: In 1860, Greville Williams identified isoprene as the main constituent of natural rubber. By 1909, German chemist Fritz Hofmann succeeded in the first polymerization of methyl isoprene.
The Evolution of Synthetic Rubber: From Wartime Necessity to Modern Essential synthetic rubber
Synthetic rubber is an artificial elastomer—a long-chain polymer designed to replicate or improve upon the physical and chemical properties of natural rubber. While natural rubber is harvested from the sap of Hevea brasiliensis trees, synthetic rubber is primarily synthesized from petroleum-derived monomers. The History of Innovation : In 1860, Greville Williams identified isoprene as