Sofia Martinez
While plastic in the modern sense was not available during the medieval period, certain natural polymers existed that could have been used by medieval societies. These include horn, leather, rubber, silk, wool, DNA, cellulose, and proteins. Additionally, with access to certain resources and experimentation, medieval societies could have produced biodegradable polymer-based bags by boiling the resin of specific plants with certain types of rocks. It is also speculated that with some ingenuity, they might have been able to produce formaldehyde and methanol, which could have led to the creation of Bakelite, a type of hard plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic in medieval times | Casein plastic from milk and acid (white vinegar or diluted muriatic acid) |
| Galalith (also known as erinoid, aladdinite, casolith, and lactoloid) | |
| Plastic from pyrolitic destruction of coal | |
| Plastic from refining oils | |
| Horn and cuirboulli |
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What You'll Learn
- The only synthetic plastic that could've been made in medieval times is galalith
- Casein plastic could've been obtained from milk and acid
- Crude oil could've been super-heated to make plastic
- Plastic bags were unlikely to be used due to the effort required to make them
- Horn and cuirboulli were used as plastic-equivalent materials
The only synthetic plastic that could've been made in medieval times is galalith
While plastic was not available in the medieval period, some natural polymers like rubber and natural petroleum products could have been available to medieval people. The only synthetic plastic that could have been made in medieval times is galalith.
Galalith, also known as Erinoid in the United Kingdom, is a synthetic plastic material made by combining casein and formaldehyde. Casein is a protein found in milk, and when mixed with formaldehyde, the result is odourless, hard, and virtually nonflammable. It was produced under various commercial names, including Aladdinite in the US, Casolith in the Netherlands, and Lactoloid in Japan.
Galalith was invented by French chemist Auguste Trillat in 1893, who discovered how to insolubilize and harden casein by immersing it in formaldehyde. However, it was German chemists in 1895 who first patented the process under the name Lactoform, intending to create a ""whiteboard" to replace heavy slate blackboards in schools. The German company Galalith Gesellschaft Hoff purchased the rights to the process and filed a patent in 1906 for their version of the material.
Galalith was inexpensive to produce and could be easily cut, drilled, embossed, and dyed without difficulty. It was used in a variety of applications, including jewellery, hair combs, accessories, knitting needles, pens, umbrella handles, piano keys, and electrical goods. It was particularly prized by button manufacturers due to its non-flammable properties and as an imitation for ivory, horn, and other natural gem materials. However, one limitation of Galalith was that it could not be moulded once set, so it had to be produced in sheets.
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Casein plastic could've been obtained from milk and acid
Casein, a milk protein, has been used to make plastic since the early 1900s. Casein forms up to 80% of the protein in cow's milk. It can be separated from other milk components through an ultrafiltration process, where casein molecules unfold and bind to one another, forming long chains. These chains intertwine to form a mesh-like structure that strengthens the milk's gel matrix.
To turn milk into casein plastic, one can add vinegar to a cup of hot milk. This changes the milk's pH (acidity), causing the casein molecules to unfold and reorganise into a long chain, thereby curdling the milk. The curds, or solids, can then be separated from the whey (the liquid) and dried to form a ball of casein plastic, which can be moulded into different shapes.
Other acids, such as lemon juice, orange juice, soda pop, and tomato juice, can also be used instead of vinegar to curdle the milk and produce casein plastic. The temperature of the milk may also affect the amount of casein plastic produced.
Casein plastic was used to make various items in the early 1900s, including buttons, decorative buckles, beads, jewellery, fountain pens, hair combs, knitting needles, and the backings for handheld mirrors. It was even used to make jewellery for Queen Mary of England.
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Crude oil could've been super-heated to make plastic
Crude oil, or petroleum, is a fossil fuel made from animal and plant matter that undergoes extreme heat and pressure underground for millions of years. It is composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. The process of turning crude oil into plastic is complex and involves multiple steps.
