In Depth
DuPont was interested in diversifying and dye chemistry was similar to the chemistry of nitrocellulose explosives. Also, the onset of World War I in 1914 created shortages of superior, German-made dyes, including those needed for DuPont products like Fabrikoid artificial leather and Pyralin plastics. British companies provided some information about German formulas and manufacturing processes, but producing quality dyes proved more difficult than expected. When the war ended the company recruited German scientists to assist the work at Jackson Lab. Though progress remained slow and expensive – it took ten years to show a modest profit – DuPont developed a first-rate organic chemistry research capability along the way that eventually paid high dividends. By the mid-1940s two-thirds of the company’s Organic Chemicals Department’s products were directly traceable to prior dye-related research.
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