1941 
Whinfield and Dickson, of the Calico Printer's Association of Manchester, patent "polyethylene terephthalate" (PET); followed by the creation of the first polyester fiber
1942
 ‘Super Glue’ (methyl cyanoacrylate) first discovered by Dr Harry Coover, Eastman Kodak
1943
First pilot plant for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ; to be marketed under trade mark ‘Teflon’ 
1945
The production of LDPE the Sqezy bottle by Monsanto caused a rapid expansion of the industry, with containers produced to replace glass bottles for shampoos and liquid soaps.
1947 
Formica melamine faced decorative laminates introduced into the UK
1948
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) produced
1948
George deMestral invents Velcro, patented in 1955