Omar Khalid
The world's first completely synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Belgian-born American Leo Baekeland in 1907. Bakelite was derived from phenol and formaldehyde, and unlike earlier plastics, contained no molecules found in nature. Baekeland's invention opened the door to the Age of Plastics, seeding the growth of a worldwide industry that today employs more than 60 million people. However, it is worth noting that the development of plastics started with natural materials exhibiting plastic properties, and the first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who modified natural cellulose to create Celluloid.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Bakelite |
| Inventor | Leo Hendrik Baekeland |
| Year Invented | 1907 |
| Country of Origin | Belgium |
| Type | First fully synthetic plastic |
| Composition | Phenol and formaldehyde |
| Uses | Jewellery, telephones, radios, billiard balls |
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What You'll Learn
Bakelite: the first synthetic plastic
The creation of Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, was a groundbreaking moment in the history of materials. Before its invention, humans had only been able to modify natural materials to create new ones. Belgian-born chemist and entrepreneur Leo Baekeland changed this in 1907 when he created Bakelite, a plastic derived not from plants or animals, but from fossil fuels.
Baekeland had been searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States. He investigated the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde, first producing a soluble phenol-formaldehyde shellac called Novolak, which never became a market success. Then, he turned to developing a phenol-formaldehyde binder for asbestos, which at the time was molded with hard natural rubber. By carefully controlling the pressure and temperature applied to an intermediate made from the two reagents, he produced a polymer that when mixed with fillers, resulted in a hard, mouldable plastic.
Bakelite was not only a good insulator but was also durable, heat-resistant, and, unlike its predecessor celluloid, was ideally suited for mechanical mass production. Marketed as "the material of a thousand uses", Bakelite could be shaped or moulded into almost anything, providing endless possibilities.
The creation of Bakelite opened the door to the Age of Plastics and seeded the growth of a worldwide industry. It was a key breakthrough that led to the development of now-familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polythene, and nylon. These new materials were considered the height of glamour, with synthetic plastics soon being produced in whites and pale luminescent colours.
The development of plastics has had a significant impact on the world, changing the way we live and becoming an essential part of our lives. They have been used in a wide range of applications, from cheap toys and consumer goods to more advanced uses in medicine, electronics, aerospace, and structural composites. However, the advantages of plastics have also brought challenges, particularly in terms of their environmental impact and the difficulty of recycling and disposing of them.
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How it was made
The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Belgian-born American Leo Baekeland. Bakelite was a significant breakthrough, marking the birth of the modern plastics era.
Bakelite was created by combining two chemicals, formaldehyde and phenol (an acid derived from coal tar), under heat and pressure. Baekeland experimented with applying different temperatures and pressures to phenol and formaldehyde, ultimately producing a hard, mouldable material. This process, which he termed "the method of making insoluble products of phenol and formaldehyde", was filed for patent in July 1907 and granted in December 1909.
Baekeland's initial intention was to find a replacement for shellac, a natural electrical insulator that was in limited supply as it was derived from the secretion of lac insects. He aimed to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States, and his invention proved to be a good insulator, durable, heat resistant, and ideal for mechanical mass production.
Bakelite could be shaped or moulded into almost anything, providing endless possibilities. It had a dark brown, wood-like appearance and was easily mass-produced, making it perfect for bringing new design trends to the masses. Baekeland speculated on the numerous articles that could be created with his invention, and he considered various filling materials, including cotton, powdered bronze, and slate dust. However, he found the most success with wood and asbestos fibres.
The commercial success of Bakelite inspired the industry to develop other synthetic plastics, and it sparked a consumer boom in affordable yet desirable products.
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Its inventor, Leo Baekeland
Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, was invented by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian-born chemist and entrepreneur. Baekeland was born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, the son of a cobbler and a housemaid. He received his doctorate maxima cum laude from the University of Ghent at the age of 21 and taught there until 1889, when he travelled to the United States on a fellowship to continue his studies in chemistry.
During his fellowship, Baekeland visited universities in England, Scotland, and Germany, and was eventually persuaded by Professor Charles F. Chandler of Columbia University to remain in the United States. Professor Chandler recommended him for a position at a New York photographic supply house, which sparked his interest in photography and led to his invention of Velox, the first commercially successful photographic paper that could be developed in artificial light.
In 1899, Baekeland sold the rights to Velox and his company to George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Company for a significant sum, making him a wealthy man. With this money, he purchased a house in Yonkers, New York, where he set up his own laboratory. There, he began working on a new project: finding a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator. This endeavour led to the discovery of Bakelite in 1907.
