The distinction between the polymers first commercialized by the Thiokol Chemical Company and subsequent polysulfide materials is often unclear.
The chloroethanol is produced in situ from ethylene oxide and hydrogen chloride.
[2] In 1838, Swiss chemists reported the preparation of hydrophobic rubbery materials by the alkylation of sodium polysulfide with 1,2-dichloroethane.
[2] In 1926 chemists Joseph C. Patrick and Nathan Mnookin further developed this class of materials, which first achieved commercial success as sealants for fuel lines, exploiting the solvent resistance of these materials.
Thiokol polymers were used as a binder in solid rocket fuel, a commercial success.