Discover the Happy Accidents That Shaped Our Industry
Discover the Happy Accidents That Shaped Our Industry
Some of the biggest breakthroughs in industrial history weren’t planned—they were happy accidents!
Sometimes, the best ideas come from the unexpected. History is full of accidental discoveries that revolutionized the industrial world—turning small mistakes into the very products and processes we rely on today.
From Charles Goodyear’s messy workshop experiment to Harry Brearley’s search for better gun barrels, these “happy accidents” became the building blocks of modern industry. Let’s explore these surprising moments and how they continue to shape our work—right here at MROSupply.
Vulcanized Rubber
In the late 1830s, Charles Goodyear was obsessed with improving rubber, which melted in heat and cracked in cold, limiting its usability. One day, while experimenting, he accidentally dropped a mix of rubber and sulfur near a hot stove.
Instead of turning into a gooey mess, it hardened into a strong, flexible material. This process, known as vulcanization, turned rubber into a powerhouse material for belts, hoses, and seals—making them tougher, longer-lasting, and far more reliable.
Safety Glass
In 1903, French chemist Édouard Bénédictus was working in his laboratory when he accidentally knocked a glass flask off a shelf. Expecting it to shatter, he was surprised to see it crack but hold together in one piece. Curious, he investigated and realized the flask had previously contained a solution of cellulose nitrate (a type of plastic), which had evaporated, leaving a thin film coating the inside. This film acted as an adhesive, preventing the glass from breaking apart into dangerous shards.
At the time, glass injuries were common, especially in the growing automobile industry, where windshields shattered in accidents. Inspired by this lab mishap, Bénédictus developed laminated glass by sandwiching a layer of cellulose between two glass sheets, patenting it in 1909 as "Triplex."
Stainless Steel
In 1913, English metallurgist Harry Brearley was experimenting with chromium alloys to make gun barrels tougher and more resistant to wear. While testing different mixes, he set aside some less promising samples.
Later, he noticed one batch hadn’t rusted like the others. The accidental inclusion of higher chromium had created a steel that resisted corrosion: stainless steel. This “mistake” turned out to be the first stainless steel—corrosion-resistant, durable, and perfect for industrial applications. From bearings to fastners and beyond, stainless steel became the backbone of countless machines and structures.
Teflon™
In 1938, Roy Plunkett, a DuPont chemist, was working on a new refrigerant. He stored some tetrafluoroethylene gas in cylinders, but when he opened one, nothing came out—yet it still felt heavy. Curious, he cut it open and found a waxy, slippery white coating inside. The gas had accidentally polymerized into polytetrafluoroethylene, a super-slick material we now call Teflon. This find gave us non-stick pans and tough industrial coatings for machinery.
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Invention of Kevlar™
In 1965, Stephanie Kwolek, a chemist at DuPont, was working on a lightweight fiber to reinforce car tires amid a predicted oil shortage. While experimenting with polymer solutions, she created one that was unusually cloudy and runny.
She insisted on spinning it into fibers, and in 1971, tests revealed it was five times stronger than steel by weight. This accidental discovery became Kevlar, patented in 1974.
Initially meant for tires, its strength led to bulletproof vests, aerospace parts, and industrial cables, reshaping safety and engineering worldwide.
Super Glue™
In 1942, Dr. Harry Coover was trying to create clear plastic gun sights for World War II at Eastman Kodak. One test batch—a cyanoacrylate compound—was a failure: it stuck to everything it touched and wouldn’t mold.
Nearly a decade later, while revisiting similar compounds, he realized its potential. That accidental super-sticky substance became Super Glue, now a go-to adhesive in manufacturing, construction, repairs, and art projects.