Vulcanization of Rubber

Charles Goodyear's 1839 vulcanization, heating rubber with 8% sulfur, created a durable elastic material powering auto tires and waterproof gear. This process boosted rubber's tensile strength by 400%, cheaper than the typical rival synthetic approach, and outperforms #3 Polymerase Chain Reaction in everyday utility. Vulcanized rubber underpins 1.5 billion vehicle tires sold annually, a quantitative measure of its enduring industrial supremacy.