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The Winnington Laboratory was a former chemical laboratory at
The Winnington Works were built in 1874.
The laboratory was set up by the ICI Alkali Division of Imperial Chemical Industries. The chemist
''New Scientist'' 24 January 1957
/ref> In December 1935 he conducted an experiment that allowed polythene to be created. Polythene is the world's most widespread
Science Museum ICI Polythene archive
{{Cheshire Chemical industry in the United Kingdom Imperial Chemical Industries Research institutes in Cheshire Northwich
Winnington
Winnington is a small, mainly residential area of the town of Northwich in Cheshire, England.
Industry
Winnington is the home to Brunner Mond UK chemical works, where soda ash is created. Polythene, the material used in many plastic items (e.g ...
, near Northwich, in Cheshire, England.
History
The Winnington Works were built in 1874.
The laboratory was set up by the ICI Alkali Division of Imperial Chemical Industries. The chemist Francis Arthur Freeth
Francis Arthur Freeth (2 January 1884 – 15 July 1970) was a British industrial chemist. He spent much of his career at Brunner Mond and its successor Imperial Chemical Industries, as chief chemist, research manager and in a recruiting capaci ...
arrived in 1907, and became head of the laboratory. ICI was formed in 1926.
Discovery of polythene
On 24 March 1933 two scientists conducted an experiment that produced polythene (polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging ( plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including b ...
). Benzaldehyde was reacted with ethene ( ethylene) at 2,000 atmospheres pressure. Sir Michael Perrin worked with this group of scientists from October 1933 until 1938./ref> In December 1935 he conducted an experiment that allowed polythene to be created. Polythene is the world's most widespread
plastic
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...
.
In 1958, manufacture of polythene was moved to ICI's plant in Hertfordshire (ICI Plastics).
Structure
The laboratory was off the A533 next to theRiver Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included ...
and south of Barnton, Cheshire. The nearby chemical works makes soda ash ( sodium carbonate). 280 staff worked at the laboratory.
See also
* Billingham Manufacturing Plant, former ICI fertiliser plant *British Plastics Federation The British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the main trade body for the plastics industry in the UK.
History
It was incorporated on 21 December 1933; the first Chairman was Charles Waghorne of Insulators Limited. It is the longest-established plastics ...
* ICI Fibres Research Centre at Harrogate
* Widnes Laboratory, where the world's first synthetic general anaesthetic
General anaesthetics (or anesthetics, see spelling differences) are often defined as compounds that induce a loss of consciousness in humans or loss of righting reflex in animals. Clinical definitions are also extended to include an induced com ...
gas was developed
References
External links
Science Museum ICI Polythene archive
{{Cheshire Chemical industry in the United Kingdom Imperial Chemical Industries Research institutes in Cheshire Northwich