The chain straighteners : fruitful innovation : the discovery of linear and stereoregular synthetic polymers

Front Matter....Pages i-xx The Stage is Set....Pages 1-8 The Shadows Before (‘Prediscoveries’)....Pages 9-26 Karl Ziegler and the Max Planck Institute....Pages 27-45 Giulio Natta and the Milan Polytechnic Institute....Pages 46-55 Fruitful Innovation — 1. The Polyethylene Discovery....Pages 56-72 Harvesting the Fruits of Innovation — Polyethylene....Pages 73-91 Fruitful Innovation — 2. Polypropylene....Pages 92-97 The Falling Out....Pages 98-112 Harvesting the Fruits of Innovation — Polypropylene....Pages 113-140 Fruitful Innovation — 3. Synthetic Rubber....Pages 141-165 The Crest of the Wave — and the Trough....Pages 166-182 Shadows of the Future....Pages 183-187 Interpretations....Pages 188-197 Back Matter....Pages 198-207