Profile and history of the department

History of the department of polymers

The Department of Plastics was established at the Institute of Chemical Technology in 1949, headed by Prof. Otto Wichterle, who became most famous for the discovery of the technology for the production and application of contact lenses. In 1953, Department of Rubber and Plastics Processing Technology were established at the Institute of Chemical Technology under the leadership of Prof. Ivan Franta, one of the most successful experts in the field of plastics and rubber processing. By merging this department with the Department of Macromolecular Chemistry (originally the Institute of Plastics) in 1971, the Department of Polymers was established. In the 1950s, the Institute's staff, among other things, were engaged in the development of materials for the production of Czechoslovak gramophone records, artificial ski bases, and contact lenses. The 1960s were marked primarily by the introduction of the production of Czechoslovak silicone rubber, the 1970s by the introduction of structural polyamide and domestic suspension polyvinyl chloride, and the 1980s by the development of medical applications of polymers.