(1868
- 1916)
A
gifted chemist, Aylsworth began working at Thomas Edison's West Orange
lab when they opened in 1887. Much of his work involved testing
materials for phonograph recordings. He became Edison's chief chemist
but left around 1891 only to return ten years later, working both for
Edison and in his own laboratory. He patented condensite, a mixture of
phenol and formaldehyde, for use in Edison Diamond Disc records. His
work with "interpenetrating polymers" came decades before other
scientists made similar discoveries with plastics.
Jonas was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame on
October 2 1996. (Photo of Award) 
For more information you can go to:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/edhtml/eddschst.html
