History of the HPI: The 1980s: Oil spike/collapse, liquid crystals, conducting polymers and the rise of AR/VR

This month’s History of the HPI section examines the major events and technologies in the refining and petrochemicals industry in the 1980s. These include a third oil price crisis in 15 yr, the creation of novel coal gasification and heavy oil upgrading processes, research on liquid crystals and conducting polymers, new safety measures born from tragedies, and the rise of virtual and augmented reality.