Summary
- The discovery of polycarbonate: Hermann Schnell's synthesis in 1953
- Hermann Schnell and the birth of polycarbonate: an innovation in the world of polymers
- Hermann Schnell's scientific journey and the creation of polycarbonate
- Makrolon®: the commercial success of the polycarbonate invented by Hermann Schnell
- Hermann Schnell and the legacy of his discovery in the field of engineering plastics
1953: La Storia della Nascita del Policarbonato
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic product belonging to the family of technopolymers that was discovered through the synthesis reactions carried out by Hermann Schnell in 1953.
But who is Hermann Schnell?
He was born in Gaienhofen, Germany, in September 1916 and, after completing his military service, began studying physics and chemistry at the Albert-Ludwigs University in Freiburg, Germany, where he studied with Nobel Prize Professor Hermann Staudinger ( Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1953).
After completing his studies, he joined Bayer AG in the research and development department which was located in Leverkusen in Germany.
Hermann Schnell, in collaboration with his team of researchers, discovers a new plastic through a particular synthesis reaction from bisphenol A and phosgene, which is subsequently named
polycarbonate, whose primary qualities are transparency, unbreakability and lightness.
On October 16, 1953 the patent on polycarbonate was awarded, giving rise to a future commercial success of the product all over the world.
At the age of 36, Hermann Schnell moves on to head up the research and development department and is charged with the task of founding a second laboratory for Bayer Central Research in Krefeld-Uerdingen, also in Germany.
Bayern will manufacture and market Hermann Schnell's polycarbonate under the name Makrolon® by activating production at its plant in Uerdingen, Germany.
His long career with Bayer, in the field of research and development, ended in 1975, the year in which he retired.
In 1995 he set up the Hermann-Schnell Foundation with € 500,000 of his personal money to support young scientists in the field of macromolecular chemical research.
Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.
