Fruitful Innovation — 2. Polypropylene

Abstract

When scientists discuss the contributions made by Ziegler and his ‘school’, they usually start by marvelling at his discovery of linear polyethylene and end by marvelling: ‘Why didn’t he discover polypropylene?’ The question is out of order; the fact is that polypropylene was made in Mülheim independently and contemporaneously with its discovery in Milan. Natta’s recognition as the ‘discoverer’ of polypropylene is based on the decisive nature of his experiments and his priority in publishing and patent filing.

The creation of a new method of obtaining polyethylene at atmospheric or slightly increased pressure is after all, in spite of its great historical and practical importance, only the perfecting and modification of a material already known in science and technology, but the preparation of a solid polypropylene involves the creation of a new, previously unknown product.−Giulio Natta