a solid particle remaining in a beaker containing vinyl chloride gas. But who would have thought that this leftover particle would transform the polymer and chemical industries in the decades to come!
Baumann realized that this particle was a polymer formed from the polymerization process of vinyl chloride. He named this material PolyVinyl Chloride, which later became known as PVC. He published these findings in 1873, describing the synthesis and properties of this substance.
Eugen Baumann’s findings were not commercialized during that period, and their applications did not receive much attention. At that time, these discoveries were mostly seen as academic and exploratory research. Even into the early 20th century, the remarkable applications and impacts it could have on industries and final products were not apparent to most. In the 1920s, advances in chemistry, equipment, and other factors allowed industries and chemists to produce this substance industrially and on a large scale, using plasticizers. It was then that plasticizers added flexibility to these materials, and the use of PVC expanded into various industries such as clothing, telecommunications, and more.
PVC is one of the most widely used synthetic polymers today, with applications in various industries such as construction, telecommunications, automotive, fashion, and more. Customization of this product with specific physical and chemical properties has further expanded its wide-ranging applications.
While Eugen Baumann first synthesized this substance, numerous scientists, engineers, and researchers made significant efforts to commercialize and utilize it in various industries. The advancements in important sectors of the polymer and chemical industries owe much to the endeavors of many individuals.
