1.1 Polymer The history of polymers goes back further than that of any other group of substances known to mankind. From the origin of mankind in the Garden of Eden, dependence was upon naturally-occurring polymers, for food, clothing, shelter and communication. On the contrary, the history of synthetic polymers is relatively short. It was only through the pioneering work of Staudinger and the quantitative studies of Carothers, the macromolecular concept was accepted. Long before this time, synthetic polymers were being produced and natural polymers were being altered chemically. Styrene was first polymerized in 1839 and in the same year the process of vulcanization of rubber was made successful.