Context

Since the discovery of the first partially synthetic polymer, celluloid, in 1870, and the commercial success of the first plastic materials and synthetic fibers, such as bakelite and nylon, the industrial use of polymers in the manufacture of industrial goods has grown steadily. Thanks to their wide range of mechanical and chemical properties, these polymers have largely replaced glass, wood, steel and various textile materials. As a result, since 1950, they have occupied an ever-growing share of the market, reaching almost 300 Mt ...