Dr. Joseph Cecil Patrick (August 28, 1892 – April 12, 1965) invented Thiokol, America's first synthetic rubber in the early 1920s.
[1] While seeking a formulation for automotive antifreeze, he attempted to hydrolyze ethylene dichloride with sodium polysulfide.
In doing so, he produced a brown, insoluble gum that later became known as Thiokol.
[2][3] He solved commercial production problems by inventing the suspension polymerization process, and solved compounding problems by degrading high molecular weight polymer to a low molecular weight liquid polymer.
[4] Patrick's most cited research publication treated the subject of high molecular weight polymers.