Question

В начале 19 века в Англии стали модными плащи из водопронецаемой ткани , называемые макинтошами. Это название они получили в честь английского химика и изобретателя Ч. Макинтоша, предложившего пропитывать плащевую ткань раствором натурального каучука. Однако на солнце такие плащи становились липкими, а в морозную погоду - ломкими. Предложите свой способ устранения этих недостатков, повторив тем самым открытие другого выдающегося учёного англичанина - Ч. Гудьира.

Answer 1

Необходима серная вулканизация - технологический процесс резинового производства, при котором пластичный «сырой» каучук превращается в резину. Каучуки общего назначения вулканизуют, нагревая их с элементарной серой при 140—160°С, при этом образуются межмолекулярные поперечные связи через один или несколько атомов серы.

Answer 2

The Invention of the Mackintosh Coat

In the early 19th century, waterproof coats made from a fabric called Mackintosh became fashionable in England. These coats were named after Charles Macintosh, a Scottish chemist and inventor who developed a method to make the fabric waterproof. Macintosh proposed impregnating the cloth with a solution of natural rubber, which created a waterproof barrier. However, these coats had some drawbacks. They became sticky in the sun and brittle in cold weather.

Overcoming the Drawbacks of Mackintosh Coats

To overcome the stickiness of Mackintosh coats in the sun and the brittleness in cold weather, another notable English scientist, Charles Goodyear, made a significant discovery. Goodyear is known for his invention of vulcanized rubber, a process that made rubber more durable and resistant to temperature changes. Vulcanization involves heating rubber with sulfur, which creates cross-links between the polymer chains, resulting in improved elasticity and stability.

Applying Goodyear's Discovery to Mackintosh Coats

To eliminate the stickiness and brittleness of Mackintosh coats, one could apply Goodyear's vulcanization process to the natural rubber used in the fabric. By vulcanizing the rubber, the resulting material would be more resistant to temperature changes, making the coats less sticky in the sun and less prone to becoming brittle in cold weather. This would enhance the overall durability and performance of the Mackintosh coats.

Conclusion

The invention of Mackintosh coats by Charles Macintosh revolutionized waterproof outerwear in the 19th century. However, these coats had some limitations, such as stickiness in the sun and brittleness in cold weather. By applying Charles Goodyear's discovery of vulcanization to the natural rubber used in the fabric, it would be possible to overcome these drawbacks and improve the performance of Mackintosh coats.