What innovation is Charles Goodyear best known for?

Charles Goodyear is best known for the invention of vulcanized rubber, a pivotal innovation in the rubber industry that significantly improved the durability and elasticity of rubber products. Before vulcanization, rubber was prone to becoming sticky in heat and brittle in cold temperatures, limiting its applications. Goodyear's process of heating natural rubber with sulfur created a stable and versatile material that could be used in a wide range of products, including tires, footwear, and industrial components. This breakthrough not only revolutionized the rubber industry but also played a crucial role in the development of the automotive industry, as the performance and longevity of tires greatly benefited from vulcanization. Thus, Goodyear's work laid the foundation for many modern rubber products that we rely on today.