10. Safety Glass
In 1903, French chemist Édouard Bénédictus was working in his laboratory when he accidentally dropped a glass flask that had previously contained cellulose nitrate, a flammable liquid. To his surprise, the flask shattered but the pieces remained largely intact, held together by a thin film of cellulose nitrate that had coated the interior. Intrigued by this phenomenon, Bénédictus realized that embedding a layer of cellulose nitrate between two sheets of glass could prevent shattering and enhance safety. He patented this innovation in 1909, naming it “Triplex” glass. This laminated safety glass was initially used in automobile windshields, significantly reducing injuries from glass shards in accidents. Over time, the cellulose nitrate was replaced by polyvinyl butyral (PVB) due to its superior strength and clarity, leading to the modern safety glass widely used today (britannica.com).
