Chloe Zhang
Plastic is a term used to describe materials that can be formed and moulded under heat and pressure. The word 'plastic' originally referred to a material that was flexible and easily formed. The first synthetic polymer or plastic was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. The development of plastics started with natural materials that exhibited plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum. The next step in the evolution of plastics involved the chemical modification of natural materials such as rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, and galalite. The first industrial plastics were created in 1869, marking the beginning of the Plastics Age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Source | Natural materials with intrinsic plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum |
| First Synthetic Polymer | Invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt |
| First Industrial Plastics | Invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt |
| First Synthetic Resins | Invented by Leo Hendrik Baekeland |
| First Synthetic Polymer or Plastic | Developed in the 1800s |
| First Example of Modern Synthetic Plastic | Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855 |
| First Mass-Produced Plastic Products | Combs, in the 1940s |
| Most Recycled Plastic Item | PET Bottle |
| Plastic Age | 20th and 21st Centuries |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic's origin story
The word "plastic" originally meant "pliable and easily shaped". The term now refers to a category of materials called polymers, which are made of long chains of molecules, primarily carbon.
Humans have used naturally derived plastics for millennia. For example, medieval craftsmen made lantern windows out of translucent slices of animal horn, which is made of keratin, a carbon-nitrogen polymer. In the 15th century BC, the Olmecs in Mexico played with balls made of rubber, another natural polymer.
The development of modern synthetic plastics began around 150 years ago. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor. This discovery was revolutionary, as it meant humans were no longer constrained by the limits of nature. Hyatt's plastic could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. This new material was named celluloid and was the first man-made plastic.
In 1855, Alexander Parkes invented Parkesine, a mixture of cellulose nitrate and camphor/lime, which was the first thermoplastic. It had a flexible character when exposed to heat and returned to being stiff when cold. Many early examples of Parkesine products, such as printers' moulds, cutlery handles, buttons, and combs, can be found on display at London's Science Museum.
The 20th and 21st centuries have been dubbed the "Plastics Age" due to the influence and ubiquity of plastics. Plastics pervade all aspects of society, from pillows to toothbrushes to keyboards and food containers. However, the widespread adoption of plastics has had negative consequences for human health and the environment. Plastic pollutes landscapes, oceans, air, and bodies, and has even entered the fossil record.
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Natural materials with plastic properties
The development of plastics started with natural materials that exhibited plastic properties. The history of using natural materials with plastic properties goes back centuries. For example, medieval craftsmen made lantern windows out of translucent slices of animal horn. Horn is made of keratin, a mixed carbon-nitrogen polymer, the same material that skin, hair, and wool are made of. Even earlier, around 1500 BCE, the Olmecs in Mexico played with balls made of rubber, another natural polymer.
The first plastic was created by treating natural rubber with chemicals to make "vulcanised" rubber. This was discovered in the 1840s by Charles Goodyear and Thomas Hancock, who took out patents on either side of the Atlantic. The next step in the evolution of plastics involved the chemical modification of other natural materials such as nitrocellulose, collagen, and galalite.
In 1855, Alexander Parkes invented Parkesine, derived from cellulose, which is considered the first modern plastic. Many early examples of Parkesine products, such as printers' moulds, cutlery handles, buttons, and combs, can be found on display at London's Science Museum. The Hyatt brothers later added camphor to improve the plastic's malleability and renamed it celluloid in 1870, thus providing what would become the raw material for the film industry.
Today, bioplastics are gaining interest again as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics derived from fossil fuels. Bioplastics are made from renewable biomass sources such as shellac, cellulose, and starch and are biodegradable, reducing waste and environmental pollution. They also generally require less energy to produce and can be used to create effective and eco-friendly insulation materials. PLA, for example, is a bioplastic made from corn starch that can be used to make plastic bags and fibres for clothing. PHB, another type of bioplastic produced by bacteria, has a melting point higher than 130 degrees Celsius and is also biodegradable.
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The evolution of plastics
Medieval craftsmen made lantern windows from translucent slices of animal horn, a mixed carbon-nitrogen polymer called keratin, the same substance that makes up skin, hair, and wool. In the 1840s, the Olmecs in Mexico played with balls made of rubber, another natural polymer. The first European to encounter rubber was French explorer Charles-Marie de La Condamine, who stumbled upon the rubber tree in the Amazon basin during the 18th century. In 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered the process of vulcanisation, creating a rubber material that was more elastic and stronger.
