History of Polyethylene Polyethylene (HDPE)

The path to discovery was laid much before the actual event. George Oberfell, the research director in 1925, ignited the company’s pursuit of novel applications for natural gas liquids, leading to the establishment of one of the world’s pioneering hydrocarbon research labs. The post-war era saw Phillips exploring the potential of propylene and ethylene, laying the groundwork for Hogan and Banks’s groundbreaking work. Their experiment, originally aimed at improving gasoline components, inadvertently led to the creation of a white, solid polymer. This moment of serendipity was pivotal, not just for Phillips but for the entire realm of materials science. The duo’s immediate realization of their discovery’s significance led to a swift pivot towards plastics development, leveraging a chromium catalyst to create a new form of polyethylene that was more robust, heat-resistant, and versatile than its predecessors.