Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is celebrating the invention of the process enabling the industrial production of silicones.

In May of 1940, GE research chemist Eugene G. Rochow's monumental discovery of the direct reaction process began the journey of scientific innovation that has led to the application of silicones in thousands of products that touch almost every aspect of daily life.

Today, that legacy division of GE is the thriving, diverse silicones company Momentive Performance Materials. "For 75 years, this business has proudly built on Dr. Rochow's foundation to become a global leader in market firsts for silicone products," said Jack Boss, President and CEO of Momentive.

"From the silicone rubber soles that enabled man to walk on the moon for the first time to our cutting edge developments in the medial, aerospace, electronics and construction markets, Momentive's history is marked by the invention of products and technologies that impact industries around the world."

"The application of silicones is far-reaching," said Dr. Kenrick Lewis, Corporate Research Fellow with thirty-eight years of tenure at Momentive. "Silicon-containing compounds (silanes and silicones) are present in, or used to process, a wide variety of industrial, medical and consumer products that satisfy basic human needs in modern society.

For example, most fabrics are washed with silicone emulsions to improve softness. 

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