John Wesley Hyatt: Celluloid
1868: Celluloid - the first thermoplastic, a modified natural substance of cellulose nitrate and camphor

Leo Hendrik Baekeland, Bakelite
1907 / 1909: Bakelite phenolic resin made from phenol and formaldehyde. The first fully-synthetic plastic

Fritz Klatte: PVC
1913: Basis for the technical production of PVC for films, synthetic fibres, varnish and as a horn substitute

Hermann Staudinger, Macromolecules
1922: Developed the theory of macromolecules

Otto Röhm, Acrylic glass
1933: Plexiglas, Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), transparent to light without distortion

Wallace Hume Carothers, Polyamid
1935: Invention of Nylon (polyamide 66)

Otto Bayer, Polurethane
1937: Basic patent for the manufacture of polyurethane (PUR)

Fritz Stastny, Styropor
1949: Invention of Styropor (styrofoam) from polystyrene

Karl Waldemar Ziegler, Polyethylen
1953: Safe, pressure process for the production of polyethylene PE

Hermann Schnell, Polycarbonate
1953: Synthesis of thermoplastic, aromatic polycarbonates (PC)