Firstly, the thick, black oil is extracted from underground reserves using drills and pumps. It is then transported to refineries through pipelines. At the refinery, the oil is heated to a temperature between 600 and 750 degrees Fahrenheit and distilled. This process, known as fractional distillation, separates the oil into different groups of chemicals, or fractions, based on the number of atoms and molecular weight. The lighter hydrocarbons rise to the top, while the heavier ones sink to the bottom. One of the resulting fractions is naphtha, a chemical that serves as the primary feedstock for plastic production.
Naphtha undergoes polymerisation, where it is converted into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, or polymers. This occurs through the chemical bonding of monomers, which are the basic building blocks of polymers, into chains. The monomers connect sequentially to form polymers, a process known as addition polymerisation.
While it is theoretically possible to create plastic by super-heating crude oil, the process is intricate and requires specialised equipment. It is unlikely that medieval societies possessed the advanced technology and knowledge necessary to undertake such a complex procedure. Therefore, while crude oil could have been super-heated to make plastic, the likelihood of this occurring in medieval times is low.
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Plastic bags were unlikely to be used due to the effort required to make them
In medieval times, the only synthetic plastic that could have been made with the technology available was galalith, also known as erinoid, aladdinite, casolith, and lactoloid. It is possible that casein plastic, a form of plastic made from milk and acid (white vinegar or diluted muriatic acid), could have been produced relatively easily.
However, the process of creating plastic bags would have been extremely labour-intensive and time-consuming. The medieval period lacked the advanced technology and machinery we have today, such as large furnaces and powerful bellows, which are necessary to refine oils and produce plastic.
Additionally, in medieval times, resources were scarce, and people often had limited access to food and other necessities. They would not have had an abundance of materials to create plastic bags, and any materials they did have would have been carefully utilized and preserved. It is important to remember that the concept of disposable items was not prevalent during this era.
As a result, the effort required to produce plastic bags would have been significant and unlikely to be undertaken. Instead, people in medieval times would have reused and repurposed items whenever possible. For example, they might have used natural materials such as linen or leather to create satchels or tote bags, which could be used for storage and transportation. These bags would have been durable and intended for long-term use rather than being discarded after a single use.
Therefore, while it is theoretically possible that plastic bags could have been created in medieval times, the effort and resources required for their production make it unlikely that they were used during this period.
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Horn and cuirboulli were used as plastic-equivalent materials
While plastic as we know it today was not available in the medieval period, there were certain materials that served as plastic-equivalents. Horn and cuir bouilli (or boiled leather) were two such materials that were commonly used for various purposes.
Horn, typically sourced from buffalo or cows, was hand-carved and polished to create drinking vessels. These drinking horns were a common feature of medieval life, with many examples surviving today. Horn could also be crafted into mugs with handles, and decorated with intricate designs, such as a fire-burned scale pattern.
Cuir bouilli, on the other hand, was a versatile material with a long history of use. It is believed to have been employed since ancient times for shields, armour, and helmets. In the Middle Ages, cuir bouilli continued to be used for armour, especially for infantry soldiers, and for decorative objects. It was often used for large bottles or jugs, and for bookbinding between the 9th and 14th centuries. Cuir bouilli was also used for artistic and religious purposes, such as the creation of a life-size crucifix in the Vatican Museums, which is a replica of an original from the 8th century.
The process of making cuir bouilli involved softening leather by soaking it, pressing or stamping it into shape, and then hardening it by drying. This produced a material that was strong yet flexible, and suitable for a range of applications.
While not as versatile or widely used as modern plastics, horn and cuir bouilli served as important materials in the medieval period, providing solutions for a variety of needs, from everyday objects to military equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unlikely that medieval people had access to plastic in the form that we know it today. However, they did have access to natural polymers like horn, leather, rubber, silk, wool, and proteins, which could have been used as early forms of plastic.
Milk and acid (white vinegar or diluted muriatic acid) could be combined to create casein plastic. With further processing, this could be woven into a flexible cloth.
With access to certain plants and rocks, medieval people could have created a form of biodegradable rubber. They could also potentially use crude oil in a large furnace to create plastic pellets.
Shellac is a natural polymer that was used in ancient and medieval times. It is a resin produced by female lac bugs and can be used for a variety of purposes, including creating a plastic-like material.
