Chemistry is ... 75 Years of Perlon

In 1938, chemist Paul Schlack discovered the basic principles needed to develop a robust synthetic fiber that has become world famous under the name Perlon. The fiber first made its name through its use in stockings in the 1950s. Today the synthetic material has a very diverse range of applications. It no longer adorns women's legs but is instead used as a strong plastic filament in fishing lines, field fencing, lines for oyster baskets, and tough hawsers for ships.

All over the world, such hawsers of up to 95 millimeters in thickness have been securing boats, yachts and ships to dry land for almost 50 years. Perlon as well as the Bayco and Atlas brands are manufactured by Perlon-Monofil, a 100% subsidiary of Lanxess. Each year, the company produces around 27,000 kilometers of monofilament for use in the shipping industry