The discovery of
vulcanization in 1838 was a
turning point in the rubber
industry. Before then, rubber
products were of little use
because they stiffened in
wintler ond became soir and
sticky in summer. Then, one
day, Charles Goodyear
accidentally dropped a
rubber sulhur mixture he
was experimenting withonto
a hot stove. Instead of
melting, the rubber became
firm.