About this book:

**Eastman Chemical: The Story of an American Company** chronicles the remarkable journey of a global materials leader that transformed from a chemical division of Eastman Kodak into an independent powerhouse. Beginning with its roots in early 20th-century Kingsport, Tennessee, the book traces Eastman's evolution from supplying critical chemicals for photographic and defense industries to pioneering innovative materials like acetate yarn and Tenite™ plastics. It delves into the company's pivotal wartime contributions, including its role in the Holston Ordnance Works, and highlights accidental breakthroughs like the invention of "super glue," showcasing a legacy of practical problem-solving and bold scientific exploration.

This comprehensive history further details Eastman's strategic diversification and growth through decades of scientific advancement, culminating in groundbreaking initiatives like the commercialization of coal gasification technology at Kingsport. The narrative illuminates the monumental spin-off from Eastman Kodak in 1994, marking the company's emergence as an autonomous, publicly traded entity. Subsequent chapters explore Eastman's aggressive expansion of its global footprint, its strategic use of mergers and acquisitions — notably the transformative Solutia acquisition — and its deep commitment to sustainability through pioneering molecular recycling technologies and ambitious carbon reduction goals. The book concludes by examining Eastman's contemporary operating segments, its embrace of digital transformation and AI in research and development, and its enduring corporate culture focused on people, safety, and inclusion, cementing its position as a diversified specialty materials leader shaping the future.

What You'll Find Inside:

• **From Photographic Roots to Global Materials Leader:** Discover how Eastman Chemical evolved from a strategic division of Eastman Kodak, securing chemical supplies for photography, to an independent, diversified global powerhouse in specialty materials.
• **Pioneering Innovations in Plastics and Adhesives:** Explore Eastman's groundbreaking contributions, including the development of cellulose-based plastics (Tenite™), the commercialization of polyethylene and PET resin, and the accidental invention of Super Glue (cyanoacrylates).
• **Strategic Breakthroughs and Wartime Contributions:** Learn about Eastman's pivotal role in World War II, producing critical explosives at Holston Ordnance Works and managing a key Manhattan Project facility, alongside its later, industry-transforming coal gasification project in Kingsport.
• **Sustainability Through Molecular Recycling:** Understand Eastman's leading-edge commitment to circularity, including its significant investments in molecular recycling technologies (Polyester Renewal Technology and Carbon Renewal Technology) to transform hard-to-recycle plastic waste into virgin-quality materials.
• **Digital Transformation and AI in R&D:** Delve into Eastman's future-focused strategy, highlighting its substantial R&D investments, its collaboration to build a 'self-driving lab' leveraging AI and robotics, and its broader digital transformation efforts across operations and customer engagement.

Who's It For:

This book is ideal for anyone interested in the history of American industry, particularly the chemical and materials sectors. It will appeal to business students, industrial historians, and professionals in chemistry, engineering, and manufacturing seeking insights into corporate evolution, strategic diversification, and the long-term impact of innovation and sustainability initiatives. Readers keen on understanding how a company can successfully reinvent itself while addressing global challenges will find this content particularly relevant.