substance to react with a single specific group of the macromolecule that only
accounts for a small fraction of its mass; the behaviour of the entire macromolecule
can be changed as a result” [10, p. 27]. Chemists have unexpected creative powers
as a result – as if they were modern alchemists.
2.6 Staudinger’s First Encounter with Polymers
It is worth remembering that Staudinger’s interest in the structure of high-polymer
compounds was aroused in direct connection with his research in the low molecular
field. After he synthesised a new class of substances – ketenes – when he was
qualifying to teach at a university in Strasbourg (see [18], p. 229 for details), he
carried out autoxidation experiments on them during his time in Karlsruhe, which
“in addition to a number of interesting and analysable products occasionally led to
undefinable, resin-like substances as well that are practically impossible to dissolve
and have an unclear composition and structure. This was his first, unedifying
encounter with polymer substances” [18, p. 229]. “In connection with his initial
work on isoprene, Staudinger found out that the synthetic rubber he produced was
not completely identical to natural rubber – an observation that was bound to arouse
curiosity and chemical interest. He therefore began to produce and make closer
examinations of other unsaturated hydrocarbons like polyoxymethylene. This
means that the connection to high-polymer chemistry was established as early as
1911. When he moved to Zurich (a year later, editor’s note), he was forced to shelve
this work to a large extent for the time being due to greater demands made on his
time by teaching commitments, administrative assignments of all kinds and other
research projects” [18, p. 230]. He worked systematically on making a gradual shift
in the focus of his research, however: “I myself have concentrated on macromolecular chemistry since 1920 [. . .], starting at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich” [1, p. 312]. What Staudinger is referring to here is the essay
“About polymerisation” that he published in 1920 [12] and that has already been
mentioned before, in which he summarises and thinks through his experiences with
polyoxymethylenes, polystyrenes, synthetic rubber etc. and then proposes the thesis
that high polymers consist of long chain molecules: “This molecular structure in
particular is often of crucial importance for the properties of macromolecular
substances – both natural macromolecular substances and plastics” [1, p. 95]. An
apt example: “The lower links in the polystyrenes with molecular weights between
2,000 and 10,000 [. . .] are powdery and dissolve without swelling, whereas the
highest-molecular representatives with a molecular weight of 100,000 and more
[. . .] are tough glass materials that acquire elastic properties when heated to more
than 120
C” [1, p. 95].
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M. Weber and G. Deussing
accounts for a small fraction of its mass; the behaviour of the entire macromolecule
can be changed as a result” [10, p. 27]. Chemists have unexpected creative powers
as a result – as if they were modern alchemists.
2.6 Staudinger’s First Encounter with Polymers
It is worth remembering that Staudinger’s interest in the structure of high-polymer
compounds was aroused in direct connection with his research in the low molecular
field. After he synthesised a new class of substances – ketenes – when he was
qualifying to teach at a university in Strasbourg (see [18], p. 229 for details), he
carried out autoxidation experiments on them during his time in Karlsruhe, which
“in addition to a number of interesting and analysable products occasionally led to
undefinable, resin-like substances as well that are practically impossible to dissolve
and have an unclear composition and structure. This was his first, unedifying
encounter with polymer substances” [18, p. 229]. “In connection with his initial
work on isoprene, Staudinger found out that the synthetic rubber he produced was
not completely identical to natural rubber – an observation that was bound to arouse
curiosity and chemical interest. He therefore began to produce and make closer
examinations of other unsaturated hydrocarbons like polyoxymethylene. This
means that the connection to high-polymer chemistry was established as early as
1911. When he moved to Zurich (a year later, editor’s note), he was forced to shelve
this work to a large extent for the time being due to greater demands made on his
time by teaching commitments, administrative assignments of all kinds and other
research projects” [18, p. 230]. He worked systematically on making a gradual shift
in the focus of his research, however: “I myself have concentrated on macromolecular chemistry since 1920 [. . .], starting at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich” [1, p. 312]. What Staudinger is referring to here is the essay
“About polymerisation” that he published in 1920 [12] and that has already been
mentioned before, in which he summarises and thinks through his experiences with
polyoxymethylenes, polystyrenes, synthetic rubber etc. and then proposes the thesis
that high polymers consist of long chain molecules: “This molecular structure in
particular is often of crucial importance for the properties of macromolecular
substances – both natural macromolecular substances and plastics” [1, p. 95]. An
apt example: “The lower links in the polystyrenes with molecular weights between
2,000 and 10,000 [. . .] are powdery and dissolve without swelling, whereas the
highest-molecular representatives with a molecular weight of 100,000 and more
[. . .] are tough glass materials that acquire elastic properties when heated to more
than 120
C” [1, p. 95].
94
M. Weber and G. Deussing