In 1867, a New York newspaper warned that elephants were in danger of extinction due to the demand for ivory in products such as buttonhooks, boxes, piano keys, and increasingly, billiard balls. In response to this growing concern, in 1869, John Wesley Hyatt invented the first synthetic polymer, later known as plastic, by treating cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor. This plastic could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like ivory, horn, and tortoiseshell.
The next step in the evolution of plastics involved the chemical modification of natural materials such as rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, and galalite. By the 1940s, the development of more cooperative polymers and the machines to mass-produce them transformed the plastic industry. Injection-moulding machines, now standard equipment in plastics manufacturing, could turn raw plastic powders or pellets into a moulded, finished product in a one-shot process.
Today, plastics are pervasive in all aspects of society, from pillows to toothbrushes, keyboards, and food containers. However, the widespread adoption of plastics has had detrimental consequences for human health and the environment. Plastic pollutes landscapes, oceans, and the air, and the health implications of microplastic deposits in our bodies are not yet fully known. As such, there is a growing movement to reduce single-use plastics and improve recycling infrastructure.
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Synthetic polymers
The word "plastic" originally referred to a material that could be easily moulded under heat and pressure. The term "polymer" means "made up of many parts" or molecular chains. Synthetic polymers are human-made plastics that possess "plastic" properties.
The history of plastics goes back to the use of natural materials with intrinsic plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum. The next step in the evolution of plastics involved the chemical modification of natural materials such as rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, and galalite.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. Hyatt treated cellulose derived from cotton fiber with camphor, creating a plastic that could be crafted into various shapes and imitate natural substances. This discovery was revolutionary, as it freed human manufacturing from the limitations of nature.
In the mid-1800s, humans began creating synthetic polymers or artificial polymers. Synthetic polymers are often made from the plentiful carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels, although sometimes they use natural materials such as cellulose. These synthetic polymers possess desirable characteristics such as strength, lightweight, and flexibility.
The development of cooperative polymers in the 1940s further transformed the capabilities of plastics. Injection-moulding machines, now standard in plastics manufacturing, could turn raw plastic powders or pellets into moulded, finished products in a single process. This marked the beginning of the mass production of plastic products, leading to the widespread adoption of plastics in modern society.
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Plastic's environmental impact
The 20th and 21st centuries have been dubbed the "Plastics Age" due to the material's influence and ubiquity in modern society. Plastic is now everywhere, from food packaging to healthcare, construction materials, furniture, and textiles. However, this widespread adoption of plastics has had detrimental consequences for both the environment and human health.
Plastics do not break down easily and can persist in the environment for 100 to 1,000 years or more, depending on environmental conditions. During this time, plastic pollution can fragment into smaller pieces known as microplastics (smaller than 5mm) and nanoplastics (smaller than 1mm). These microscopic particles have been found in every ecosystem on Earth, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs, and have even entered the fossil record. They contaminate the air, water, and food, and are ingested by animals and humans, with unknown health effects. Research indicates that more than 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments ingest plastics, and microplastics have been detected in the placentas of pregnant people.
The production, use, and disposal of plastics also have environmental and health impacts at every stage of their lifecycle. Plastics are derived from fossil fuels, and each stage of their production can be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The extraction and transportation of raw materials, for example, can release hundreds of toxins, causing damage to sensory organs, impairing bodily systems and organs, and increasing the likelihood of cancer and other toxicities.
The EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan aims to reduce plastic litter at sea and microplastics released into the environment. However, the solution to the plastic problem will also require social and political action, such as improving recycling infrastructure and moving away from single-use plastics.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is a word that originally meant "pliable and easily shaped". It is now used to describe a category of materials called polymers, which are made of long chains of molecules, primarily carbon.
The development of plastic started with natural materials that exhibited plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum. The first synthetic polymer or plastic was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who created a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances.
Plastic was originally invented to replace the use of paper, which required a lot of wood. Scientists were looking for alternative materials that could be mass-produced, lightweight, strong, durable, inexpensive, and not entirely dependent on natural resources.
