Question

The development of which polymer enabled the British to have effective radar equipment and thus contributed to the British success in the Battle of Britain in World War II? A) polystyrene B) polyvinyl chloride C) polyacetylene D) polyethylene

Answer 1

Answer: Polyethylene

Explanation:

The waxy solid had been formed during high-pressure experiments conducted in 1933 by ICI scientists Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett. They had heated a mixture of ethylene and benzaldehyde to 170°C (338°F), using apparatus that could submit materials to a pressure of 1,900 atmospheres (1,925 bars). But the reactions were explosive and safety concerns prompted the now defunct ICI, which merged into Dutch-based Akzo Nobel, to halt the research.