On 12 September 1909, German chemist Fritz Hofmann made a groundbreaking contribution to modern industry by receiving the world’s first patent for synthetic rubber.
His invention was born out of the necessity to find alternatives to natural rubber, whose supply was dwindling due to growing demand.
By polymerising isoprene, Hofmann managed to replicate many of the desirable properties of natural rubber, marking a monumental step in material science.
This synthetic rubber would later become pivotal in various industries, including automotive and manufacturing, revolutionising how goods were produced and contributing significantly to technological advancements in the 20th century.
