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The Long Chain

Often, materials discovered by accident alter the course of the world. In the 1600s Dutch commercial freighters controlled Atlantic trade routes. Competing British lines induced America to produce pitch to protect hulls of their royal vessels. This arrangement lasted until 1776, after which a Scottish inventor tried to produce pitch from coal tar. By the time he succeeded the navy was using copper instead. Subsequent experiments with coal tar yielded gaslight lamps, waterproofed garments, a brilliant mauve dye that established the German chemical industry and nylon, the first of the miracle plastics.

English
  • Originally Aired November 28, 1978
  • Runtime 50 minutes
  • Network BBC One
  • Created November 15, 2010 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified November 15, 2010 by
    Administrator admin
Name Type Role
James Burke Writer