Background
He was born on September 10, 1898.
He was born on September 10, 1898.
University of Washington.
He is credited with inventing methods for making polyvinyl chloride useful. Semon is best known for inventing vinyl, the world"s second most used plastic. He found the formula for vinyl by mixing a few synthetic polymers, and the result was a substance that was elastic, but wasn"t adhesive.
Semon worked on methods of improving rubber, and eventually developed a synthetic substitute.
On December 11, 1935, he created Koroseal from salt, coke and limestone, a polymer that could be made in any consistency. In all, Semon held 116 patents, and was inducted into the Invention Hall of Fame in 1995 at age 97.
Semon is sometimes credited with inventing bubble gum, but this is inaccurate. He did invent an indigestible synthetic rubber substance that could be used as a bubble gum (and produced exceptionally large bubbles), but the product remained a curiosity and was never sold.
Semon graduated from the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering.
He was awarded the Charles Goodyear Medal in 1944 and the Elliott Cresson Medal in 1964. He died on May 26, 1999. Waldo Semon Woods Conservation Area, is named in honor of the inventor, for his donation of land to Metro Parks, serving Summit County, Ohio.
lieutenant is over 100 acres, with a pond where herons, turtles and amphibians are often seen.