The polycarbonate polymer was discovered almost by chance in 1928, when the researcher E. I. Carothers of the company Du Pont, manufacturer of yarn, began to study polyester resins and aliphatic polycarbonates.
In 1952 several scientists became interested in the polycarbonate molecule, they managed to replicate it in the laboratory but it was a few years before they managed to obtain a final product ready for the market. In 1959 industrial scale polycarbonate manufacturing started.
At the time society was not yet ready to accept the new, exceptionally strong, non-toxic and transparent polymer, but the opinion of the American public did not delay in showing their approval.
Starting from the 1970s through various promotional marketing campaigns, the polycarbonate became steadily well-known and accepted and the designers to whom the polycarbonate molecule was presented became promoters of the innovation by beginning to include it in their work projects.
It became used in the field of medicine, replacing glass, thanks to the ease of sterilising it and the disposable uses of the plastic material. For the same reason, it also easily infiltrated the food and catering sectors.