Illinois Featured Content

  • Meet the most recent alumnus inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame

    Nov 20, 2015 3:00 pm by Dave EvensenCampus Life
    Image of William Sparks courtesy of the Chemical Heritage Foundation Archives

    Images

    • Image of William Sparks courtesy of the Chemical Heritage Foundation Archives

    William Sparks's invention of butyl rubber was critical to keeping the U.S. and its allies supplied with tires, rafts, boots, and other products during World War II when Japanese warships cut off shipments of natural rubber.