Semon, Waldo Lonsbury

Semon, Waldo Lonsbury

(born Sept. 10, 1898, Demopolis, Ala., U.S.—died May 26, 1999, Hudson, Ohio) U.S. chemist. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Washington and subsequently worked for the B.F. Goodrich Co. He is known principally for his discovery of plasticized PVC, which, in combinations of up to 50% with plasticizer, is now familiar as floor tile, garden hose, imitation leather, shower curtains, and coatings. He also made pioneering contributions in polymer science, including new rubber antioxidants, and his technical leadership led to discovery of three major new polymer families: thermoplastic polyurethane, synthetic “natural” rubber, and oil-resistant synthetic rubbers.