Bakelite is a condensation product of formaldehyde and phenol produced at high temperature and pressure. It was the first thermosetting plastic, meaning it did not soften when heated. Baekeland's invention of Bakelite marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry and earned him the title "The Father of the Plastics Industry". Bakelite revolutionised consumer culture, making a range of affordable yet desirable products accessible to the masses.
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Plastic's history and evolution
Plastic is a word that originally meant "pliable and easily shaped". Plastics have saturated our world and changed the way we live. The development of plastics started with natural materials that exhibited plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum.
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. By treating cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, Hyatt discovered celluloid, a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. This was a plastic made by modifying natural materials.
In 1870, Hyatt used chemically modified cellulose to produce celluloid, which was used for everything from hair combs to silent-movie film. By 1890, Count Hilaire de Chardonnet was marketing the first synthetic textile, Chardonnet silk, made by spinning strands of cellulose nitrate into artificial fibre.
However, it was not until the 20th century that the first fully synthetic plastic was invented. In 1907, Belgian-born chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, a polymeric plastic made from phenol and formaldehyde. Baekeland had been searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States. Bakelite was durable, heat-resistant, and ideally suited for mechanical mass production.
Bakelite sparked a consumer boom in affordable yet highly desirable products. It could be easily mass-produced, making it ideal for bringing new design trends such as Art Deco to the masses. The creation of Bakelite opened the door to the Age of Plastics and seeded the growth of a worldwide industry that today employs more than 60 million people.
The development of Bakelite led to a torrent of now-familiar synthetic plastics, including polystyrene in 1929, polyester in 1930, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polythene in 1933, and nylon in 1935. These brand new materials were considered the height of glamour. The industry's growth was further accelerated by the Second World War, as plastics were used in everything from military vehicles to radar insulation.
Since then, plastics have continued to evolve and become an essential part of our lives, playing increasingly versatile roles in medicine, electronics, aerospace, and advanced structural composites. However, the environmental impact of plastics has also become a growing concern, with the development of biodegradable plastics and 'green' plastics derived from natural, biological materials gaining traction in recent decades.
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Its impact and legacy
The creation of Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Baekeland, marked a pivotal moment in human history. It ushered in the Age of Plastics, forever altering how we interact with our world.
Baekeland's invention was a significant milestone, as it was the first plastic derived not from plants or animals, but from fossil fuels, specifically phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. This marked a departure from the use of natural materials with intrinsic plastic properties, such as shellac and chewing gum, and the chemical modification of natural materials like rubber, nitrocellulose, collagen, and galalite. Bakelite was a polymeric plastic made by combining phenol and formaldehyde under heat and pressure, resulting in a durable material with a wide range of applications.
The impact of Bakelite was profound and far-reaching. Marketed as "the material of a thousand uses," it could be easily mass-produced and shaped or moulded into almost anything, from jewellery and radios to telephones and billiard balls. It sparked a consumer revolution, making previously expensive items affordable and accessible to the masses. Bakelite's versatility and durability democratised consumer goods and culture, bringing new design trends, such as Art Deco, within reach of ordinary people.
Beyond its immediate commercial success, Bakelite also had a lasting legacy. It inspired further research and development in the field of synthetic polymers, leading to the creation of numerous new plastics. Major chemical companies invested in exploring these novel materials, and by the 1930s, synthetic plastics had become synonymous with glamour, featuring in iconic films and shaping design trends. The plastics industry found a new impetus with World War II, as these materials were extensively used in military applications, from vehicles to radar insulation.
In the decades that followed, plastics became an indispensable part of daily life, from cheap toys to clothing and packaging. They revolutionised industries, offering benefits that natural materials could not match, such as lightweight durability, flexibility, and mouldability. However, the very qualities that made plastics transformative—their longevity and resistance to degradation—have also become a source of environmental concern. The challenge of plastic recycling and its impact on the planet is a critical aspect of its legacy, prompting the development of biodegradable alternatives.
Today, over a century after Baekeland's groundbreaking invention, plastics continue to shape our world, for better and for worse. They have improved lives, driven innovation, and become integral to numerous industries, including medicine, electronics, and aerospace. As we navigate the benefits and challenges presented by plastics, Baekeland's invention remains a defining chapter in the ongoing story of human ingenuity and our complex relationship with the natural world.
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Frequently asked questions
The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. It was a polymeric plastic made from phenol and formaldehyde.
The first plastic was Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes in 1862. It was made from cellulose nitrate—cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and then mixed with vegetable oil.
Baekeland was searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States.
