Thermoplastic Elastomers

Abstract

Abstract It is a great pleasure to return to Montreal to receive the Charles Goodyear Medal at this joint meeting of the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division, and the Rubber Chemistry Division, Chemical Institute of Canada. This occasion has given me a delightful opportunity to renew old friendships in both organizations and to visit again my graduate school at McGill. First of all, I thank the Awards Committee and the Executive Committee of the Rubber Division for electing me to this high honor which I share with my many collaborators who were with me during those exciting years, and with the Shell Companies. The subject of the lecture is “Thermoplastic Elastomers,” specifically the triblock copolymers based on styrene and dienes, or hydrogenated dienes. Previously I have used the subtitle, “A Successful Innovation,” where I have defined “innovation” as the successful commercialization of a new technology, process, or product. In this lecture, I shall discuss the background of the innovation, the impact of it upon the thermoplastic elastomer field, and some of the early history of thermoplastic elastomers, which I believe you will find interesting.